What happened: MLB.com published a retrospective on the 2021 trade deadline, marking five years since that deadline closed. The piece frames the period as one of the more active stretches on the trade calendar in recent memory.

Why it matters: Deadline retrospectives are a recurring MLB.com format tied to the July transaction window, and this one arrives as front offices again weigh buy-or-sell decisions ahead of the 2026 deadline. Looking back at prior deadlines is a common reference point clubs use to gauge market pacing.

What to watch: MLB's 2026 trade deadline is approaching later this month, with contenders and sellers expected to shape the market in the coming weeks.