Trade rumors: Mets, Adley, Skubal, Mize, more

The Trade Deadline is fast approaching -- three days to go and counting.

Here's a look at some of the latest topics swirling in the rumor mill, including the Mets beginning their selloff, the Tigers signaling their Deadline intentions, a key question in the trade market for Adley Rutschman and more.

Mets trade Minter to Twins; who’s next to go?

Expected to be one of this year’s most active sellers, the Mets got the process started late Thursday night, dealing reliever A.J. Minter to the Twins for two prospects.

The Mets are reportedly willing to trade everyone besides Juan Soto, Francisco Lindor, Carson Benge, A.J. Ewing, Nolan McLean and Christian Scott. Lindor was involved in trade rumors earlier this month when reports surfaced that the Mets were not treating the shortstop as one of their untouchables, but a deal was never viewed as particularly likely. Lindor has five years left on his contract, hasn’t performed up to his usual standards this season and also has a full no-trade clause.

Freddy Peralta appears to have a healthy market despite his own struggles this season, with the Cubs, Rays, Braves and Phillies among his reported suitors. Peralta was scratched from his scheduled start Friday versus the Marlins as trade talks involving the right-hander "have intensified," according to Mets manager Andy Green. Peralta and fellow pending free agent Brooks Raley are certain to be moved before Monday's Deadline.

Starter Clay Holmes and reliever Luke Weaver are likely to bring back the biggest returns for the Mets. Holmes hasn’t pitched since May 15 due to a fractured right fibula, but he is nearing his return from the IL. A long list of contenders scouted his most recent rehab start. The right-hander can opt-out of his deal at the end of this season and isn’t engaged in extension talks with the Mets at this time, so he’s all but certain to be moved as well.

Weaver’s status is more unclear, given he’s signed through 2027. But in a market light on impact relievers, ESPN’s Jeff Passan reports that Weaver is expected to generate enough interest to warrant trading him. The Brewers and Pirates are among the clubs showing strong interest in Weaver, The Athletic reports. The Mets could consider trading Huascar Brazobán too. He’s controllable through 2029 but is 36 years old and may never have more trade value.

Per MLB Network insider Jon Heyman (New York Post subscription required), the Mets are “getting hits” on center fielder Luis Robert Jr., but rivals suggest they’d have to eat some of his remaining salary to deal him. The Mets still owe him more than $8 million, including the $2 million buyout on his $20 million club option for 2027.

Minter trade reinforces Twins' plans to buy

The Minter deal was also notable because of the team on the other end of it. The Twins' trade for bullpen help cements them as buyers, a plan general manager Jeremy Zoll laid out on Tuesday.

Catcher Ryan Jeffers, a pending free agent who has drawn a lot of trade interest this summer, may not be entirely off the table, as Passan noted Wednesday that the Twins could still consider moving the backstop in a deal that addresses other needs on the big league roster. But the chances of Jeffers being traded have clearly fallen considerably.

Jeffers' bat, which has produced a 160 wRC+ in 2026, has become even more important to Minnesota's playoff push after Byron Buxton was placed on the injured list with a right hip impingement for the second time this year.

Tigers signal plans to sell at Trade Deadline

In perhaps the clearest indication yet that the Tigers are preparing to sell at the Trade Deadline, Detroit has scratched Casey Mize from Friday's start.

Mize is healthy and there's no trade in place, but the Tigers are taking precautions to protect his trade value. In the midst of a career year prior to free agency this offseason, Mize is the club's top trade chip aside from Tarik Skubal.

Starter Jack Flaherty, second baseman Gleyber Torres and relievers Kenley Jansen and Drew Anderson are also candidates to be moved.

The market for Skubal has started to take shape, with the Dodgers, Yankees, Brewers, Rays, Braves, Cubs and Phillies all expected to be in the mix. According to Heyman (New York Post subscription required), the Dodgers "don't seem anxious to trade a big prospect package for" the Detroit lefty, but they may do so anyway just to keep him away from one of their main competitors in the NL.

Biggest question in Rutschman trade market

With Jeffers likely staying put, Shea Langeliers out for the season after undergoing surgery to repair a torn meniscus and the Rockies setting a lofty asking price for Hunter Goodman, the catcher trade market may be short on impact options.

The Orioles could look to take advantage of the demand by dealing Adley Rutschman, who will be eligible for free agency after 2027. Passan reported earlier this week that the Orioles were having trade conversations about a number of players, including Rutschman.

From the O's perspective, the biggest question when it comes to Rutschman might be how comfortable the team would be trading him within the American League East. The Yankees, Rays and Red Sox are three of the top competitors for Rutschman, per Heyman. (The Rangers are also a possibility.)

How will Cardinals approach Trade Deadline?

The Cardinals are hovering around .500 and are three games out of a playoff spot as we reach the end of July. Very few thought the Cards would be this competitive this deep into the 2026 season. But even though this year has exceeded expectations to this point, St. Louis is 4-10 since the All-Star break and is still concentrating most on building for the future.

According to ESPN’s Jeff Passan, anyone other than rookie shortstop JJ Wetherholt and All-Star slugger Jordan Walker “could be had” for the right offer. That includes outfielder Lars Nootbaar, first baseman Alec Burleson and closer Riley O'Brien, as well as catchers Iván Herrera, Pedro Pagés and Jimmy Crooks.

Many contenders are looking for catching help, and Cardinals president of baseball operations Chaim Bloom will listen to offers on all three players, according to The Athletic (subscription required). The team is most open to moving the rookie Crooks since it remains high on Herrera’s bat and Pagés ability to handle the pitching staff as a backup.

Two of the Cardinals’ top five prospects are also catchers, so St. Louis has a lot of depth at a position that is in high demand right now.

Other notes

– Giants left-hander and pending free agent Robbie Ray continued his recent hot streak Thursday in his final start before the Trade Deadline, throwing six innings of one-run ball with six strikeouts and one walk against the Padres. The 2021 AL Cy Young winner is still owed roughly $8 million this season, which could turn off some small-market teams, but he should be a popular trade candidate after posting a 1.09 ERA in his past eight starts.

– Trade acquisition Curtis Mead’s fractured left wrist has the Red Sox monitoring the infield market yet again. According to The Athletic (subscription required), Boston is interested in Marlins teammates Otto Lopez and Xavier Edwards. The Red Sox have been linked to Angels shortstop Zach Neto, and they have also asked about the Nationals’ CJ Abrams and the Astros’ Jeremy Peña, per USA Today’s Bob Nightengale.