MLB Bullets shops around

My momma told me you better shop around.

• We got the first #HugWatch trade of the season as the Giants sent Eduardo Nunez to the Red Sox during last night’s Giants/Pirates game.
• There were many hugs.
• The Brewers bolstered their bullpen when they got Anthony Swarzak from the White Sox for minor league outfielder Ryan Cordell.
• In a trade brimming with ex-Cubs, the Padres sent Trevor Cahill, Ryan Buchter and Brandon Maurer to the Royals for Travis Wood, Matt Strahm and Esteury Ruiz. (Buchter was twice a Cubs minor leaguer, if you didn’t know.)
• Jeff Sullivan loves the deal for the Royals and argues that Cahill is a much better pitcher than you probably think he is.
• Jack Magruder applauds the Royals for buying and not selling.
• Will Leitch writes that the Royals owe it to their fans to keep the window of contention open for as long as possible.
• Bradford Doolittle argues that because of their history and their fanbases, the Royals and Pirates have trouble selling.
• For example, reports say that the Pirates are leaning against trading Andrew McCutchen.
• That may be because, as Manny Randhawa notes, Andrew McCutchen has been playing like his old self lately.
• Ken Rosenthal surveys the trade market on Facebook, because as I point out every time, he’s not allowed to write anywhere else.
• Grant Brisbee weighs whether the Rangers should buy or sell.
• Jerry Crasnick reports that the Rangers are ready to trade pitcher Yu Darvish if they get “the right deal.”
• Buster Olney notes that certain GMs prefer to make deals with each other, including Theo Epstein and Rangers GM Jon Daniels.
• David Schoenfield tries to guess what teams could get back in trade for the top starting pitchers who might be available.
• Jeff Passan writes that the injury to Clayton Kershaw won’t force the Dodgers to deal for a starting pitcher. Plus other trade notes.
• Tom Verducci thinks that Justin Verlander is the ideal pickup for the Dodgers. Then he qualifies it.
• Jay Jaffe has seven teams who might be interested in Giancarlo Stanton. Any of them interested in his contract?
• The Rockies are interested in Rangers catcher Jonathan Lucroy, according to “sources.”
• Grant Brisbee also examines whether the Angels should be buyers or sellers.
• Jerry Crasnick believes the Brewers can turn their post-All-Star skid around with a trade. I think he means more than just Anthony Swarzak.
• Scott Boeck reminds us of deadline deals that each of the last five World Series champions made.
• Teams can improve in ways other than trades. Mike Axisa has some prospects who could be called up for the stretch and could help.
• But usually prospects are used at this time of year to acquire veteran help. As Bob Nightengale reminds us, teams should not get too attached to their minor leaguers.
• In case you hadn’t noticed, Mike Axisa points out that Astros second baseman Jose Altuve is having one of the greatest months in major league history. As of Monday’s games, Altuve was hitting .507 for the month. (He went 1 for 4 Tuesday night.)
• And Michael Baumann argues that Nationals third baseman Anthony Rendon is the best superstar that no one knows about.
• Jeff Sullivan adds his voice to those extolling the greatness of Anthony Rendon.
• Evan Davis notes that Cardinals ace Adam Wainwright is officially in the downside of his career.
• We have more information on last month’s altercation between Red Sox pitcher David Price and Hall-of-Famer Dennis Eckersley and Price comes off looking like a bully and a jerk.
• Henry Grabar thinks that those who promote Yankees slugger Aaron Judge as the next “face of baseball” are barking up the wrong tree. He suggests Marlins pitcher Jose Fernandez would have been perfect, although he admits that Fernandez is problematic now since he died in a boating accident last year.
• Rays catcher Wilson Ramos was injured after being hit in the back of the head with a backswing.
• The Reds turned an odd triple play against the Yankees yesterday. How often do you see a run score on a triple play?
• The Cardinals and Rockies game last night experimented with shorter innings breaks.
• There was also a very bizarre and very long delay in last night’s Dodgers/Twins game over a double-switch or something.
• And finally, this home run by Dodgers minor leaguer Alex Verdugo is one of the oddest you’ll ever see. It was a fly ball that was coming down well short of the warning track but then bounced off the right fielder’s glove and well over the wall.

And tomorrow will be a better day than today, Buster.