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If it feels like the Daytona 500 was a while ago, well, that’s because it was. Eight and a half months, to be exact. Now the winner of that race, William Byron, is one of the final stock car steerers standing, joined by surefire NASCAR Hall of Famer Joey Logano, wunderkind Jumpman pilot Tyler Reddick and, thanks to some last-minute race-winning heroics at Martinsville last weekend, defending Cup Series champ Ryan Blaney.

This Championship 4 have endured a particularly peculiar season that has produced 18 winners over 35 races, the anointing of first-time winner in Harrison Burton, a farewell tour for legend Martin Truex, Jr., an Indy/Charlotte Double Duty attempt by Kyle Larson and yet another controversial win by Austin Dillon, not to mention some fights, an antitrust suit filed against NASCAR (by Reddick’s team, 23XI Racing) and a big ol’ spaghetti pile of postseason controversy as Blaney celebrated at Martinsville Speedway, the deciding factor in Byron making the cut.

Who are this year’s fearless foursome fighting for the Cup in Sunday’s highest-finisher-wins-it-all 312-lap throwdown? How did they get here? How have they fared at Phoenix Raceway in the past? Where are their heads as they, well, head into the desert? And if the guy driving for Michael Jordan wins the title, will he be expected to hug the trophy and cry all over it like MJ did in ’91 and ’96?

Read ahead as we give you the stats, the path and also a short Q&A with each member of NASCAR’s Championship 4.

Ryan Blaney | No. 12 | Ford Mustang | Team Penske

2024: 3 wins, 3 wins, 1 pole, 11 top-5s, 17 top-10s, 5 DNFs
2024 playoffs: 1 win, 0 poles, 4 top-5s, 6 top-10s, 2 DNFs
Playoff history: 8th appearance, 5 wins, 1 this year
Best championship finish: Defending NASCAR Cup Series champion
Phoenix career stats: 17 starts, 0 wins, 8 top-5s, 12 top-10s, 2 DNFs, 10.9 average finish

McGee: So, how exactly would you describe last Sunday at Martinsville? Not all the controversy happening behind you, but the relief of that amazing late drive, the win and transferring into the title fight?

Blaney: It felt like redemption. I gave the race away the week before at Homestead [passed by Reddick in the final turn of the race], like it was 100% on me. So, Martinsville was, personally, just like a self-confidence type of thing. That reaction arc, from being just crushed at one race and then winning the next, that was just electric.

McGee: When we talked this very day one year ago, on the eve of your first Championship 4, it was all about your mindset and mentality. Now you have that championship ring on your hand. You’ve literally been there, done that. Does it feel different this time around?

Blaney: A little bit. Just knowing how the weekend flows. The schedule is very different, the energy is leading up to the race, for sure. But once it starts…

McGee: OK, this is the part where all athletes and coaches say, “It’s just another race” or “just another game,” but it’s not. So, once it starts, be honest, it’s not, right?

Blaney: You definitely pay attention where the other three guys are. I mean, you know who you’re racing, and you know what’s at stake, so you’re constantly paying attention to that, but also, you’re trying your best to just pay attention to what you’re doing. So, I think it’s a little bit of both. You understand the highs that are on it, and the pressure that’s on and it’s like, how do you rise up to that pressure? How do you not let it get to you? But you want that pressure. You’re pretty fortunate if you get to feel that pressure, because it means you’re trying to do something really important.

McGee: Speaking of pressure, you’ve been in it the entire postseason. I look at the past 10 races and it reads: crash, crash, running, crash, running, running, crash. You have four finishes of 30th or worse in the NASCAR playoffs. Where was the defending champ’s head four weeks ago? Because it didn’t look like the champ would have a chance to defend.

Blaney: Some people are like, “Oh, the 12 team shouldn’t be here, they haven’t been performing at all.” It’s like, have you even looked at why we have four finishes of 30th or worse? It’s because I’ve just gotten caught up in other people’s mess. We were super fast in all those races. Like, we didn’t run one lap at Watkins Glen [the second postseason race] and we had already been wrecked. We know we should be here. Fighting back has been the way we’ve done it all season. Sunday won’t be any different.

McGee: I know you love the history of the sport because of your DNA; you come from generations of racers. There are only 17 drivers with two championships and only eight drivers who have managed at least one repeat and it’s happened only ten times. What would it mean to you to be in those clubs?

Blaney: I never would have dreamt about winning one and, let alone, you know, having a chance to win two and go back to back. I’m hungrier to win the second than I was the first, because you know that feeling. You understand that excitement and the joy that it brings you and your people, and you want that feeling again, so we’re even foaming at the mouth more to win the second one.

Joey Logano | No. 22 | Ford Mustang | Team Penske

2024: 3 wins, 3 poles, 6 top-5s, 12 top-10s, 6 DNFs
2024 playoffs: 2 wins, 0 poles, 2 top-5s, 4 top-10s, 1 DNF
Playoff history: 11th appearance, 12 wins
Best championship finish: 2018 and 2022 Cup Series champion
Phoenix career stats: 31 starts, 3 wins (most recent: November 2022), 8 top-5s, 16 top-10s, 5 DNFs, 13.5 average finish

McGee: It’s funny looking over the guys in this foursome, and I remember when you first got here and seemed like you were the young guy for like a decade, and now you’re the cagey veteran with these young guys.

Logano: But I’m not old, either. That’s a good place to be.

McGee: Yes, 34 years old. To quote former Arizona resident Doc Holliday, you’re in your prime. With the younger guys, a lot of my talk has been about mindset, but this is your sixth Championship 4. You’re a two-time champ. What’s that worth on Sunday?

Logano: A lot. You definitely feel more confident going into the weekend because you know what’s coming your way. You know that you know what the week leading up is. A couple of weeks leading up, a couple of days leading up. Stress, everything on your plate, most importantly the amount of time that you will not have.

McGee: You have been in this with teammates and without. You have Blaney with you this year. How much different is it when you go into this with help, but also racing against them?

Logano: It does change the way the race plays out a little bit, right? You have a friend out there, and we have been just as open during meetings for this race as any other race, but maybe once it starts it’s not quite as good of a friend as normal. I was in this position before with Brad [Keselowski] racing here in Phoenix. But the bottom line is that if you’re [team owner] Roger Penske, that means you have a 50% chance, so one of us had better deliver! (laughs)

McGee: There is one Championship 4 newcomer in the field, Reddick. What do you remember about your first time being in the finale with a title shot?

Logano: I don’t know how he is feeling, but I know for me, I was s—ting my pants. Whether it’s your first time or your sixth or whatever, you don’t know if you’ll ever get there again. You don’t know. You know you don’t want to waste the opportunity that is there, and that anxiety that will get you. The pressure is real, man. It’s either going to make you better or it’s going to make you crack. And I know people focus on the drivers but it’s like that for the whole team. It’s not just the drivers who are going to win or lose this thing. If the whole team is going to be there, there’s going to be a lot of pressure on everyone, even if they tell you, “It’s no big deal.” It is. It’s the biggest deal in our sport.

McGee: So, 20-something Joey won his first Cup title six years ago. Now, you’re 30-something Joey, father of three. What’s the celebration now? Y’all head to Chuck E. Cheese?

Logano: I can’t say I’ve ever been a partier. So, 2018 wasn’t too wild. (laughs) My oldest, Hudson, was there, but he was a baby. Then, in 2022, seeing him run up to grab the checkered flag, and then climb into the car with me to ride to Victory Lane, it was definitely a tear-jerking moment. Now it would be even more so that way, because, you know, he’s 6 and my other son, Jameson, is 4. My daughter’s 2, so we can all celebrate together. I don’t know if the youngest would remember it, but my oldest will remember, and if nothing else, we’ll have a lot of pictures and really cool videos and look back. It’s all about the family video someday, right? It’s kind of all you got is memories, and this would be a really special memory to have all together.

Tyler Reddick | No. 23 | Toyota Camry | 23XI Racing

2024: 3 wins, 3 poles, 12 top-5s, 20 top-10s, 4 DNFs, 26-race “regular season” champion
2024 playoffs: 1 win, 1 pole, 1 top-5, 2 top-10s, 2 DNFs
Playoff history: 5th appearance, 1 win, this year
Best championship finish: 6th, 2023
Phoenix career stats: 9 starts, 0 wins, 2 top-5s, 3 top-10s, 1 DNF, 17.9 average finish

McGee: You drive for a team co-owned by Michael Jordan. You drive a Jumpman-sponsored car that routinely features paint schemes modeled after Air Jordans. So, how many pairs of Jordans do you own?

Reddick: I feel like I had a good count like a month ago … but I feel like I’ve had like 15 to 20 pairs show up since then … so, shoot, I’m thinking it’s around 120.

McGee: Did you say 15 or 20 this month? What a job perk!

Reddick: (laughs) Yeah. That’s not bad.

McGee: I have seen a lot of celebrities from other sports come and go from the garage, but Jordan seems all in. He was celebrating with you at Homestead after your last-lap pass. The last time he won a championship of any kind was 1998, playing for the Chicago Bulls. What will it mean if you get to hand him a championship trophy on Sunday?

Reddick: I just think about when I really fell in love with racing as a very young kid, watching NASCAR on Sundays, or hanging out at the track with my dad when he raced. I just always wanted to hopefully one day be a Cup Series driver. Then the ultimate dream come true would be to become a Cup champion. But then, you add to that what you just mentioned. Michael is the champion. He has been so bought-in with 23XI since Day 1 to help the dream of his become realized, too. I don’t know what the emotions are going to be like.

McGee: We all remember him in 1991 and ’96 holding that NBA trophy and crying all over it.

Reddick: We might get a repeat, yeah. But me.

McGee: The other co-owner of your team is Denny Hamlin. How do you explain to all these fans you’ve garnered because of Jordan from the stick-and-ball sports world, this dynamic of racing for a championship-driving a car owned by Hamlin, while also racing against Hamlin, who drives for another team in Joe Gibbs Racing?

Reddick: I know think that’s weird, probably, but in our world it isn’t. Denny is always there to give help if called upon. And yes, it is interesting because who was racing against me and Blaney at Homestead? Denny. At Vegas, same thing [Hamlin criticized Reddick for an early crash]. But he’s always been really good about lending a hand and giving me his opinion on things. So, yeah, it can be a bit tricky balance, when we race each other on the racetrack we both know that everything that we share with each other we will also probably use against each other. We wouldn’t be racers if we didn’t.

McGee: You have two Xfinity titles, won via this same four-team finale format. So, are you nervous? Is this weird? How do you feel going into Sunday because we sportswriters, we’re all shamelessly going to make a big deal out of the fact of this your first time in the Championship 4 and the pressure, the unknown, all of that.

Reddick: Go on and do that if you want, because that’s not where I’m going to be. It is my third time doing this, in different series with different owners and different manufacturers against different drivers, but I have felt really at ease, knowing what this means and where we’re going to be. I find it easy to focus. We have had to battle back all season, so nothing that comes up Sunday will rattle us.

McGee: This sounds like the kid I first saw win a late model race at Rockingham when he was 16.

Reddick: I remember that race. We had a really bad year. We’d blown up every single engine we’d bought. We’d had some bad wrecks. Halfway through the year our budget was gone. I just had the feeling going into Rockingham that this might be one of my last opportunities to be in a stock car. We won and it swung the door back open. That has happened to me again and again. I don’t think the pressure Sunday will be worse than that.

William Byron | No. 24 | Chevrolet Camaro | Hendrick Motorsports

2024: 3 wins, 1 pole, 12 top-5s, 20 top-10s, 4 DNFs
2024 playoffs: 0 wins, 0 poles, 4 top-5s, 7 top-10s, 0 DNFs
Playoff history: 6th appearance, 1 win
Best championship finish: 3rd, 2023
Phoenix career stats: 13 starts, 1 win (March 2023), 2 top-5s, 7 top-10s, 0 DNFs, 11.8 average finish

McGee: I think the last time we chatted was standing in Daytona 500 Victory Lane. You’ve had quite the 2024 since then, all the way up to that postrace controversy at Martinsville.

Byron: We’ve honestly been through a lot this year. I feel like we started off the year really well, and honestly, had some things we were working through and felt like we were close during the summer but just couldn’t get the wins. But once we got into the second round of the playoffs, we just really hit on it. Communication, trust, speed, everything just started to come together, and that’s how we did what we did these last several weeks (six top-6 finishes in the past six races).

McGee: Revisiting Martinsville, you were out of the Championship 4, but Christopher Bell was hit with a penalty and that pushed you in. Were you able to put that all behind you pretty quickly, even with us media folks asking you about it?

Byron: I was honestly really surprised how quickly my mind shifted. I stayed off social media all week. I really blocked out all the noise. Even my crew chief asked me at one point, “Hey, did you see this or that?” and I’m like, “Dude, I haven’t even paid attention.” Typically, I’m pretty easily distracted when it comes to that stuff, but I don’t know, it just felt like when Sunday night happened the way it did, I went from believing we weren’t in and preparing for the worst, but then there was this shot in the arm that we need to go get this championship. So, yeah, out of a mess, I feel optimistic.

McGee: A year ago, we talked about a lot of unknowns ahead of your first Championship 4. So, what do you know now that you didn’t expect to learn in this race in 2023, when you won the pole, finished fourth in the race and third in the championship?

Byron: First, don’t listen to the “it’s just a normal race” stuff because it’s not normal at all. What stuck with me last year, is that it’s a short opportunity, and the race is even shorter than the week, and you just want to capitalize on every moment that you have. It’s one of the shortest races we run (312 laps, 500 kilometers) so it went by really fast. I think the biggest difference last year was that we had some guys that were not in the playoffs that we found ourselves racing really hard with (non-title contender Ross Chastain won the race), so that was a little unique. And then Christopher Bell was out early in the race, so it was really three of us. It’s a little weird feeling, I would say, in that sense because you do have different types of things you’re focused on. We’re back here with a couple different competitors, but there’s a lot of similarities to last year, so it’ll be nice to lean on that stuff.

McGee: Since the Netflix reality show dropped in the preseason, right before you won Daytona, everyone who saw the show became invested in your Lego obsession. So, have people been giving you Legos or telling you about their Legos? Are you kind of Lego’d out?

Byron: (laughs) At this point, I am a bit Lego’d out. It’s the No. 1 thing I get asked. And I’m telling you this just as we’ve had the Netflix guys around this week and a lot more than usual. I honestly did not let them in a lot through the playoff round of 8, because I just wanted to focus. It’ll be interesting to see what the next thing is.

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‘We’re a very dangerous team now’: What all this winning means for the Red Sox’s trade deadline plans

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'We're a very dangerous team now': What all this winning means for the Red Sox's trade deadline plans

Just over a month ago, the Boston Red Sox traded Rafael Devers to the San Francisco Giants in a blockbuster deal that sent shockwaves through the industry. At the time of the trade, the Red Sox were just a game over .500. They went 3-7 in their first 10 games without Devers and looked to be fading out of contention.

As the team fell in the standings, rumors began to circulate that the slugging designated hitter wouldn’t be the only star traded out of Boston. But a 10-game win streak before the All-Star break has vaulted the Red Sox into the thick of the playoff race and provided some clarity about their trade deadline plans.

“Throughout the whole year, we thought we had a really good team,” assistant GM Paul Toboni told ESPN over the weekend. “We were kind of waiting for it to click. That streak reconfirmed the thought that we had a good team.”

Boston doesn’t have a lot of expiring contracts, so even without the win streak, a complete teardown was unlikely. Still, trading some of its outfield depth was a possibility. The Red Sox rank in the top 10 in OPS in right field, center field and left field thanks to Jarren Duran, Roman Anthony, Ceddanne Rafaela and Wilyer Abreu.

With that group helping the Red Sox hold an American League wild-card spot, the front office is likely to add pitching, according to sources familiar with their situation, while retaining the abundance of outfielders unless the club is blown away with an offer in the next 10 days.

“Having a surplus of good players isn’t a bad thing,” Toboni said. “The high-end depth is a really good thing. It’s not like we’re anxious to move away from that.”

With their outfield situation likely to be addressed in the offseason, the Red Sox have winning on their minds. A young core, highlighted by the arrival of Anthony and infielder Marcelo Mayer, has had some time to adjust to the majors, leaving the team’s veterans excited about the coming months.

“These guys have been here for a few months now,” Red Sox third baseman Alex Bregman said. “We’re starting to learn who we are as a group. The adjustments are being made quicker at this time of the year. It didn’t start out that way, but guys are wanting to learn and get better. You can see that in our growth this year.”

Bregman watched closely while he was out of the lineup because of a quad injury he sustained at the end of May. He has seen what winning baseball looks like during his time in Houston. It has taken the young Red Sox some time to get there.

“We’re a very dangerous team now, especially when we’re prepared and executing,” Bregman said. “We’ve played good for a while now.

“People will say this is a hot streak, but I believe this is who we are.”

As the calendar inches toward August, that’s the sentiment throughout the clubhouse, where the veterans who have been through the uncertainty of trade season are relieved to spend the next two weeks without trade chatter.

“The run we went on before the All-Star break, it was good. We needed something like that to get us back in the mix, restore some confidence,” starting pitcher Lucas Giolito said. “Right now, staying in the present is important, but I don’t think we have guys in this room too worried they’re going to get dealt or anything anymore.”

Two players who were brought in over the offseason might be the most relieved.

All-Star closer Aroldis Chapman, who has a 1.18 ERA and 17 saves, could have been one of Boston’s most sought-after deadline trade candidates had the front office elected to deal him.

When asked about possibly being moved, the 37-year-old, who is playing for his seventh major league club, smiled as he responded through his interpreter: “The team is in good shape.”

Fellow Boston pitcher Walker Buehler added: “It’s probably good timing to hopefully push the front office to go out and buy and help us make a run. We did our part at the end of the first half there. I want to stay here and be part of it. Don’t want to be on the wrong side of a trade.”

Though they might have done enough to convince the front office to stick with the current veterans, the Red Sox have some of their toughest work ahead of them. According to ESPN Research, they have the hardest remaining schedule for the rest of the month and sixth hardest for the rest of the season, but manager Alex Cora isn’t interested in looking at the stretch run — or what Boston’s first postseason berth since 2021 would mean.

Instead, he believes that if the players can keep attacking each day, the rest will take care of itself.

“I promised myself I’m going to stay in the moment,” Cora said. “It doesn’t do the group any good to start talking about that. We have to win games. It’s not to put pressure on the front office or ownership. It’s what we need to do for us to play in October.”

Opposing teams are asking for “outrageous returns” for pitching, according to league sources, but if the asking prices become more reasonable closer to the deadline, expect the Red Sox to be involved. Until then, they are focused on riding their July momentum while navigating a tough schedule.

“Time to keep it locked in,” Giolito said. “We’ll be welcoming whatever help comes.”

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‘We’re a very dangerous team now’: What all this winning means for the Red Sox’s trade deadline plans

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'We're a very dangerous team now': What all this winning means for the Red Sox's trade deadline plans

Just over a month ago, the Boston Red Sox traded Rafael Devers to the San Francisco Giants in a blockbuster deal that sent shockwaves through the industry. At the time of the trade, the Red Sox were just a game over .500. They went 3-7 in their first 10 games without Devers and looked to be fading out of contention.

As the team fell in the standings, rumors began to circulate that the slugging designated hitter wouldn’t be the only star traded out of Boston. But a 10-game win streak before the All-Star break has vaulted the Red Sox into the thick of the playoff race and provided some clarity about their trade deadline plans.

“Throughout the whole year, we thought we had a really good team,” assistant GM Paul Toboni told ESPN over the weekend. “We were kind of waiting for it to click. That streak reconfirmed the thought that we had a good team.”

Boston doesn’t have a lot of expiring contracts, so even without the win streak, a complete teardown was unlikely. Still, trading some of its outfield depth was a possibility. The Red Sox rank in the top 10 in OPS in right field, center field and left field thanks to Jarren Duran, Roman Anthony, Ceddanne Rafaela and Wilyer Abreu.

With that group helping the Red Sox hold an American League wild-card spot, the front office is likely to add pitching, according to sources familiar with their situation, while retaining the abundance of outfielders unless the club is blown away with an offer in the next 10 days.

“Having a surplus of good players isn’t a bad thing,” Toboni said. “The high-end depth is a really good thing. It’s not like we’re anxious to move away from that.”

With their outfield situation likely to be addressed in the offseason, the Red Sox have winning on their minds. A young core, highlighted by the arrival of Anthony and infielder Marcelo Mayer, has had some time to adjust to the majors, leaving the team’s veterans excited about the coming months.

“These guys have been here for a few months now,” Red Sox third baseman Alex Bregman said. “We’re starting to learn who we are as a group. The adjustments are being made quicker at this time of the year. It didn’t start out that way, but guys are wanting to learn and get better. You can see that in our growth this year.”

Bregman watched closely while he was out of the lineup because of a quad injury he sustained at the end of May. He has seen what winning baseball looks like during his time in Houston. It has taken the young Red Sox some time to get there.

“We’re a very dangerous team now, especially when we’re prepared and executing,” Bregman said. “We’ve played good for a while now.

“People will say this is a hot streak, but I believe this is who we are.”

As the calendar inches toward August, that’s the sentiment throughout the clubhouse, where the veterans who have been through the uncertainty of trade season are relieved to spend the next two weeks without trade chatter.

“The run we went on before the All-Star break, it was good. We needed something like that to get us back in the mix, restore some confidence,” starting pitcher Lucas Giolito said. “Right now, staying in the present is important, but I don’t think we have guys in this room too worried they’re going to get dealt or anything anymore.”

Two players who were brought in over the offseason might be the most relieved.

All-Star closer Aroldis Chapman, who has a 1.18 ERA and 17 saves, could have been one of Boston’s most sought-after deadline trade candidates had the front office elected to deal him.

When asked about possibly being moved, the 37-year-old, who is playing for his seventh major league club, smiled as he responded through his interpreter: “The team is in good shape.”

Fellow Boston pitcher Walker Buehler added: “It’s probably good timing to hopefully push the front office to go out and buy and help us make a run. We did our part at the end of the first half there. I want to stay here and be part of it. Don’t want to be on the wrong side of a trade.”

Though they might have done enough to convince the front office to stick with the current veterans, the Red Sox have some of their toughest work ahead of them. According to ESPN Research, they have the hardest remaining schedule for the rest of the month and sixth hardest for the rest of the season, but manager Alex Cora isn’t interested in looking at the stretch run — or what Boston’s first postseason berth since 2021 would mean.

Instead, he believes that if the players can keep attacking each day, the rest will take care of itself.

“I promised myself I’m going to stay in the moment,” Cora said. “It doesn’t do the group any good to start talking about that. We have to win games. It’s not to put pressure on the front office or ownership. It’s what we need to do for us to play in October.”

Opposing teams are asking for “outrageous returns” for pitching, according to league sources, but if the asking prices become more reasonable closer to the deadline, expect the Red Sox to be involved. Until then, they are focused on riding their July momentum while navigating a tough schedule.

“Time to keep it locked in,” Giolito said. “We’ll be welcoming whatever help comes.”

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Let the deals begin! MLB trade deadline updates: Latest rumors and analysis

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Let the deals begin! MLB trade deadline updates: Latest rumors and analysis

The 2025 MLB trade deadline is just around the corner, with contending teams deciding what they need to add before 6 p.m. ET on Thursday, July 31.

Could Jarren Duran be on the move from the Boston Red Sox? Will the Arizona Diamondbacks deal Eugenio Suarez and Zac Gallen to contenders? And who among the Los Angeles Dodgers, Chicago Cubs, New York Mets, New York Yankees, Detroit Tigers and Philadelphia Phillies will go all-in to boost their 2024 World Series hopes?

Whether your favorite club is looking to add or deal away — or stands somewhere in between — here’s the freshest intel we’re hearing, reaction to completed deals and what to know for every team as trade season unfolds.

More: Top 50 trade candidates | Passan: Contender plans | Trades for every team

Jump to …: Trending names | Latest intel


MLB trade deadline trending names

1. Eugenio Suarez: The Arizona Diamondbacks star is No. 1 in our updated MLB trade deadline candidate rankings and could be the most impactful player to move this month. On pace to hit more than 50 home runs, the 2025 All-Star is on the wish list of every contender in need of third-base help.

2. Sandy Alcantara: The 2022 Cy Young winner is an intriguing option in a deadline with a dearth of impact starting pitching available. His ERA is over 7.00 for the Miami Marlins this season, but some contenders believe he could regain form in a new home.

3. Jhoan Duran: This deadline is suddenly teeming with high-end relievers who will at the very least be in the rumor mill during the coming days. If the Minnesota Twins opt to move their closer — and his devastating splinker — Duran might be the best of the bunch.


MLB trade deadline buzz

July 22 updates

Why the 2022 Cy Young winner isn’t the most in-demand Marlins starter: Edward Cabrera has become more coveted than Sandy Alcantara, who teams believe might take an offseason to fix. Alcantara’s strikeout-to-walk ratio is scary low — just 1.9 — and his ERA is 7.14. Cabrera, on the other hand, is striking out more than a batter per inning and his ERA sits at 3.61. The 27-year-old right-hander will come at a heavy cost for opposing teams. — Jesse Rogers


How Kansas City is approaching the trade deadline: The Royals have signaled a willingness to trade, but with an eye toward competing again next year — meaning they aren’t willing to part with the core of their pitching staff. Other teams say Kansas City is (unsurprisingly) looking to upgrade its future offense in whatever it does.

Right-handed starter Seth Lugo will be the most-watched Royal before the deadline, since he holds a $15 million player option for 2026 “that you’d assume he’s going to turn down,” said one rival staffer. That’ll make it more difficult for other teams to place a trade value on him: The Royals could want to market him as more than a mere rental, while other teams figure he’ll go into free agency in the fall when he turns down his option. — Buster Olney


What the Dodgers need at the deadline: The Dodgers’ offense has been a source of consternation lately, with Max Muncy out, Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman slumping, and key hitters tasked with lengthening out the lineup — Teoscar Hernandez, Tommy Edman amd Michael Conforto — also struggling.

But the Dodgers’ focus ahead of the deadline is still clearly the bullpen, specifically a high-leverage, right-handed reliever. Dodgers relievers lead the major leagues in innings pitched by a wide margin. Blake Treinen will be back soon, and Michael Kopech and Brusdar Graterol are expected to join him later in the season. But the Dodgers need at least one other trusted arm late in games.

It’s a stunning development, considering they returned the core of a bullpen that played a big role in last year’s championship run, then added Tanner Scott and Kirby Yates in free agency. But Scott and Yates have had their struggles, and there are enough injury concerns with several others that it’s a need. — Alden Gonzalez


Which D-backs starter is most coveted? The Diamondbacks are getting as many calls — if not more — about Zac Gallen as they are for Merrill Kelly even though the latter starting pitcher is having the better season. Teams interested in adding to their rotations still have more faith in the 29-year-old Gallen than the 36-year-old Kelly. — Rogers


Who are the White Sox looking to deal? Chicago’s Adrian Houser seems likely to move, as a second-tier starter who has performed well this season. The 32-year-old right-hander was released by the Rangers in May but has been very effective since joining the White Sox rotation, giving up only two homers in 57⅔ innings and generating an ERA+ of 226. Nobody is taking those numbers at face value, but evaluators do view him as a market option. The White Sox also have some relievers worth considering.

But it seems unlikely that Luis Robert Jr. — once projected as a centerpiece of this deadline — will be dealt, unless a team makes a big bet on a player who has either underperformed or been hurt this year. The White Sox could continue to wait on Robert’s talent to manifest and his trade value to be restored by picking up his $20 million option for next year, which is hardly out of the question for a team with little future payroll obligation. — Olney


Why Rockies infielder could be popular deadline option: Colorado’s Ryan McMahon is the consolation prize for teams that miss out on Eugenio Suarez — if he’s traded at all. The Cubs could have interest and would pair him with Matt Shaw as a lefty/righty combo at third base. — Rogers


Does San Diego have enough to offer to make a big deal? The Padres have multiple needs ahead of the trade deadline — a left fielder, a catcher, a back-end starter. How adequately they can address them remains to be seen. The upper levels of their farm system have thinned out in recent years, and their budget might be tight.

The Padres dipped under MLB’s luxury-tax threshold this year, resetting the penalties. But FanGraphs projects their competitive balance tax payroll to finish at $263 million this year, easily clearing the 2025 threshold and just barely putting them into the second tier, triggering a 12% surcharge.

Padres general manager A.J. Preller might have to get creative in order to address his needs. One way he can do that is by buying and selling simultaneously. The Padres have several high-profile players who can hit the market this offseason — Dylan Cease, Michael King, Robert Suarez, Luis Arraez — and a few others who can hit the open market after 2026. Don’t be surprised to see Preller leverage at least one of those players, and their salaries, to help fill multiple needs. — Gonzalez


Which Orioles could be on the move? Not surprisingly, Baltimore is perceived as a dealer and is expected by other teams to move center fielder Cedric Mullins, first baseman/designate hitter Ryan O’Hearn and some relievers. — Olney

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