There should be designated "hug cameras" in every MLB dugout from now until Friday, instantly Tweeting out gifs of any major leaguers who hug each other. Then we should all be able to vote "Trade or Just Male Bonding?"
- I'm not going over all of yesterday's trades, since you probably know them all by now. But if you don't, here's a recap and quick analysis of yesterday's deals.
- Here's how the Troy Tulowitzki trade went down in the Rockies front office.
- Jon Paul Morosi has a few more "tidbits" about the trade.
- Grant Brisbee isn't impressed with the Rockies return for Tulowitzki, but he does make a case for dealing him and a case for the Rockies keeping him.
- Kiley McDaniel breaks down the prospects the Rockies received.
- Matthew Pouliot thinks the Tulo trade may have been the strangest deadline trade ever.
- Craig Calcaterra wonders why the Mets didn't try to beat what he sees as a pretty light offer for Tulo.
- The reaction in Colorado was sadness, combined with a sense that something had to be done about the team.
- Will Leitch notes the risks of the Blue Jays "going for it."
- Rob Neyer wonders if Tulowitzki's contract won't make the Blue Jays regret the deal in the end.
- Ben Lindbergh tries to go against the grain and make the arguments against the Blue Jays making the deal and for the Rockies making it.
- Jeff Sullivan says the Rockies are finally acknowledging reality. Also, they're not going to have to pay for Tulowitzki's "decline phase" now.
- Or maybe they aren't acknowledging reality. Manager Walt Weiss says that the trade of Tulowitzki is not a sign that the team will be torn down, saying the Rockies are "too talented" to start a massive rebuild.
- Or maybe no one on the team tells Weiss anything. Because Jon Heyman is reporting that Carlos Gonzalez is on the trade block.
- The Angels went nuts and added three outfielders. They traded for David Murphy, David DeJesus and Shane Victorino within a matter of hours. David Schoenfield thinks the Angels did well.
- Kim is very happy her husband was traded to the Angels.
- Did the Angels make all these deals because Mike Trout has a wrist injury?
- The Phillies finally traded Jonathan Papelbon to the Nationals.
- Ken Rosenthal notes that current Nationals closer Drew Storen is pretty unhappy about this. The trade, according to Rosenthal, indicates that even though Storen is having an excellent season, the front office still doesn't trust him.
- Barry Svrluga says how Storen responds will be the key to this trade being a success or not for the Nationals.
- The Astros seem to be the most aggressive team in pursuit of Cole Hamels.
- Will Leitch looks back at last season's deadline deals to see how much impact they had.
- Andrew Simon ranks deadline deals that helped teams win the World Series.
- Johnny Cueto is very happy to be a Royals. Take that, Lorde.
- Rajai Davis apparently pulled a massive prank by deciding to follow every Cardinals-related Twitter account all at once.
- Sam Miller breaks down the mess the Padres are in right now (thanks to their new GM) and what can be done to fix it, if anything. Did they do something last night?
- Marlins pitcher Henderson Alvarez is out for the season.
- Hanley Ramirez is having one of the worst months of his career in July.
- The Mets Jenrry Mejia just was reinstated earlier this month for a suspension after failing a drug test. Now he failed another drug test and will miss 162 more games.
- The BBWAA changed the rules for voting eligibility for the Hall of Fame. Writers now lose their voting privileges after not having actively covered the game for ten years.
- Rob Neyer talks about the movement to give Bill James the Spink Award. Neyer doesn't seem to think that's enough. He admits he's not unbiased, though.
- Pedro Martinez had his number retired by the Red Sox.
- Mark Teixeira had a bad day at the office and he took it out on a trash can.
- Commissioner Rob Manfred has denied Buck Weaver's application for reinstatement. I'm sure Buck is rolling over in his grave.
- Diamondbacks first pick in the draft Dansby Swanson hasn't played an official game yet, but he's already going to miss time after being hit in the face with a fastball in batting practice.
- I need to visit this place. The Bartolo Colon Baseball Academy, complete with a Bartolo Colon statue out front.
- Now the part of our program where I mention Taylor Swift to get cheap hits. The pop megastar has to change the date of her concert at Minute Maid Park to accommodate a possible Astros postseason game.
- Now it's time for Fielding Porn. Mookie Betts goes over the wall at Fenway Park to make this fabulous catch, except he didn't hang on to the ball. Home run.
- This is more like it. The Royals turned the most incredible 4-6-3 putout you'll probably ever see.
- And finally, since this is trade season, Michael Baumann teaches how you too, can participate in "Hug Watch, 2015." A guide to hugs in July.
And tomorrow will be a better day than today, Buster.