Trade rumors: Yankees, Skubal, Miller, Astros

Deadline day is one week away!

As we hit the final week of July, here is a look at some of the top trade rumors around the Majors, including how bad news for the Yankees might shape their plans, and the Astros' clear Deadline strategy. Plus, the latest on Tarik Skubal and Mason Miller.

How will Bellinger's injury affect Yanks' trade plans?

The Yankees' series win in Philadelphia was tinged with concern Saturday, when Cody Bellinger suffered a left hamstring strain while legging out a double. He was placed on the injured list before Sunday's finale.

Catcher, shortstop and relief pitcher are three positions that the Yankees were reportedly looking to upgrade already. Now as Bellinger joins Aaron Judge on the IL, is adding an outfielder more of a priority?

Prior to Bellinger's injury, MLB Network insider Jon Heyman wrote in the New York Post (subscription required) that the Yankees, like many other clubs, are seeking a right-handed bat. Heyman added on Sunday that while the Yankees aren't too keen on Mets outfielder Luis Robert Jr. due to his own lengthy injury history, players such as the Blue Jays' George Springer, the Angels' Jo Adell and Jorge Soler, the Reds' Spencer Steer and the Royals' Lane Thomas could be fits.

Granted, Springer and Soler are designated hitters at this point in their careers. And Heyman made his list before Steer exited Sunday's game with a right wrist sprain that landed him on the injured list Monday. The Orioles' Taylor Ward and the Giants' Heliot Ramos are two other righty-hitting outfielders who may entice New York.

What would help the Yankees most, of course, would be to get their captain back. That doesn't appear to be on the horizon, however. Judge is still not able to resume baseball activities. Manager Aaron Boone said Saturday that the slugger's fractured right rib is still in "letting-it-heal mode."

Skubal, Miller shine ahead of Deadline -- which teams are pursuing them?

As long as Skubal and Miller stay healthy between now and Aug. 3, nothing they do on the mound will alter how prospective buyers view them. But it doesn't hurt that both elite pitchers were at their best over the weekend.

Skubal struck out 12 Royals and allowed one run over 7 1/3 innings on Friday. Miller saved that evening's Padres game against the Marlins and did it again on Sunday, tossing a perfect frame with one K each time.

So where do we stand with the best starter and the best reliever in the rumor mill?

The Tigers lost their next two games after Skubal's performance, putting them 3 1/2 games back of the final AL Wild Card spot with five teams in front of them. The Brewers and Rays are among the clubs reportedly interested in Detroit's ace, and the Dodgers "will remain engaged" on Skubal, per The Athletic's Katie Woo (subscription required). It's fair to expect a lot more Skubal-centric chatter this week if Detroit can't bank some wins in upcoming series against the Orioles and A's.

San Diego's sweep of the floundering Marlins has them a little closer than Detroit to a postseason spot; it is two games out of the playoffs and needs to hop over four teams to get there. On Friday, Heyman said during his Bleacher Report chat that he considers the Pirates, Mariners and Yankees as the top suitors for Miller. The Brewers are reportedly in the mix as well.

But for the Padres to part with Miller -- who won't reach free agency until after the 2029 season -- they may have to be blown away by an offer. Dennis Lin of The Athletic (subscription required) and Kevin Acee of The San Diego Union-Tribune (subscription required) reported before the sweep that San Diego is aiming to buy at the Deadline, ostensibly lessening the chances that they will move the flamethrower within the next seven days.

The catcher market takes a big loss

Might the most sought-after hitter at the Trade Deadline be ... Twins catcher Ryan Jeffers?

We've already mentioned the Yankees' desire to address that position, and USA Today's Bob Nightengale wrote Sunday that the Yanks are in the lead to acquire Jeffers. But at least the Rays, Dodgers, Red Sox and White Sox are also reportedly hunting for a backstop.

The crop of potentially available impact catchers is one fewer after Sunday's news that the A's Shea Langeliers has a torn meniscus in his right knee and may miss the rest of 2026. The All-Star has 23 home runs this season. Rockies All-Star catcher Hunter Goodman, with 31 home runs, has been bandied about in rumors, but Heyman reported on Monday that a trade involving Goodman is "a long shot."

The Reds' Tyler Stephenson is another trade candidate behind the plate, but with supply falling and demand high, the fight to obtain someone such as Jeffers -- who has a .930 OPS through 186 plate appearances this year -- could be fierce.

The Astros are definitely buyers

Astros general manager Dana Brown has been saying that his team will be buyers at the Trade Deadline for a while now. He did so again during a radio interview Sunday, saying, "We would anticipate that we're going to be buyers." That belief was probably strengthened by Houston's five-game winning streak last week. It entered Monday just two games out of first place in the AL West despite a 52-55 record.

There were reports recently that the Astros might be open to trading away closer Josh Hader or shortstop Jeremy Peña. However, The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal said during Monday's edition of Fair Territory that such trades are "not happening." Likewise, The Athletic's Chandler Rome reported Sunday that the team's appetite to dangle infielders Christian Walker and Isaac Paredes in trade talks "seems nonexistent."

Adding an outfielder, preferably one who bats from the left side, is Brown's stated priority. Some possible options there include the Blue Jays' Daulton Varsho, the Rockies' Mickey Moniak, the Reds' JJ Bleday and the Twins' Trevor Larnach. The Astros could also use more help in front of Hader in the bullpen.