Happy Trade Deadline Day everyone!!! As always, our crew is covering all the wheeling and dealing, so be sure to follow along. And if you like what you see and are in a position to do so, please consider becoming a FanGraphs Member. It's the best way to support and experience the site:

FanGraphs Membership

Help support FanGraphs by becoming a Member. With Ad Free Membership, you will experience the FanGraphs website completely without third party ads while you maintain an active Ad Free Membership.

plus.fangraphs.com

As rumors swirl about catchers ahead the trade deadline at 6 PM today, you should read my 2023 piece for the @nytimes.com on why catchers are rarely dealt at the deadline:

A Relationship That Transcends Analytics (Published 2023)

Adding a new catcher at the trading deadline is a fairly rare occurrence. One reason for that is the time it takes to bond with a pitching staff.

nytimes.com

bringing my blind girlfriend to the vet so she can touch a tiger. i’m… probably not gonna kill her

I do want to remind everyone that the Dodgers are our first repeat champions since the 1998-00 Yankees. Between those runs, the following teams won back-to-back titles: 2000-02 Lakers 2004-05 Patriots 2009-10 Lakers 2012-13 Heat 2017-18 Warriors 2022-23 Chiefs

The Dodgers’ getting Skubal is not about salary — the Brewers were willing to pay all of Skubal’s remaining salary — but prospects. No salary cap could change that.

Adam Driver is here at Citi Field, and to tee up his appearance on the jumbotron, the Mets showed a scene from… The Rise of Skywalker????

No professional accomplishment has ever made me happier than this. theonion.com/translator-o...

Translator Of Original ‘Minions’ Epic Poem Slams ‘Sexless, Bloodless’ Film Adaptation

PHILADELPHIA—In a 4,500-word essay published in Harper’s Magazine, Emily Wilson, known for her popular translation of the Minions epic poem, blasted the latest film Thursday as a “sexless, bloodless” ...

theonion.com

A "Fuck the Celtics" chant just broke out here at Citi Field. They've already cycled through a "Jalen Brunson" chant — which one press box wag thought was "David Justice."

"you will not extort us for a pitcher"

fabianardaya.bsky.social@fabianardaya.bsky.social · last wk.

Andrew Friedman downplayed the severity of Shohei Ohtani’s right biceps issue, saying that if Ohtani’s left knee were 100 percent, then Ohtani would be pitching. Friedman said the organization will get Ohtani back on the mound this season.

Every time I watch Chris Sale pitch, I know I'm watching a Hall of Famer — to the point where I don't even care about the numbers (crazy thing for a FanGraphs editor to say, I know)

In July of the Year of Our Lord 2026, the Mets are playing a 13-year-old video of Matt Harvey singing Christmas Carols on the Jumbotron…

Pop-up vintage stand nearby is selling a DICK TRACY (1990) t-shirt. Should I buy it?

My spot in this week’s @fangraphs.com member newsletter was inspired by Jesse Orosco’s probably-insurmountable total of games pitched, and look what turned up at the Hall of Fame

Matt Martell@mattmartell.fangraphs.com · 2w ago

In the latest FanGraphs Mailbag, I wrote about the reasons to believe in Esmerlyn Valdez and the José Caballero controversy. Plus, @davyandrewsdavy.bsky.social on Gunnar Henderson's fastball woes, @baumann.bsky.social on how he'd fix the Angels, and @jayjaffe.bsky.social on the games pitched record

In the latest FanGraphs Mailbag, I wrote about the reasons to believe in Esmerlyn Valdez and the José Caballero controversy. Plus, @davyandrewsdavy.bsky.social on Gunnar Henderson's fastball woes, @baumann.bsky.social on how he'd fix the Angels, and @jayjaffe.bsky.social on the games pitched record

FanGraphs Weekly Mailbag: July 25, 2026

This week, we answer your questions on Esmerlyn Valdez’s heater, Gunnar Henderson’s woes against heaters, how to fix the Angels, and more.

blogs.fangraphs.com

Christopher Nolan: Okay, so you're the leader of the suitors. You're not as boorish as them. Robert Pattinson: Got it. Nolan: Great, so in this shot- Pattinson: -I'm going to act like a thousand spiders in a human suit. Nolan: What? Pattinson: Trust me. It'll be the best part of the movie.

There's just got to be a better way to phrase that bsky.app/profile/matt...

Matt Martell@mattmartell.fangraphs.com · 2w ago

Interesting response from Crew Chief Adrian Johnson to the pool reporter on the José Caballero pitch timer violation today: "He's been warned all season. We were instructed not to warn him. We were instructed to violate him. That's what it is. It's a violation."

The Pirates were annoyed about it, and after Monday night’s benches-clearing incident, instigated by Dennis Santana, MLB told the umpires to crack down. The Yankees weren’t notified about the change in enforcement. What happened — the violation today — is seemingly what MLB wanted to happen.

Ceetar@ceetar.bsky.social · 2w ago

so MLB, seemingly annoyed at players working within the bounds of the pitch timer THEY implemented, specifically ordered the changing of the enforcement of the rules to target one specific player?

I think we should push back against, "We were instructed to violate him," as common phrasing in this scenario.

Matt Martell@mattmartell.fangraphs.com · 2w ago

Interesting response from Crew Chief Adrian Johnson to the pool reporter on the José Caballero pitch timer violation today: "He's been warned all season. We were instructed not to warn him. We were instructed to violate him. That's what it is. It's a violation."

Interesting response from Crew Chief Adrian Johnson to the pool reporter on the José Caballero pitch timer violation today: "He's been warned all season. We were instructed not to warn him. We were instructed to violate him. That's what it is. It's a violation."

TRANSGENDER FOR EVERYBODY (August 2026)

Finding Renée Richards by Julie Kliegman | Astoria Bookshop

"Not to be missed." —Stephanie Howes, Booklist (starred review)A Town & Country Must-Read Book of Summer 2026The candid, definitive biography of professional tennis’s first openly transgender player, ...

astoriabookshop.com

Ben Rice clobbers a 3-1 cutter from Carmen Mlodzinski for the most predictable game-tying three-run homer I've seen in a long time. As Rice rounded the bases, a Yankees fan in front of the pressbox tossed his popcorn bucket in the air in celebration.

Very intrigued by Don Kelly’s decision to remove Mitch Keller after just 5 scoreless innings and 75 pitches. He'd already faced three batters for a third time, so it probably isn't for third-time-through reasons. The Pirates have a bad bullpen and are playing a doubleheader today.

Eight of the nine players in the Pirates’ lineup this afternoon have an OPS above .700. Only four Yankees in today's lineup do.

Do you think Bryce Harper would do a Cameo for Rob Manfred if someone paid for it?

The Year of Jordan Walker continues... Wow

I've spent the past five years disgracefully dodging attempts to dragoon me into chatting. They got me yesterday and I chatted like I was trying not to be invited back.

Pat in the Hat@shaunypatinthehat.bsky.social · 3w ago

I STG if I ever do the Trout tier of @ewpod.bsky.social and I don't get to do my mailbag show with @baumann.bsky.social I'm going to SUE... This frickin guy lol 🤣🤣

This went up late last night so you might've missed it: I am a loser who cares about the draft. There was a time when MLB wanted to entice non-losers to care about the draft. That time seems to have passed.

The MLB Draft Is Once Again for Diehards Only

I’m a draft sicko. It’s disappointing that the league is no longer trying to create more of us.

blogs.fangraphs.com

On Episode 2797 of We Live in Hell… The TV in my cab is advertising a WABC talk show hosted by Michael Cohen, titled: “When You Know, You Know.”

Welcome, my constituency, those who are sick on the inside. We're chatting

FanGraphs 2026 Day 1 Draft Chat

Join the FanGraphs crew for a Day 1 draft chat live from the Pennsylvania Convention Center in Philadelphia.

blogs.fangraphs.com

lauren@lauren.rotatingsandwiches.com · 4w ago

if you follow the mlb draft for any reason other than a paycheck you are irredeemably sick on the inside

My Norwegian grandmother was 4-10, ate herring out of a jar and drank mugs of boiling water. The Lillehammer Olympics were an absolute delight as she sat there smiling and cracking jokes, all of which had a punchline about how dumb Swedes are. I really wish she was still around to watch Haaland.