Outside The Confines: Feeling a draft

The MLB Draft is this weekend, and we have what you need to know. The trade deadline is approaching. The Yankees and Dodgers look vulnerable. And other news from around baseball.

Good morning.

• The MLB Draft starts this Sunday night and here’s all the basic information on the event.
• Melissa Lockard also has a more in-depth primer on the draft. (The Athletic sub. req.)
• Joe Trezza has nine storylines to follow in the draft.
• R.J. Anderson has five big storylines for the draft.
• Sam Dykstra has the best draft prospect from each state.
• Jordan Shusterman has his top 50 draft prospects.
• Keith Law has names to know on draft day beyond his top 100 prospects. (The Athletic sub. req.)
• Jonathan Mayo has a mock draft for your perusal.
• Gabe Lacques has a mock draft.
• Michael Baumann compares to college lefties expected to go in the first ten picks: Tennessee Volunteer Liam Doyle and Florida State Seminole Jamie Arnold.
• One player expected to go in the first two rounds is hard-throwing Lincoln-Way East High School left hander Jack Bauer, who has hit 103 mph on the gun.
• Matt Monagan actually got Kiefer Sutherland to return his call and offer comment on the “other” Jack Bauer, who wears the number “24” in tribute to the show.
• If Oklahoma shortstop Ethan Holliday is taken number one in the draft, it will be the result of four generations in the family. (The Athletic sub. req.) Cody Stavenhagen reports.
• The Nationals have the first pick and they just fired their general manager and manager. But Brittany Ghiroli reports that ownership is unlikely to change with it. (The Athletic sub. req.)
• The Orioles made a trade, acquiring a competitive balance pick (the only kind that can be traded) from the Rays in exchange for right-handed reliever Bryan Baker.
• Adam Berry looks at what the Rays might do next at the trade deadline after getting Baker.
• R.J. Anderson wonders why, despite all their injures, have the Orioles not yet promoted their top prospect, catcher Samuel Basallo?
• The Yankees have designated for assignment infielder DJ LeMahieu, despite the team still owning him $22 million through next season.
• Mike Axisa has five third basemen the Yankees might trade for to replace LeMahieu.
• Russell Dorsey breaks down how the Blue Jays have overtaken the Yankees in the American League East.
• David Schoenfield hands out mid-season grades to all 30 teams.
• R.J. Anderson notes that the Dodgers have lost six straight games and that the flaws on this supposed “superteam” are showing. They still have the best record in the National League, however, but just one-half game better than the North Siders.
• The top 40 players on the trade market as we approach the July 31 deadline. (The Athletic sub. req.)
• Jeff Passan has one possible trade acquisition for each contender.
• Dan Szymborski thinks that despite his terrible results, Marlins right-hander Sandy Alcantara is returning to something close to his pre-injury form.
• Davy Andrews checks in on how Braves right-hander Spencer Strider’s is doing in his return from injury.
• The field for the 2025 Home Run Derby is set.
• Tyler Kepner has the “forgotten All-Stars” of the last 25 years. (The Athletic sub. req.)
• The White Sox will wear a “45” patch for the rest of the year to honor the memory of their former closer Bobby Jenks.
• Davy Andrews argues that we’ve reached “peak” defense in center field.
• MLB Players Association second-in-command Bruce Meyer notes that commissioner Rob Manfred is trying to convince players that a salary cap would be to their benefit, but the union certainly doesn’t see things that way. (The Athletic sub. req.) Evan Drellich with the story.
• Tuesday night’s walk-off three-run inside-the-park home run by Giants catcher Patrick Bailey against the Phillies was revenge 36 years in the making, reports Jason Foster.
• Remember Tyler Naquin. the outfielder for Cleveland, Cincinnati and a few other teams? He’s trying to make a comeback as a pitcher, and his first outing in the Midwest League went well. Jesse Borek reports.
• And finally, did you see this play from the summer Northwoods League that went viral on social media?

Gary Adornato explains what happened in this play and how the umpires got it wrong.