Episode 719 - With the 2026 MLB Trade Deadline complete, Mark and Gordon break down every major move and ask the biggest question in baseball:

Did any contender actually improve enough to beat the Dodgers?

The discussion begins with the hypothetical blockbuster acquisition of Tarik Skubal, leading into a broader conversation about the Dodgers' financial advantage, deferred contracts, and whether Major League Baseball is moving closer to a salary cap and salary floor during the next collective bargaining negotiations.

The hosts evaluate which organizations improved their World Series chances the most, why the Yankees, Phillies, Cubs and Red Sox may have positioned themselves best, and why several contenders chose much smaller moves despite an aggressive deadline.

Topics include:

• Dodgers' overwhelming World Series outlook
• The Tarik Skubal domino effect
• Deferred contracts and MLB economics
• Whether a salary cap is becoming inevitable
• Yankees, Red Sox, Cubs and Phillies deadline grades
• Padres' aggressive strategy
• Brewers' quiet deadline
• Cardinals, Blue Jays and Mets choosing clear organizational directions
• American League playoff race
• National League contenders
• Aaron Judge's injury impact
• Spencer Strider's uncertain return
• Robbie Ray, Kevin Gausman, Clay Holmes and many other notable moves

The episode also highlights the exciting launch of the Women's Professional Baseball League, discussing why women's professional baseball deserves far greater attention and how today's players are building upon the legacy of the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League.

Almost Cooperstown is a weekly baseball podcast featuring thoughtful conversations about the Baseball Hall of Fame, baseball history, current MLB topics, player comparisons, statistics and the stories that connect today's game with its rich history.

Thanks again to Mercury Maid for the Intro & Outro music.

Visit AlmostCooperstown.com for original baseball articles, subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts, and follow Almost Cooperstown on YouTube.

Carlos Beltrán, Jeff Kent and Andruw Jones are the newest members of the Baseball Hall of Fame. In Episode 718 of Almost Cooperstown, Mark and Gordon discuss the 2026 Hall of Fame class, what each player accomplished during his career, and why each ultimately earned a plaque in Cooperstown.

The conversation examines Beltrán's remarkable combination of power, speed and defense, Jeff Kent's legacy as one of baseball's greatest offensive second basemen, and Andruw Jones' extraordinary defensive brilliance in center field. The episode also explores what this Hall of Fame class may say about the evolving standards used to evaluate baseball's greatest players.

The discussion then turns to the 2026 Major League Baseball season with the trade deadline approaching. Which teams should be buyers? Which clubs should become sellers? Which players could be on the move, and which potential trades could have the greatest impact on the postseason races during the final third of the season?

Almost Cooperstown is a weekly baseball podcast featuring thoughtful conversations about the Baseball Hall of Fame, baseball history, current MLB topics, player comparisons, statistics and the stories that connect today's game with its rich history.

Thanks again to Mercury Maid for the Intro & Outro music.

Visit AlmostCooperstown.com for original baseball articles, subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts, and follow Almost Cooperstown on YouTube.

We didn't watch the ASG or the Home Run Derby. And we're ok with that. In this episode we look at the teams that have surprised positively and negatively. Only 60 games to go and yet we talk about this being the beginning of the 2nd half of the season. The All-Star Game is too late in the season now.

Olympic Baseball is like Olympic Soccer. World Cup soccer is way cooler and World Baseball Classic is way cooler than Olympic baseball. Could that change?

If your team stinks like the Mets and Rockies, how do you still be a fan with two and a half months to go?

Thanks again to Mercury Maid for the Intro & Outro music. Check them out on Spotify or Apple Music!

Please subscribe to our podcast and thanks for listening! If you can give us 4 or 5 star rating that means a lot. And if you have a suggestion for an episode please drop us a line via email at Almostcooperstown@gmail.com. You can also follow us on X @markkolier or visit the Almost Cooperstown Facebook page or YouTube channel. And please tell your friends to check us out!

One of our stories of the week is that #redsox Willson Contreras did something last week that only 35 players have done in MLB history. He got tossed from back to back games vs. #Nationals. Another is about the baseball flying further in June than it has since good 'ol 2019.

All-Star game rosters are in. Big yawn? Dodgers and Rays are hot, Yankees and Mets are not.

Thanks again to Mercury Maid for the Intro & Outro music. Check them out on Spotify or Apple Music!

Please subscribe to our podcast and thanks for listening! If you can give us 4 or 5 star rating that means a lot. And if you have a suggestion for an episode please drop us a line via email at Almostcooperstown@gmail.com. You can also follow us on X @almostcoop or visit the Almost Cooperstown Facebook page or YouTube channel. And please tell your friends to check us out!

College baseball may become even more important if MLB owners get their way. Changing draft rules is a big part of the first offer from the owners. The players (MLBPA) laughed it off as they should have. We talk about what it means and what it will lead to.

Bunting is back in 2026. Well at least since the universal DH era began.

Will Tarik Skubal be a Detroit #Tigers pitcher after the trade deadline?

Thanks again to Mercury Maid for the Intro & Outro music. Check them out on Spotify or Apple Music!

Please subscribe to our podcast and thanks for listening! If you can give us 4 or 5 star rating that means a lot. And if you have a suggestion for an episode please drop us a line via email at Almostcooperstown@gmail.com. You can also follow us on X @almostcoop or visit the Almost Cooperstown Facebook page or YouTube channel. And please tell your friends to check us out!

Tim Brown is the author of three baseball books and his latest book "Nolan" The Singular Life of an American Original" goes deeper with the HOF legend than any other. Tim spent time in Alvin, TX, which is Nolan Ryan's home town. There are so many great stories! Thanks for listening and watching!

Thanks again to Mercury Maid for the Intro & Outro music. Check them out on Spotify or Apple Music!

Please subscribe to our podcast and thanks for listening! If you can give us 4 or 5 star rating that means a lot. And if you have a suggestion for an episode please drop us a line via email at Almostcooperstown@gmail.com. You can also follow us on X @almostcoop or visit the Almost Cooperstown Facebook page or YouTube channel. And please tell your friends to check us out!

Shohei Ohtani is on his way to his 5th MVP (in six seasons). He has the lowest ERA and highest OPS+ in the NL - not even HOFer Babe Ruth did that in the same season!

We talk about the rash of injuries to stars including Jose Ramirez, Ronald Acuna Jr., and Spencer Strider. Jacob Misiorowski pitched a game for the ages and Mark tells you why when it comes to pitcher game score.

Ground balls are more deadly to hitters today as hitting the ball in the air means everything! Gordon tells you what that's all about.

Thanks again to Mercury Maid for the Intro & Outro music. Check them out on Spotify or Apple Music!

Please subscribe to our podcast and thanks for listening! If you can give us 4 or 5 star rating that means a lot. And if you have a suggestion for an episode please drop us a line via email at Almostcooperstown@gmail.com. You can also follow us on X @almostcoop or visit the Almost Cooperstown Facebook page or YouTube channel. And please tell your friends to check us out!

It's hard to believe that both Mike Trout and Aaron Judge are 34. How can that be? It seems like Trout has been around much longer - and that's actually the case. We talk about this in our stories of the week along with the latest injury reports, player news, and everything that happened in MLB last week. All in less than 30 minutes!

Thanks again to Mercury Maid for the Intro & Outro music. Check them out on Spotify or Apple Music!

Please subscribe to our podcast and thanks for listening! If you can give us 4 or 5 star rating that means a lot. And if you have a suggestion for an episode please drop us a line via email at Almostcooperstown@gmail.com. You can also follow us on X @almostcoop or visit the Almost Cooperstown Facebook page or YouTube channel. And please tell your friends to check us out!