Sorting out the sellers in the MLB trade market, and other thoughts as the Aug. 3 deadline approaches

Now that the amateur draft has concluded and the All-Star break is over, a two-week dash to the trade deadline is underway.

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But are there any sellers? Twenty-three teams went into the weekend within four games of a playoff spot, eight of them with losing records.

The Mets will be sellers and have players who would be in demand, particularly righthander Freddy Peralta. It would be irresponsible for the Giants not to be sellers, but Buster Posey’s uneven tenure as president of baseball operations makes San Francisco difficult to predict.

Infielder Luis Arraez, who will be a free agent after the season, will be in demand. He hasn’t hit well in 17 career postseason games (.224 with a .530 OPS), but could help a team get there.

In a game burdened with strikeouts, his .369 on-base percentage has a lot of value.

The Angels have long operated in a fantasy world where contention is right around the corner despite the franchise not having a winning record since 2015. Will that change under interim general manager John Mozeliak, or will he indulge the whims of owner Arte Moreno?

If Mozeliak can convince Moreno to rebuild, starters José Soriano and Reid Detmers would be in high demand. Mike Trout has shown no desire to waive his no-trade right, but shortstop Zach Neto and even DH Jorge Soler would have value.

The Athletics are building toward their move to Las Vegas and are unlikely to part with any of their core players. But they have some interesting relievers.

The Reds are a win-now team under Terry Francona and made the postseason in 2025 with 83 wins.

That leaves the Angels, Rockies, and Royals. Kansas City’s Michael Wacha could be one of the best starters who gets moved. Under Paul DePodesta, the Rockies could be more willing to make deals than previous administrations. But their best players, Hunter Goodman and TJ Rumfield, are young and inexpensive.

Outfielder Mickey Moniak has taken full advantage of Coors Field with a 1.080 OPS at home compared to .667 on the road. But he could still get some interest.

A few other deadline thoughts:

A test for Breslow: Red Sox chief baseball officer Craig Breslow hasn’t done well at the deadline. He obtained five players in 2024 — Luis Garcia, Danny Jansen, James Paxton, Quinn Priester, and Lucas Sims — who combined for minus-0.7 bWAR.

The big additions last year were Steven Matz and Dustin May. Matz was helpful and appeared in two postseason games. But May was a disaster, going 1-4 with a 5.68 ERA in five starts.

The Sox clearly need a righthanded hitter — or hitters — with some power. Home runs are important in the postseason in a difficult environment to score runs, and the Sox have the fewest in the majors.

It’s evident at this point that anything Roman Anthony can provide is a bonus. He hasn’t played since May 5 and is nowhere near close to a return.

Another small-market shocker? Milwaukee stunned baseball in 2008 when it traded four players for Cleveland ace CC Sabathia. The lefty led the Brewers to their first playoff berth since 1982.

“One of the most satisfying seasons of my career,” Sabathia said a few weeks ago.

Tarik Skubal could be the next Sabathia.

The Tigers know Skubal will command a massive salary as a free agent, and their odds of making the postseason are less than 20 percent. President of baseball operations Scott Harris is secure enough in his position to take the heat that could come from trading Skubal now to build for a better team in 2027 and beyond. The alternative is only getting a draft pick when he walks.

The Brewers or Rays could dip into their fertile farm systems and hope Skubal can deliver a pennant. The Braves, who need a starter, won’t be afraid to act if he’s made available.

Dealer Dave: The Phillies are in win-now mode and need a reliever with Brad Keller’s season-ending elbow injury. President of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski will be aggressive in filling that hole. The Mets will have Luke Weaver available, but Clay Holmes is still on the injured list.

Unexpected buyers: Did you know the Pirates had the most runs scored at the All-Star break? If there was ever a time for general manager Ben Cherington to throw his cards on the table, this could be it.

The Pirates have not made the playoffs since 2015. At some point, you have to stop selling the future and commit to the present.

Befitting his veteran status, Aroldis Chapman had a corner locker in the American League clubhouse for the All-Star Game. Willson Contreras was to his left and Ceddanne Rafaela to his right.

He held court before the game, chatting with players from other teams, then affixing his signature to several dozen items in the middle of the room, mainly jerseys, balls, and bats for his AL teammates.

“It’s nice to be able to get to know other players,” Chapman said via a translator. “We spend a lot of time playing against each other, and you don’t get to know the person. But now you know who they are.”

Chapman was 24 when he first made an All-Star team in 2012 and remembers being hesitant to speak up or introduce himself to the more established players.

“My main advice to players now is don’t be shy, enjoy the moment and try to get as much information as you can,” he said.

Chapman, who only occasionally flashes 100 `these days, roots for 24-year-old Brewers righthander Jacob Misiorowski and other young fireballers. He posed for a photo with Misiorowski and Padres closer Mason Miller before the game.

“[Misiorowski] is unbelievable, and I love it,” Chapman said. “That’s impressive, very impressive, and I really enjoy watching him.”

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Chapman is a nine-time All-Star and has appeared in seven games. Only 13 other pitchers have appeared in as many All-Star Games, and nine are Hall of Famers.

The exceptions, along with Chapman, are Roger Clemens, Clayton Kershaw, Craig Kimbrel, and Dave Stieb.

The Hall of Famers are Jim Bunning, Don Drysdale, Trevor Hoffman, Randy Johnson, Juan Marichal, Mariano Rivera, Tom Seaver, Warren Spahn, and Early Wynn.

Clemens has the record with 10 appearances. Rivera had nine. The rest had seven or eight. Chapman has thrown 5⅔ hitless innings in his nine All-Star appearances, walking two and striking out 10.

A few other observations on the Red Sox:

▪ Andruw Jones, who will be inducted into the Hall of Fame next Sunday, was thrilled to see Rafaela, a fellow Curaçaoan, in the All-Star Game for the first time.

“I’m so proud of him,” said Jones, who managed Rafaela in the World Baseball Classic. “I knew he was going to have a big year because he looked ready in spring training. He put in the work. I love him as a player. I love him as a human being. He’s a great kid.

“I think he’s a tremendous center fielder. He uses his instincts very well, and he’s not afraid to make mistakes. I like that mentality.”

Jones presented Rafaela with his first Gold Glove at an awards dinner in New York last November.

“I’m looking forward to do it again,” he said.

Rafaela is the seventh player from Curaçao to be an All-Star. Jones did it five times. Kenley Jansen and Ozzie Albies made it four times. Jair Jurrjens, Jurickson Profar, and Jonathan Schoop made it once.

▪ Contreras had a 490-foot homer during the Home Run Derby. The record at Citizens Bank Park for a regular season or postseason game is 474 feet by Red Sox legend Franchy Cordero on May 23, 2021.

Cordero hit 27 homers during his career, including nine for the Red Sox from 2021-22. The record-settler in ’21 was the only one he hit that season, and it came off Zack Wheeler.

The ball sailed over a corner of the second deck in center and landed on the concourse below.

▪ The Sox for Socks drive is on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday at Fenway Park. Boston Health Care for the Homeless Program will be collecting new white cotton socks at all gates. Socks are a staple of homeless medicine.

No player looked happier to be at the All-Star Game than Eduardo Rodriguez.

The former Red Sox lefthander, now 33, achieved the one career goal that eluded him by making the National League team.

“It took me 12 seasons, and I finally did it,” Rodriguez said. “It’s just something I really appreciate.”

Rodriguez won a World Series with the Red Sox in 2018. He was 13-5 with a 3.82 ERA that season and appeared in seven postseason games.

You may best recall Rodriguez for slamming his glove on the mound after allowing a home run by Yasiel Puig in the sixth inning of Game 4 of the World Series. But Rodriguez pitching into the sixth inning was huge coming off the 18-inning Game 3 the night before. The Sox went on to win that game.

Rodriguez reached 10 years of Major League service time a year ago, and then helped Venezuela win the World Baseball Classic in March by pitching 4⅓ shutout innings against the United States in the final.

There is only a small group of players who have checked all those boxes. Rodriguez also has 102 victories in his career. Only 17 active pitchers have done that.

Rodriguez threw a perfect inning in the Midsummer Classic, retiring Ernie Clement, Trout, and Yordan Alvarez in order on eight pitches.

Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo was the Sox bench coach in 2015 when Rodriguez made his debut. And it was Lovullo who told him he made the All-Star team.

“I loved it,” Rodriguez said. “He said it was something emotional for him because he’s known me for such a long time. It was special for both of us.”

In a way, the timing was perfect. Rodriguez has a 13-year-old daughter and a 9-year-old son. They walked the red carpet with him and his wife before the game.

“They were ready for this,” Rodriguez said. “It’s great that they’re old enough to remember everything from being here. The first part of my career, they’ll see the pictures, but they won’t remember it. This is something they’ll remember.”

Rodriguez is signed through 2027, and he hopes to keep pitching for at least a few more seasons.

Former Sox teammate Chris Sale was happy to see Rodriguez at the All-Star Game.

“I gave him a big hug,” Sale said. “I think there was a chance he could have gone [to the All-Star Game] in 2019 because he had a really good year. I know how hard he had to work to get here. To be an All-Star for the first time at this stage of your career means that he kept working hard. It’s special.”

The next collective bargaining agreement isn’t the only thing on the table for the league and players association to hash out. A major fight is brewing over the 2028 Olympics. Union officials said the league has proposed mandating players appear in the Olympics or face a three-week unpaid suspension. The six-team tournament will be played at Dodger Stadium. Players are seeking tickets and hotel rooms for their families and other perks. Mandating a player to compete for his country is not something the NHL or NBA has done. Union chief Bruce Meyer said it would be “extreme” to go to that length. Commissioner Rob Manfred retorted the Games would be a “unique opportunity” for the league to market the sport to a worldwide audience. “It is a disruptive undertaking for us,” Manfred said. “Put money to one side. You’re disrupting an entire season, and if we’re going to undertake that effort, we want our very best out there so that people see how great our game really is.” … With a nudge from Rays manager Kevin Cash, American League All-Star manager John Schneider arranged for Tampa Bay righthander Drew Rasmussen to pitch to Orioles catcher Adley Rutschman in the seventh inning. They were teammates at Oregon State and are good friends … Sign of the times: The 27 strikeouts in the All-Star Game were a record for a nine-inning game. The National League had three hits, all singles, and didn’t advance a runner beyond first. Dodgers lefty Justin Wrobleski struck out five in two innings. “That’s the game now,” Schneider said. “Guys’ stuff is unbelievable. To see Luis Arraez strike out and Yandy Díaz strike out a couple times — you never see it. So it speaks volumes to how good these guys are.” … National League manager Dave Roberts had his entire coaching staff at the All-Star Game. That included game planning and communication coach J.T. Watkins, the former Red Sox coaching staff assistant … Phillies fans savagely booed Mr. Met when the assorted MLB mascots were introduced before the All-Star Game. There was even more vitriol for Cardinals outfielder Jordan Walker, who had the nerve to beat Kyle Schwarber in the Home Run Derby. “That’s what they do here. They boo,” said Contreras, who also was booed during the Derby. “I think it’s funny.” … During a meeting with members of the Baseball Writers’ Association of America before the All-Star Game, Manfred backpedaled like Ty Law when asked if he thought President Trump would intercede in the collective bargaining negotiations with the union. “I think it would be wildly, wildly inappropriate for me to speculate about what the president of the United States might do or not do in a hypothetical situation,” he said. “He is a great sports fan, and he is really knowledgeable about the business of sports. So it doesn’t surprise me he’s interested. But beyond that, I’m a pass.” Trump said in June that baseball should have instituted a salary cap years ago. “If you don’t have a salary cap, you don’t have a sport, because they can’t help themselves,” he said. At last check, baseball is still a sport … The Hall of Fame announced that a record 62 of the 77 living Hall of Famers would be in Cooperstown next weekend for the induction. The group includes Wade Boggs, Pedro Martinez, David Ortiz, and Jim Rice … Northeastern outfielders Harrison Feinberg (Cubs) and Ryan Gerety (Padres) were signed as non-drafted free agents. Gerety, who is from Franklin, was a first-team All-CAA selection. The Mets signed Boston College lefty A.J. Colarusso (Leominster, Groton School) and outfielder Jack Toomey (Wellesley, St. Sebastian’s). The Angels signed Bryant first baseman Casey Wensley (Raynham, Bridgewater-Raynham) … Happy birthday to Keith Johns, who is 55. He played two games for the Red Sox in 1998. He drew a walk off Jeff Nelson in a 12-3 loss against the Yankees on May 23, then played two innings at second base three days later against the Blue Jays. Johns played for the Cardinals, Brewers, and Orioles organizations before being traded to the Sox just before the start of the ’98 season. He spent most of the season with Triple-A Pawtucket. Johns is one of 67 players in Red Sox history with one career plate appearance with the team. That list includes Clemens, who singled in 1996.

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