Breaking Down Latest MLB Trade Rumors for Yankees, Dodgers, Phillies and Top World Series Contenders

For MLB teams in the thick of the World Series race, now is the time to add roster reinforcements.

OK, so they don't actually have to make those additions right this second, but opportunities will keep dwindling the closer things move toward the 6 p.m. ET trade deadline on Monday, August 3.

While sellers can be a bit tough to find, buyers are more easily identifiable. Let's examine some of the biggest, then, while breaking down the latest trade buzz among top championship contenders.

Yankees Eyeing an Elite Reliever?

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When assessing the roster needs of the New York Yankees, the bullpen is far from the first thing that comes to mind. In fact, Yankees relievers have compiled the second-lowest ERA in the Majors, per FanGraphs.

And yet, the Yankees will reportedly "aggressively pursue" San Diego Padres star closer Mason Miller, per NJ.com's Randy Miller.

The Padres, who included top prospect Leo De Vries in a package to acquire Miller last July, will clearly want a fortune for Miller. As they should. He is, as a scout told NJ.com, "the best there is."

The Yankees might make a significant push for Miller, although top prospect George Lombard Jr. is reportedly "believed to be untouchable," per NJ.com. Still, New York's surplus of Major-league starting pitching and prospect depth might allow for a serious pursuit of Miller, who owns a microscopic 0.86 ERA with 78 strikeouts in 41.2 innings pitched.

Phillies Lurking in Tarik Skubal Sweepstakes?

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Between Zack Wheeler's rapid recovery, Jesús Luzardo's breakout and Cristopher Sánchez's continued dominance, the Philadelphia Phillies should have a three-headed monster leading their rotation in the postseason.

They still might seek out a fourth. As The Athletic's Jayson Stark told 97.5 The Fanatic, the Philles are "still hanging around the backboard on the Tarik Skubal market."

Now, before Phillies fans rush out to order their custom Skubal jerseys, it's worth noting that Stark started by saying, "I don't see how the Phillies would win that bidding war." Stark also admitted that "the stars have to line up for them to land (him)."

Still, Philadelphia hasn't abandoned the pursuit, and maybe that's relevant. Skubal, a two-time Cy Young winner, keeps trending up following his mid-June return from elbow surgery, most recently throwing seven blanks with nine strikeouts against the Los Angeles Angels over the weekend.

Dodgers the Best Trade Partner for Tigers in Skubal Talks?

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With the American League appearing wide open, and the Detroit Tigers on a 26-16 heater since the start of June, it's possible the Skubal sweepstakes never come to fruition.

As ESPN's Aiden Gonzalez reported, the "growing sentiment among rival executives lately" is that Skubal stays put. Gonzalez cautioned, though, that the Tigers might need to keep playing "really well" to stick to that plan. Otherwise, it might be time to cash in this lottery tick ahead of Skubal's upcoming journey into free agency.

If the Tigers opt to sell Skubal, rival evaluators feel that "nobobdy...matches up better with the Tigers on a deal like this than the Dodgers," per Gonzalez. Detroit needs outfield prospects, and L.A. employs some of the best in the game, like Josue De Paula, Zyhir Hope and Eduardo Quintero. The Tigers might also covet an MLB-ready replacement for Skubal, and the Dogers could deal Justin Wrobleski or Emmet Sheehan.

The idea of Skubal in a Dodgers' jersey is terrifying to everyone outside of this organization; forget the rich getting richer, this would be the obscenely wealthy getting unfairly loaded. And yet, L.A. could pull this off, both to add another star to its roster and to keep Skubal away from potential playoff opponents, like the Phillies, Atlanta Braves, Milwaukee Brewers or even the Yankees.