What happened: San Francisco is signaling a willingness to move nearly any veteran on the roster aside from ace Logan Webb as the trade deadline approaches. The stretch has been rocky, marked by a Rafael Devers dustup in which he declined to exit for a pinch runner before later apologizing to first-year manager Tony Vitello, and by a Pride Night uniform controversy that drew comment from commissioner Rob Manfred. Team president Buster Posey publicly backed Vitello.
Why it matters: At 32-46, San Francisco is well off the pace, and an aggressive sell-off would reshape the roster for years. With Webb the lone protected piece, the front office appears ready to prioritize a reset over chasing the current standings. The deadline maneuvering also feeds a wider market where names like Tigers ace Tarik Skubal and Red Sox starter Sonny Gray are drawing interest.
By the numbers: San Francisco sits 32-46 this season, scoring 4.1 runs per game while allowing 4.8. The Athletics are 38-41, scoring 4.6 and allowing 5.3. The clubs have met several times this month in the Bay Area, with San Francisco taking three of the last four meetings.
What to watch: Watch whether San Francisco actually pulls the trigger on veteran deals before the deadline, and which contenders circle their available bats and arms. Elsewhere, Skubal's market and Gray's openness to waiving his no-trade clause are storylines to track.