MLB Baseball 24 Hours

Last updated: July 24, 2026, 8:30 AM ET

Trade Deadline Buzz and Prospect Watch

The MLB trade deadline is fast approaching, and teams are already evaluating their rosters and farm systems. ESPN's latest prospect watch highlights the young talent that could be on the move, with Kiley McDaniel also releasing his top 10 prospect rankings for all 30 teams, analyzing risers and fallers after the MLB draft everything you need to know about the young players and who is rising and falling in every major league farm system. In a move to bolster their bullpen, the Pittsburgh Pirates acquired reliever Ron Marinaccio from the San Diego Padres in exchange for signing bonus pool considerations. Meanwhile, the Miami Marlins are seen as the quickest path to the major leagues for Rintaro Sasaki, who chose to sign with the team rather than return to Stanford or play in Japan.

Team News and Standings Shake-ups

President Donald Trump hosted the World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers at the White House, celebrating their recent success. In a significant development for the franchise's future, Harbinger Sports Partners, an investment group including Mark Cuban, has purchased a minority stake in the Oakland Athletics ahead of their planned move to Las Vegas in 2028. ESPN's first MLB Power Rankings since the All-Star break have shown a considerable shake-up, with one team's historic win streak coming to an end. The Boston Red Sox might have just saved their season, and the keys to the next two months for the playoff hopefuls are being examined.

Player Updates and Injury Concerns

Atlanta Braves star Ronald Acuña Jr. is nearing a return from the injured list and could be back for the team's three-game series in Baltimore starting Friday. For the Kansas City Royals, shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. has landed on the injured list for the first time in his career due to lower back tightness. Royals manager Matt Quatraro missed a game for a personal matter as the team began a series against the Detroit Tigers. Salvador Perez tied George Brett's Royals franchise record with his 317th career home run on Wednesday. The Athletics placed right-hander J.T. Ginn on the 15-day injured list with a blister on his pitching hand.

League-Wide Issues and Future Outlook

The MLB Players Association has called to preserve the current draft system after MLB proposed cutting the draft rounds from 20 to, slashing amateur signing bonuses by over $150 million, and preventing high schoolers from entering the draft. Yankees shortstop José Caballero was charged with a pitch clock violation that led to a strikeout and the ejection of hitting coach James Rowson. Detroit Tigers pitcher Tarik Skubal expressed his desire to finish the season with the team and win a World Series. Both the Minnesota Twins and Philadelphia Phillies will feature throwback uniforms for the upcoming Field of Dreams game on August 13. dynasty rankings for the top 300 players for the next five years and beyond are being analyzed. Discussions surrounding the Collective Bargaining Agreement, salary cap, and other crucial issues continue as owners and players negotiate a new CBA.