MLB Bullets is all calm at the moment

You don’t need a weatherman to know which way the wind blows. And right now, it’s not blowing.

• The trade deadline keeps approaching and nothing keeps happening. Jeff Passan takes a look at several pitchers who could be dealt and the current state of the market.
• Since Passan published that piece, reports have emerged that the Giants are now unlikely to deal lefty Madison Bumgarner, preferring to “go for it” in 2019. The Giants are more likely to trade for a starting pitcher than trade one away.
• Eno Sarris makes the case for teams (like the Giants) with slim playoff chances to “go for it” this year rather than selling. (The Athletic sub. req.)
• The Indians are another one of those “middle” teams and Craig Edwards looks at how the Tribe got in that position and what their playoff hopes look like now.
• Buster Olney reports that the Mets are now actively looking to deal starter Noah Syndergaard and closer Edwin Diaz.
• And Ken Rosenthal reports that the Mets may try to sign right-handed pitcher Zack Wheeler to a contract extension. Earlier reports had the Mets trying to deal Wheeler.
• Stephanie Apstein talked with Zack Wheeler about how he’s handling all the trade rumors and found out that Wheeler literally has a packed suitcase ready to go. Maybe he won’t need it now.
• If the Mets do decide to deal Wheeler, Wallace Matthews writes that it’s not going to be to the Yankees, despite the obvious fit. The Mets do not want to see the Yankees win the World Series with a player the Mets traded them on the field.
• Anthony Castrovince has some ideas of how the trade market might get going in the next few days.
• Dan Szymborski has some buy and sell recommendations on several players rumored to be available in deals. (ESPN+ sub. req.)
• Mike Petriello has four pitchers who might benefit from a change of scenery.
• The Royals are telling teams that they’re not going to trade second baseman Whit Merrifield, according to Jon Paul Morosi. They will trade left-handed reliever Jake Diekman, however.
• David Schoenfield has the worst deadline deal that each MLB team has made in their history.
• The Dodgers acquired infielder Tyler White, who had been designated for assignment. from the Astros for a scrub minor leaguer. I’m sorry, that should read for minor league pitcher Andre Scrubb.
• Yankees infielder Troy Tulowitzki has announced his retirement. He will join the coaching staff for the Texas Longhorns. Tulo only played five games with the Yankees before getting hurt and has suffered several setbacks in his attempts to play again this year.
• Matt Snyder looks over Tulo’s career and where he ranks among the greatest players in the history of the Rockies.
• Rays ace Blake Snell will undergo arthroscopic elbow surgery. The team is optimistic that he’ll return in September.
• Juan Toribio reports on how Snell’s injury affects the Rays on the field and what it means for what the Rays will do at the trade deadline.
• The Rangers put Joey Gallo on the injured list with a hand injury.
• Jake Mailhot looks at how Braves third baseman Josh Donaldson is starting to hit like the Braves expected him to and how he’s turned his season around.
• Michael Baumann profiles the surprising ace of the Braves pitching staff, rookie right-hander Mike Soroka.
• Emma Baccellieri spoke to the players and umpires of the independent Atlantic League about how they feel about being guinea pigs for MLB’s proposed rule changes. Surprisingly, the umpires kind of like the automatic strike zone system, although that’s because at least some of them look at it as a teaching tool and that might not go over as well with MLB umpires.
• If you watch as much Pacific Coast League baseball as I do, you already know that Dodgers prospect Gavin Lux has been the hottest hitter in the game recently. Gerard Gilberto also uses Lux to examine the surprising amount of talent coming out of the state of Wisconsin lately.
• Jayson Stark writes about his surreal weekend as he was inducted into Cooperstown. (The Athletic sub. req.)
• The Pirates broadcast team decided to complain about the Cardinals stealing bases up seven runs in the fourth inning.
• Sad news as former pitcher Don Mossi has died at age 90. Mossi had a solid 12-year career, mostly with the Indians and Tigers, but he’s probably best known these days as the guy that Bill James called a “complete five-tool ugly player.”
• Add Reds outfielder Yasiel Puig to the list of players who shaved off a mustache between at-bats during a game.
• And finally, in case you didn’t see this on the broadcast of Thursday’s game in San Francisco, check out these fans sailing into McCovey Cove with a giant inflatable swan raft.

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