What happened: ESPN's Jeff Passan published a breakdown of moves contenders could pursue ahead of the 2026 MLB trade deadline. The piece follows a string of earlier Passan deadline previews published over the past several weeks.

Why it matters: Passan has now filed multiple early looks at the deadline market since June, reflecting how far in advance contending front offices are lining up targets this summer. Continued coverage signals an active trade market taking shape well before the deadline.

What to watch: Watch for contenders to make moves as the trade deadline approaches.