Pittsburgh Pirates

Hiles acknowledges that the situation appeared different a couple of weeks ago, but the “Pirates are comfortable with hanging onto Keller unless a steep return is offered.” This could simply be posturing by the Pirates front office, but Keller is also under control for another three years, so there doesn’t have to be a rush to trade him if the team believes they can contend with Keller in the coming seasons.

While that may seem like a high price to pay, Bednar is perhaps the best reliever on the market. Since his rough first few appearances, Bednar has registered a 1.70 ERA, 1.14 WHIP, 16 saves, and a 34.5 percent strikeout rate in 37 innings. He also has one more year of team control through arbitration. If Bednar were to be moved at the deadline, he would likely remain a closer, unless he somehow winds up with the Mets.

With Red Sox OF Roman Anthony graduating from prospect status, the sites had to update their rankings, and both of them put Griffin as the top prospect in all of baseball. The 19-year-old is hitting .332/.409/.520 with 13 home runs and 46 steals in 83 games between Low-A and High-A this season. He also sports an impressive 27/17 K/BB ratio in 33 games since being promoted to High-A. It’s likely that Griffin would begin 2026 at Double-A and probably not make his MLB debut until 2027, but the Pirates now have the top hitting and pitching prospect in all of baseball with RHP Bubba Chandler somehow still in the minor leagues.

Cruz had two of the three hardest hit balls in the game, which shouldn’t be much of a surprise. After a rough stretch in June and early July, Cruz has started the second half by going 10-for-32 with one home run, four runs scored, and seven RBI in nine games. He should be in for a big second half.