What happened: The Aug. 3 MLB trade deadline is approaching, with Detroit Tigers ace Tarik Skubal and New York Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor drawing interest. The Milwaukee Brewers are exploring starting pitching options following news that Brandon Woodruff will miss the rest of the season. The Mets are reportedly shopping multiple players, including former Brewers pitcher Freddy Peralta.
Why it matters: Detroit sits 5.5 games out of first place in the AL Central and may hesitate to deal Skubal due to the potential clubhouse impact. A midseason trade for Lindor is viewed as unlikely given his full no-trade clause and massive contract. Milwaukee must piece together a rotation behind Jacob Misiorowski and the injured Kyle Harrison to maintain its contention window.
By the numbers: The Tigers entered the All-Star break with a 3.48 ERA, the fourth-best mark in the majors. Lindor is owed $160 million over the next five years, while Luis Garcia has slashed .280/.313/.546 in 91 games.
What to watch: Contending front offices are monitoring the market to see which bubble teams commit to selling. Communications for all deals must conclude by 6 p.m. ET on Aug. 3.