The Athletic's series explores how MLB executive personalities influence trade deadline deals. Different styles emerge: hunters (like Alex Anthopoulos) make direct, swift moves; fishermen (A.J. Preller and Andrew Friedman) cast wide nets; and the "Grind Machine" (Cleveland Guardians) meticulously negotiates. The Tampa Bay Rays' volume-trading approach, emulated by Jerry Dipoto, focuses on quantity over quality. Executives' relationships and communication styles—phone calls, texts, or directness—significantly impact trade outcomes. The article highlights the diverse strategies employed by various MLB teams in their pursuit of deadline success.

Prepared by Emily Rhodes and reviewed by editorial team.