This is not your mother’s trade deadline.
The Cubs are running away with the National League Central. Heading into Thursday’s action, Chicago held an 11-game lead over the Cardinals. That’s not much of a surprise, given the team's supremely talented young team and a starting rotation even the Mets are starting to envy.
But the Cubs aren’t the only team with a commanding division lead at the halfway point of the season. The Rangers have a nine game lead in the American League West, over the Astros. In Cleveland, the Indians haven’t lost since June 15, when the Cavaliers were still trailing the Warriors in the NBA Finals three games to two.