What happened: MLB.com lays out the case that there is a simple reason Tarik Skubal may not be traded ahead of the Aug. 3 deadline, even as he remains one of the most-discussed names on the market. The argument runs counter to weeks of speculation tying him to contenders in need of front-line starting pitching.

Why it matters: Skubal has topped ESPN's list of 2026 trade-deadline candidates and drawn repeated trade chatter, so any indication he stays put reshapes the deadline calculus for buyers chasing an ace. His status is one of the defining storylines heading into the Aug. 3 cutoff.

What to watch: Watch for buy-or-sell signals from his club as the Aug. 3 deadline approaches.