12 pressing questions that will define the MLB trade deadline  —  Welcome to the July pennant race.  —  The two and a half weeks leading to the Aug. 3 trade deadline will be an all-out sprint.  All but seven of the 30 clubs are within four games of a playoff position.

Reds open for business, but could add for the future: Sources  —  DENVER — The Cincinnati Reds may not fully classify themselves as sellers, but they've made it known they're open for business for teams looking to buy, multiple league sources granted anonymity to speak candidly about sensitive front office strategy told The Athletic.

Mets among teams who used AI loophole with dugout iPads before MLB crackdown  —  Access the Mets beat like never before  —  Join Post Sports+ for exciting subscriber-only features, including real-time texting with Mike Puma about the inside buzz on the Mets.  —  Major League Baseball banned the practice beginning Wednesday.

Chelsea reach verbal agreement for £117m Morgan Rogers transfer  —  Chelsea have reached a verbal agreement with Aston Villa to sign Morgan Rogers.  —  A bid of £117million (€137m, $157m) has been accepted, although the deal for the attacking midfielder is still being finalised …

With Will Smith out indefinitely, Dodgers need to trade for a catcher  —  Lost amid the headlines about Tarik Skubal, the Dodgers face this unexpected reality as the trade deadline looms: They would like to add a starting pitcher, but they need to add a catcher.  Will Smith has not played in six weeks.

Yankees' Aaron Boone takes blame in gut-wrenching loss to Dodgers  —  NEW YORK — Aaron Boone had been here before in a similar situation with his club facing the Los Angeles Dodgers.  —  In Game 1 of the 2024 World Series, Boone pulled Gerrit Cole after six innings, one run and 88 pitches.

Orioles, Kyle Bradish Agree To Five-Year Extension  —  The Orioles have signed right-hander Kyle Bradish to a five-year extension, the team announced.  The agreement will keep the righty under contract through 2031.  Bradish is a client of All Bases Covered Sports Management.

Mets have informed teams they're open for business ahead of trade deadline, and deals could come sooner than later  —  A rival executive said the Mets informed their team that the sale is on, and that everyone but young stars Carson Benge, A.J. Ewing, Christian Scott, Nolan McLean and the obvious, Juan Soto, is available.

Braves shut down Rangers in dominant series opener  —  The title says it all.  —  Sometimes a break does the body good.  And that's exactly what the Atlanta Braves have shown in their series opener against the Texas Rangers in a 15-1 win.  —  Starting off with a Drake Baldwin single …

New MLB ad campaign seeks to win fan support for a salary cap as the union counters  —  Major League Baseball's labor battle might be in the early innings, but the league is already firing 100-mph fastballs.  —  In recent weeks, MLB has gone on an advertising blitz to gain support …