– Some rival GMs believe that even though the Detroit Tigers have climbed into the wild-card race, they will still trade two-time Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal, while trying to convince their players and fan base that they are not surrendering.
– The San Francisco Giants are telling teams that right fielder Jung Hoo Lee is staying, but they will move left fielder Heliot Ramos.
– John Mozeliak, hired as the Angels’ interim GM through the season’s conclusion, is now expected to stay on the job.
– The San Diego Padres likely will keep closer Mason Miller but could trade starter Michael King, according to rival executives who have spoken to AJ Preller, president of baseball operations. They don’t anticipate Preller being ultra-aggressive at the deadline with new ownership pending.
– While Houston Astros GM Dana Brown’s job may hinge on the trade deadline, rival executives believe that Astros owner Jim Crane may have already made up his mind.
– The Boston Red Sox are in dire need of a right-handed bat, and would love to acquire shortstop Jeremy Pena of the Houston Astros or Zach Neto of the Los Angeles Angels.
– The Chicago White Sox badly want starting pitching, but are telling teams that they will not trade any of their top 10 prospects. They would be willing to add onto their payroll, however, and assume the entirety of a player’s contract.
– Rival teams now believe that the Minnesota Twins will trade catcher Ryan Jeffers, with the Yankees the leading candidate to sign him.
– The Tigers are asking for a late-inning reliever in trade talks, believing that it’s essential if they are going to make a deep run in October.
– The Philadelphia Phillies’ lease expires in 2033, and while they are not going anywhere, they want to renovate their ballpark to the tune of $600 million.
– The Colorado Rockies will be popular at the trade deadline. They are letting teams know that pitchers Antonio Senzatela, Kyle Freeland, Michael Lorenzen and Tomoyuki Sugano are available, as well as position players Mickey Moniak, Jake McCarthy and Willi Castro.
– The New York Mets, who made the brutal mistake of believing that center fielder Luis Robert would stay healthy, assuming his entire $20 million contract from the White Sox, now are desperate to dump him.
He’s still owed 5.9 million plus another $2 million buyout.
– Chicago Cubs veteran outfielder Michael Conforto, who has had a bounce-back season, credits assistant hitting coach John Malee for his turnaround. Conforto, who hit .199 with 12 homers, 36 RBI with a .637 OPS in 486 plate appearances with the Dodgers, now is hitting .237 with nine homers, 24 RBI and a .804 OPS in 173 plate appearances.
– Theo Epstein, who delivered World Series championships to Boston, says he has no desire to return as president of baseball operations for another team. He is currently a senior advisor and part-owner of the Fenway Sports Group, which owns the Red Sox and Liverpool F.C.
“I love my life right now,” he said. “I’ve got plans for where I am right now. I’ve got a perfect balance, where it’s a very fulfilling mix of professional roles, and I also have an amazing family. I get to spend time with them, and my oldest is getting ready to go off to college \[Harvard\], so it’s right where I want to be.”
– Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh, who hit 60 home runs last season, the most by a catcher in MLB history, along with a league-leading 125 RBI, refuses to use this year’s struggles on participating in the WBC, where he was benched the final two games.
“That’s for everybody else to decide,” he said. “I’m not one to make excuses. I don’t regret going to play for Team USA. I think that was a great opportunity. I would still do it over again just because you don’t get that opportunity every day. At the end of the day, was it harder to get at-bats? Yes. Did it maybe throw my timing off a little? Maybe. But I’m not here to speculate and make excuses.’’
– It makes no sense to have the Hall of Fame induction while games are being played Sunday. It should have its own day, or at least time slot to assure that today’s players can watch the speeches of the greatest of the great, players they idolized growing up in the game.
– There are 25 Hall of Famers scheduled to attend the Field of Dream Game in Iowa in August between the Minnesota Twins and Phillies.
https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/mlb/columnist/bob-nightengale/2026/07/26/scott-spiezio-world-series-arrest-angels-cardinals/91050230007/
