Storylines to watch with Deadline clock ticking

The latest Trade Deadline in Major League Baseball history is upon us.

As the on-field schedule goes quiet — with no games between Sunday night and 7:10 p.m. ET Monday — the industry is poised for extra-inning dramatics of a different sort.

The 24 bonus hours of dealmaking are thanks to the customary non-waiver Trade Deadline (July 31) falling on a Sunday. So MLB general managers — along with fans and (most importantly) reporters — have an extra day of phone calls, text messages and perpetual website refreshes, leading up to the 4 p.m. cutoff.

The high volume of trades to date — involving notable names like Aroldis Chapman, Andrew Miller and Andrew Cashner — is a good indication that Monday will be active. The industry’s big board resets each time a significant piece moves; with that happening relatively often, GMs have had plenty of time to get creative.

Among the storylines to watch closely:

• The Dodgers haven’t made a trade since acquiring Bud Norris on June 30. The Rays haven’t moved one of their coveted starting pitchers. Both of those statements are likely to change by 4 p.m. ET.

If anything, the Dodgers’ pitching needs intensified when Norris left Sunday’s start after 13 pitches with a back injury. Tampa Bay remains a potential trade partner for the …

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