In 2018, Manny Machado, Brad Hand, Zack Britton and Cole Hamels were traded between July 18 and July 27.



It’s July 28. Where are all the deals?



Many expected the new single July 31 deadline to spark earlier activity and a great number of trades. Yet as the day began, the only transactions thus far had involved mostly spare parts.



Depending upon whom you believe, the stalled market is due to the unrealistic demands of sellers, the delays by several teams in determining their paths and the Mets’ sudden decision to entertain offers for some of their best pitchers — starters Noah Syndergaard and Zack Wheeler and closer Edwin Díaz.



Oh, and there also is this: Most of the players available, starting pitchers in particular, are not all that enticing.



Consider:



• Blue Jays right-hander Marcus Stroman is first in the American League in groundball percentage and fifth in ERA with a 2.96. He also comes with an...