5 players who might be playing themselves out of a trade, from Freddy Peralta to Willy Adames
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The weeks leading up to the trade deadline often focus on the teams and players trending up, and that makes sense. Which players, the thinking goes, could add to or fill holes for teams that are already in contention?
But every season, there are also players who we believe will be on the move but end up not being traded. Usually, the reason for that is underperformance — particularly underperformance from those players during the summer stretch right before the deadline.
AdvertisementAdvertisementHere are five players on probable deadline sellers who have hurt their trade value with their play so far in 2026.
Freddy Peralta, SP, New York Mets
When the Mets traded for Peralta in the offseason, he was supposed to be the rotation piece that brought everything together. He was seen as not only a high-level starting pitcher but also one with postseason experience who could lead the Mets' staff to new heights. Unfortunately, that has just not happened this season.
Peralta, 30, has looked like a shell of himself in 2026, and fittingly, more often than not, he has gotten "shelled" as a Met. The right-hander is currently 5-6 with a 4.83 ERA in 16 starts, and things have gotten worse recently. Over his past seven outings, Peralta has a 7.18 ERA, and he has just two quality starts since May 1.
The Mets, who are 34-45 and eight games back of a wild card, are trending toward being sellers at the trade deadline. For the team, having its best potential trade chip looking like one of the worst starting pitchers in the National League is suboptimal. It's also not ideal for Peralta, who will be a free agent at the end of the season. Both he and the Mets need better results over the next six weeks.
Jarren Duran, OF, Boston Red Sox
When it comes to trade rumors, few players have been mentioned more often than Red Sox outfielder Jarren Duran. Duran looked like a budding star in 2023 and 2024. He was turning into a two-way force on offense and defense, he was an All-Star in '24, and he even received MVP votes. But for the 29-year-old outfielder, the arrow has taken a downturn last season and so far this season.
AdvertisementAdvertisementDuran has a woeful .199/.258/.366 slash line with 12 homers and 37 RBI in 72 games in 2026. He has the fourth-lowest batting average among qualified hitters, and his 30.2% strikeout rate is the highest of his career (for a full season). While he still rates as an above-average defender in left field, the lack of offense is impossible to overlook.
Not many things have gone right for the Red Sox this season. Even so, Duran's turn from one of the best players in MLB to one of the worst is definitely a head-scratcher — and it makes their path to improving at the deadline more difficult.
Zac Gallen, SP, Arizona Diamondbacks
Zac Gallen bet on himself this past offseason. After testing the free-agent market, the 30-year-old right-hander returned to Arizona on a one-year deal. After a down 2025 season, the D-backs and Gallen were hoping for a bounce-back this season.
Instead, things have taken a turn for the worse for Arizona's longtime ace. Gallen has been the worst qualified starter in MLB this season, with a 6.10 ERA across 16 starts. Opponents have an .869 OPS off the right-hander and are hitting a whopping .317 against him, nearly 40 points higher than the second-worst opponent batting average.
Gallen's numbers have been trending in the wrong direction for the past few seasons, which is likely why other teams didn't bite in the offseason. It also makes it unlikely that Arizona could get much in a trade for him as a short-term rental. Looking ahead to his return to the free-agent market this winter, there might not be a pitcher in baseball who has cost himself more.
Michael Lorenzen, SP, Colorado Rockies
When Lorenzen signed a one-year, $8 million deal in the offseason, it seemed like the classic sign-and-flip. Lorenzen could come to Colorado, provide some quality starts and then be moved to a contender at the trade deadline.
AdvertisementAdvertisementBut Lorenzen's season hasn't been that simple. The Rockies' right-hander has not only had trouble at Coors Field, which could've been expected, he has also had trouble on the road, which is more of a surprise. Lorenzen has a 6.05 ERA in eight starts away from Coors this season.
Lorenzen is still on an expiring contract, so for teams searching for a flier in the rotation, he might still be worth a look. But he won't be providing the Rockies a significant boost with what they'll receive in return.
Willy Adames, SS, San Francisco Giants
Things have not gone the way Adames probably expected since he arrived in San Francisco. The Giants shortstop struggled in his first year in the Bay, and it was clear the hitting environment in San Francisco was a challenge for him. The team invested a seven-year, $177 million contract in Adames to be one of their foundational pieces two winters ago, but after a losing season in 2025 and with the team cruising toward another one in 2026, president of baseball operations Buster Posey has made it clear the Giants will likely have to sell at the trade deadline.
Adames' production has declined since his move to San Francisco. While he became the first Giants' player since Barry Bonds in 2004 to hit 30 homers in a season last year, the overall offensive numbers took a hit. And so far this season, with a .227/.269/.424 slash line to go with 13 homers, his numbers leave a lot to be desired.
The simple truth is the Giants' shortstop would probably benefit from the change of scenery. But his price doesn't match his production right now, which will make it a challenging contract for the Giants to move.
Badenoch blasts 'moaning' female Labour MPs over Burnham jobs 'quota'
Kemi Badenoch has told Labour women to earn a job in Andy Burnham's Cabinet instead of demanding they are handed jobs because of their gender.
The Tory leader lashed out today amid reports that female MPs are demanding the de-facto new prime minister introduce a 50:50 gender split 'quota' in his government.
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister also complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts.
But in a scathing article in the Times today Mrs Badenoch told them to 'stop moaning' and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'.
'There are many, many reasons why you shouldn't have any Milibands in the cabinet,' she said.
'But complaining that the boys haven't given them the right jobs or that the boys are taking all the jobs, just shows that Labour's women still don't get it.'
The idea of quotas was also attacked by Baroness Jacqui Smith, Labour's Skills Minister.
Asked by Times Radio if Mr Burnham should reserve jobs for women, she said: 'No, I think what Andy Burnham should be doing is building the very best team around him to change this country.'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband (above, right, in 2010) is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts
But Mrs Badenoch told them to pipe down and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party and seen by the BBC has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs after he succeeds Sir Keir Starmer.
'We are asking you to demonstrate this change from day one and address the toxicity and misogyny within our own party and government,' it said.
Labour has never had a female leader, while the Conservatives have had three, and Mrs Badenoch urged the government to follow its meritocratic example.
'If you run a meritocracy, then you do not have to worry about jobs for the boys,' she wrote.
'Every woman who is a Conservative MP, every woman who has ever won the leadership, has had to fight to get where she is.
'By contrast, Labour women are demanding guarantees from Burnham. But the truth is he doesn't have to give any guarantees.
'If none of Labour's women are prepared to get their hands dirty and challenge him for the leadership, their demands are toothless.'
'In fact, it's quite revealing that the women's parliamentary Labour Party has written to Burnham asking him to commit himself to at least 50 per cent female ministers.
'This has nothing to do with meritocracy. It is yet more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country.'
Venezuela Fury and Noah Price subsidising their life by livestreaming
Venezuela Fury and her husband Noah Price look to be making their own way in the world by raking it in from their lucrative social media accounts.
The influencer daughter of Tyson and Paris Fury, 16, has become an internet sensation after tying the knot with her husband Noah, 19, earlier this year.
Since getting married and moving in together the couple have been earning thousands of pounds a month, livestreaming their life as newlyweds in their static caravan in the East Riding of Yorkshire.
And fans can't get enough of their regular life updates on TikTok and Kick, which have proved to be very profitable for the pair.
They look to be supporting themselves after Noah denied that he was given £5million by Venezuela's family as a wedding gift.
Despite his wife's huge family wealth, an estimated combined £160 million, Noah recently told his Kick followers that he 'pays for everything' for the couple.
Making light of the claims about Venezuela's millionaire financial status, Noah said: 'I actually pay for everything unfortunately. You'd expect the millionaire to pay for it wouldn't you.'
Venezuela Fury and Noah Price are earning thousands livestreaming their caravan life - after her new groom insisted he pays all the bills and denied he had £5m handout from her dad
The influencer daughter of Tyson and Paris Fury , 16, has become an internet sensation after tying the knot with her husband Noah, 19, earlier this year
Venezuela then asked their fans: 'Do you think I am a millionaire?'
Noah joked: 'She isn't a secret millionaire guys', before she broke into song and sang: 'But I live like a millionaire!'
But it seems according to estimated calculations from their social media work, Noah and Venezuela can more than afford to support themselves.
Noah has been livestreaming on platforms such as Kick and TikTok, where viewers can send paid gifts or donations.
He was previously encouraging viewers to send gifts on his honeymoon during livestreams, suggesting this is one revenue stream.
Both Noah and Venezuela have built substantial followings on Instagram and TikTok. They can potentially earn money through sponsored posts, brand collaborations, affiliate links and creator payouts.
Kick allows its creators to take home 95 per cent of the £4.99 subscription cost that fans pay.
Streamers keep 100 per cent of direct tips and donations, minus minor standard payment processing fees.
It is unclear how many subscribers Noah currently has because this information is hidden, but he does have 7,200 followers which is publicly viewable.
An industry insider has suggested Noah is making around £400 per video on TikTok, while Venezuela is likely to make £2,000 due to her following count of 1.3 million.
An industry insider has suggested Noah is making around £400 per video on TikTok, while Venezuela is likely to make £2,000 due to her following count of 1.3 million
In one video on their honeymoon, Noah asked his followers if they'd give them some more gifts now that they were married.
In a TikTok live viewed by 20,000 he said: 'Keep liking our videos people, keep sending gifts.'
After saying thank you to several of his followers he joked they should stick around on the livestream and 'watch Venezuela punch me in the mouth'.
The other half of the honeymooning couple said: 'I am, honestly!'
Noah previously confirmed that the pair don't share their finances after they were asked whether they have a shared bank account.
'She earns her money, I earn mine,' said Noah, as Venezuela joked: 'Yeah, what you gonna do about it.'
Noah went on to debunk the rumour that Tyson gave him £5million when he tied the knot with his daughter as he insisted: 'No Tyson did not give me £5million'.
Meanwhile Venezuela is being eyed up by executives for a fly on the wall TV series.
Noah went on to debunk the rumour that Tyson gave him £5million when he tied the knot with his daughter as he insisted: 'No Tyson did not give me £5million'
Boasting 1.3 million TikTok followers, Venezuela is already entertaining fans with her honest musings and candid moments, from cooking to kitting out her and Noah's static caravan home.
And following the success of the Netflix series At Home With The Furys, it is no wonder bosses are wanting to draw on the Fury popularity.
A TV insider said: 'The couple are not A-list celebrities but everyone has become obsessed with their love story.
'People are genuinely intrigued by them. Whether it’s the fact they have married so young, Venezuela’s famous family or their gypsy lifestyle, they have the ‘X factor'.
'Several TV executives think a proper fly-on-the-wall series following their lives as newlyweds in the gypsy community would be fascinating,' they told The Sun.
It is thought Netflix would be likely to produce the series due to their already established relationship with the Furys.
Venezuela's representatives told The Daily Mail: 'We have many offers on the table regarding Venezuela which we are discussing.'
