Over the years I’ve learned that fewer baseball insiders have any real information and that most of what they pass off as news is pure speculation on their part. It may be that GM’s are using the media the way player agents used the media to create demand when there really wasn’t any.

As a result, I give less credibility to any trade rumors and rely a little more on what the GM’s actually say or don’t say. Case in point, earlier this season, Cub GM, Jed Hoyer gave the impression that the Cubs would be pushing all in because Kyle Tucker isn’t a lock to resign with the team for ’26 and beyond. Now he is suggesting giving up a top prospect for a one-year rental is out of the question. That doesn’t sound like a go for broke approach, or maybe they are closer to landing Tucker beyond this season?

As one can sense from the blog, I follow the Cubs and Brewers very closely but keep an eye on the other 28 teams and not just as to how it effects those two. Rather than dwelling on the Cubs recent ho-hum post ASG run, it’s important to note that several teams are trending in the wrong direction. The Tigers don’t look like the Tigers and everyone’s favorite underdog, the Rays, looked pretty vulnerable against the White Sox. A week ago, some scribe listed a couple of Rays pitchers as possible trade targets for the Cubs. Based on their recent outings, I suggest trading three magical beans and no more.

For decades, non-Texans have scoffed at the idea that the Dallas Cowboys are America’s team. As a fan of the Tom Landry Cowboys, I’m somewhere on the sidelines on that issue. However, I nominate the Dodgers as the successor to the Cowboys for national dislike or apathy. While Clayton Kershaw is one of my favorite current players, I’m suffering from Dodger fatigue. I laughed a week ago when broadcaster, Orel Hershiser suggested that the cheatin Astros were up to their old tricks when they smacked L.A 18-1. Did he think the Brewers were cheating when they swept the Dodgers in the season series 6-0)?

With the July 31, trade deadline approaching we’ve been promised a ton of movement, and I wonder how fans will react should nothing change. Or maybe, everyone is playing things close to their vest, and we’ll see major roster upheaval.