What happened: Yahoo Sports identifies the Detroit Tigers, Boston Red Sox and San Diego Padres among five franchises positioned to swing the MLB trade deadline, with 23 teams sitting in first place or within four games of a wild-card spot. The Padres are now fielding calls on closer Mason Miller, while the Tigers' rotation has stabilized behind Tarik Skubal's return from the injured list. Only the Mets and Giants are described as full sellers ahead of the Aug. 3 deadline.

Why it matters: A seller's market has emerged because so few teams are out of contention, raising the price on available arms like Skubal and relievers around the league. Detroit's turnaround changes the complexion of the AL wild-card race, while Boston's reversal from sell to buy mode shows how fast a contender's status can flip in-season.

What to watch: Watch for movement on Miller and Skubal as the Aug. 3 deadline approaches, with contenders racing to add bullpen help before the market tightens further.