Welcome to The Opener, where every weekday morning during the regular season you’ll get a fresh, topical story to start your day from one of SI.com’s MLB writers.
The 2022 trade deadline is on Aug. 2, two days later than its typical July 31 date that had been the norm for decades. But don’t let the pushed back deadline fool you: this trade season is already underway.
To wit, there was Monday’s deal that sent first baseman Carlos Santana from the Royals to the Mariners in exchange for a pair of minor league arms Wyatt Mills and William Fleming. A blockbuster swap? Not exactly, but the timing (and participants) of the trade are notable, and could portend what to expect in the weeks to come.
