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Defector

Ray Ratto

Luis Arraez of the San Francisco Giants is hit by a pitch during the fourth inning of a game against the San Diego Padres at Petco Park on July 30, 2026 in San Diego, California.

Reality Has Set In For The San Francisco Giants

Kathryn Xu

Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Tarik Skubal greets teammate center fielder Andy Pages (44) during the eighth inning of an MLB game against the Boston Red Sox.

If Baseball Is Ruined, Show Me The Ruins

Staff Writer
Find me on Signal @DefectorChris.19

Chris Thompson

Luis Garcia Jr. smiles and relaxes his head on third base after a triple.

Trade Season Kicks Ass Until They Sell Your Beautiful Son

Eugenio Suárez #28 of the Seattle Mariners tips his cap during his first at bat back with the Mariners.

Jerry Dipoto Will Never Stop Doing Jerry Dipoto Things

San Diego Padres general manager A.J. Preller looks on before Game Three of the Division Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Petco Park on October 8, 2024.

The Padres And Twins Did The Absolute Most At The MLB Trade Deadline

The Minnesota Twins Are Finished

Rafael Devers of the San Francisco Giants looks on walking back to the dugout after striking out against the Pittsburgh Pirates in the bottom of the ninth.

Rafael Devers Is Living Proof That No One Knows Anything

Maitreyi Anantharaman

Jazz Chisholm Jr. #2 and Luis Arraez #3 of the Miami Marlins celebrate during eighth inning against the San Francisco Giants at loanDepot park on April 18, 2023 in Miami, Florida.

There Are Not Plenty Of Fish Left In Miami

Mike Baumann #53 of the Seattle Mariners looks on during the game against the Chicago White Sox at T-Mobile Park on June 12, 2024 in Seattle.

Mike Baumann Is The MLB Trade Deadline’s Holy Vagabond

Samer Kalaf

Boston Red Sox Chief Baseball Officer Chaim Bloom walks past a photo of the 2007 Red Sox after they won the World Series.

At A Crossroads, The Red Sox Just Stood There

Aaron Civale #43 of the Cleveland Guardians pitches in the first inning against the Pittsburgh Pirates during inter-league play at PNC Park on July 19, 2023 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

The Guardians Picked A Direction

Max Scherzer #21 of the New York Mets looks on during the fifth inning of a spring training game against the Houston Astros at The Ballpark of the Palm Beaches on March 18, 2023 in West Palm Beach, Florida.

Bereft Of Blockbuster Trades, Max Scherzer Will Have To Suffice

Daniel Bard #52 of the Colorado Rockies celebrates after completing the ninth inning of a game with a win against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Coors Field on July 3, 2022 in Denver, Colorado.

What Are The Rockies Trying To Accomplish?

Patrick Dubuque is a writer and editor at Baseball Prospectus.

Patrick Dubuque

Asdrubal Cabrera, perennial trade deadline mover, seen here with the Diamondbacks. (He's with the Reds now.)