Tigers Call Up Max Clark; Red Sox, Cardinals, White Sox Eye Deals Ahead of MLB Trade Deadline

The Detroit Tigers are making a late-season roster move that could both boost their lineup and reshape their trade-deadline strategy. The club will promote outfielder Max Clark, the No. 3 overall pick in the 2023 MLB Draft, to the major-league roster on Friday, according to multiple reports. The promotion arrives as the Tigers weigh whether to trade left-handed ace Tarik Skubal and other veterans before Monday’s deadline.

Clark, 21, has forced his way to the majors after a strong July at Triple-A Toledo, where he hit five home runs with a 1.086 OPS. For the season, he batted .276 with an .802 OPS and stole 21 bases in 23 attempts. The Tigers originally expected to bring him up later in the year, but center fielder Matt Vierling’s groin injury and the need for Javier Báez to return to the infield created an opening.

Por que importa

The timing, however, has drawn attention from rival executives. Adding Clark to the 40-man roster now means he will lose his rookie status if he stays with the club for the remainder of the season. It also means he would be unable to play in the minors during a potential lockout in 2027. One rival executive told The Athletic the move is “odd,” given those consequences. The Tigers could use Clark’s arrival to soften the blow for fans if they trade Skubal, or they could argue they are still contending if they receive a controllable starter in return.

Red Sox Searching for Infield Help After Curtis Mead Injury
The Boston Red Sox suffered a setback Tuesday when trade acquisition Curtis Mead fractured his left wrist in his first game with the club. The team is now exploring shortstop options, with Miami Marlins infielder Xavier Edwards emerging as a target. The Red Sox also have interest in Marlins shortstop Otto Lopez, as well as Angels shortstop Zach Neto, who was previously reported as a Boston target.

Contexto

Xavier Edwards, who started 108 games at shortstop for Miami in 2024-25, was moved to second base in May 2025 when the Marlins installed Lopez as their permanent shortstop. Edwards lacks a strong arm but offers speed and contact ability. The Red Sox’s assistant general manager, Taylor Smith, previously worked in the Rays’ predictive modeling department and is familiar with both Edwards and Lopez from their time in Tampa Bay’s system.

Another name that could fit is Tigers second baseman Gleyber Torres. Boston showed interest in Torres last offseason before he signed with Detroit. He no longer plays shortstop, which makes him less of a fit, but he is a right-handed bat who could provide infield depth. Torres is a native of Caracas, Venezuela, and would join a growing Venezuelan contingent in Boston that includes Wilyer Abreu, Ranger Suárez, Willson Contreras, Carlos Narváez and Andruw Monasterio.

Cardinals Could Capitalize on Catcher Scarcity
The St. Louis Cardinals are carrying three big-league catchers: All-Star Ivan Herrera, backup Pedro Pagés, and rookie Jimmy Crooks. With the league-wide shortage of catching depth, the Cardinals could deal from this surplus as they prepare for a competitive window in late 2027 or early 2028.

According to rival executives, the Cardinals’ asking prices are high. Herrera’s arm has been a weakness—he has thrown out only one of 29 attempted base stealers this season—and the team prefers he catches no more than twice a week. The Cardinals are high on his bat but do not see him as a long-term solution behind the plate. Pagés is valued for his game-planning and rapport with pitchers, making him a preferred backup. The most likely trade candidate is Crooks, a 25-year-old left-handed hitter who won’t be arbitration-eligible until 2029. President of baseball operations Chaim Bloom is under no pressure to make a deal but will listen to offers for any of the three.

White Sox Consider Bullpen Promotions from Top Prospects
The Chicago White Sox are exploring trade additions for their pitching staff while also considering at least three of their top prospects as potential bullpen reinforcements. Left-hander Hagen Smith (the club’s No. 2 prospect), right-hander Tanner McDougal (No. 4), and right-hander Mason Adams (No. 10) could all pitch in the majors down the stretch. Smith and McDougal are already working as relievers in Triple-A.

Some within the organization view this as the best way for the trio to impact the major-league club this season. The White Sox still need to add pitching, and one scenario involves trading for a traditional starter, moving Erick Fedde to the bullpen, and then deepening the relief corps with the young arms. The team’s stance on adding a starter versus a reliever remains fluid.

Angels’ Mozeliak Noncommittal on Detmers, Soriano, Neto
Los Angeles Angels interim general manager John Mozeliak told The Athletic on Thursday that the team is staying open-minded about trade discussions involving Reid Detmers, José Soriano, and Zach Neto. While some rival executives believe the Angels are more likely to trade one or both pitchers—each with two years of additional control—than Neto (three years of control), Mozeliak said he is not sure yet. “The sense I have right now is: I don’t know,” Mozeliak said. “We are staying very open-minded… We have time, in the sense that Monday is a long way away. And we have even more time, meaning they’re under control.”

Key facts

The flurry of activity and speculation highlights how the next three days will shape the 2026 playoff race. For the Tigers, Clark’s promotion is a clear signal that the organization believes he can help now—even if it complicates trade talks. The Red Sox, Cardinals, and White Sox each face roster puzzles that could be solved by the right acquisition or promotion. With the deadline at 6 p.m. ET Monday, the next 72 hours will be critical.

Source: The Athletic, “What we’re hearing about the Tigers, Red Sox and more ahead of the MLB trade deadline,” July 31, 2026. https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7482212/2026/07/31/mlb-trade-deadline-red-sox-rays-tigers-pirates/