July 25, 2025

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Contenders Diverge on Trade Deadline Plans

With the July 31 deadline approaching, MLB contenders are charting different courses. The Guardians, winners of 11 of 14 games, scramble between buying and selling amid a hot streak. The Tigers are set to play it safe, targeting mid-tier relievers while protecting top prospects. In Kansas City, the Royals must decide whether to trade All-Star Seth Lugo for future assets or double down on a wild-card push. Meanwhile, the Orioles weigh offers for rental arms like Charlie Morton and Seranthony Domínguez as they balance a playoff push against building for 2026.

Three Teams Face Nightmare Deadline Scenarios

With the July 31 trade deadline just days away, three clubs—New York Mets, Cincinnati Reds and Baltimore Orioles—stand on the brink of disastrous outcomes if their front offices misstep.

The Mets could trade away their best young infielder, fail to add a much‐needed bat or settle for mid‐level relievers behind Edwin Díaz, leaving both lineup and bullpen exposed (source: RisingApple.com).

In Cincinnati, the Reds might mortgage top prospects for a two-month rental like Eugenio Suárez, tear down the roster to sell at the wrong time or stand pat and squander a playoff window (BlogRedMachine.com).

Baltimore’s GM faces the horror of rental players going down injured, only moving short-term assets, or overlooking affordable veterans such as Charlie Morton, jeopardizing both 2025 hopes and the 2026 rebuild (BirdsWatcher.com).

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Athletics Topple Astros Behind Former Teammate’s Struggles

OAKLAND ATHLETICS 5, HOUSTON ASTROS 2 (Thursday, Houston)

Visiting Oakland rode a 12-hit barrage and standout performances from rookie Nick Kurtz and starter Luis Severino to a surprising 5-2 victory over the injury-depleted Astros. Kurtz recorded his fourth career three-hit game—sending two balls to the gap—as the A’s tagged former teammate Jason Alexander for five runs over six innings. Severino twirled seven innings of four-hit ball with eight strikeouts, while Mason Miller shut the door for his 20th save.

Key Points:

Nick Kurtz: 3-for-4, two doubles, one RBI double

Luis Severino: 7 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 8 K

Jason Alexander: 6 IP, 5 R, 2 BB in second start for Astros

Oakland grabbed an early lead on an error and sacrifice fly, added two runs in the fourth, and never looked back. Houston manager Joe Espada will turn to rookie Ryan Gusto on Friday as the A’s seek back-to-back wins in the four-game series.

Nearly Every 2024 Deadline Prospect Falls Flat

Major League Baseball’s expanded postseason has made July’s trade deadline friendlier to contenders—and far less rewarding for sellers. USA TODAY Sports found that of the 83 top prospects shipped between July 24–31, 2024, only four have become everyday big-league regulars; Marlins slugger Kyle Stowers is the lone All-Star. Just two newcomers ranked among a club’s top five farmhands, and none cracked the overall Top 100.

Key blockbuster swaps—Los Angeles’ deals for Tommy Edman/Michael Kopech and Jack Flaherty—helped the Dodgers out, but most acquiring clubs are still waiting. As prospect values climb and wild-card spots multiply, teams will have to debate whether “something” at the deadline truly beats “nothing.”

Braves Evaluate Prospects: Two Up, Two Down

Atlanta Braves leadership is preparing for the future amid their first losing campaign since 2017, turning to Gwinnett’s farm system to retool. Jhancarlos Lara’s electric Triple-A run (3.09 ERA, 17 Ks in 11.2 innings over nine appearances) makes a strong case for a major-league call-up, while long-reliever Bryce Elder projects as a Quad-A arm better suited to Triple-A work.

To inject upside, Atlanta could also revisit Hurston Waldrep—whose refined delivery and splitter have yielded only two earned runs across his last three starts—while monitoring Michael Harris II’s recent hot streak, with a demotion looming if his swing regressions return. These moves aim to gather data for 2026 roster planning and jump-start a club beset by injuries and underperformance.

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Only 4 of 83 Deadline Prospects Became Everyday MLB Stars