MLB trade deadline rumors: biggest questions ahead
Bob Nightengale breaks down the biggest trade deadline questions as contenders and sellers weigh their next moves.
While teams are finally starting to fully engage in trade talks, with a few still trying to decide whether they are legitimate buyers or should be realistic sellers, they realize that Monday is right around the corner.
And while the MLB trade deadline action has been painfully slow, there still is that large elephant sitting in the middle of the room:
The Detroit Tigers, as of late Thursday night, still had yet to officially inform teams that they are definitely trading Skubal, their two-time Cy Young winner.
It’s almost impossible to find an executive who believes the Tigers will hang onto Skubal, but they sure wish they would get the official word. Even if they can’t afford Skubal, suitors will pounce on starter Casey Mize and late-inning relievers Kenley Jansen and Kyle Finnegan.
“I keep waiting, but nothing yet,” one GM said. “It’s getting late.”
Here’s what GMs and executives are hearing as the Monday, 6 p.m. ET deadline lurks:
– They are convinced that the Tampa Bay Rays will be the most aggressive team at the deadline, knowing just how wide-open the American League is this year. Get into the dance, and you might be the last one at your party.
– The Boston Red Sox are giving up on the idea that Trevor Story will help them when he returns from the IL and are aggressively trying to acquire a shortstop. They are asking about everyone from Zach Neto of the Angels to C.J. Abrams of the Washington Nationals to Otto Lopez of the Miami Marlins to Jeremy Pena of the Houston Astros.
– The Mets are telling teams they are prepared to trade starter Clay Holmes quickly. He is not scheduled to make another start before Monday’s deadline. They also are trying to trade starter Freddy Peralta, and have no plans to sign him to an extension. They also have informed teams that shortstop Francisco Lindor is off limits for now.
– The Houston Astros and other teams keep asking about San Francisco Giants ace Logan Webb.
And they keep being told he’s not going anywhere.
– The Philadelphia Phillies would prefer to acquire Angels OF Jo Adell, who has 10 homers against left-handed pitchers this year, but the Toronto Blue Jays’ package of reliever Jeff Hoffman and outfielder Daulton Varsho intrigues them.
– The Cincinnati Reds are now telling teams that starter Hunter Greene is no longer available.
– A.J. Preller, Padres president of baseball operations, is telling teams that they will have extra money to spend at the deadline with their new owners on the verge of being approved.
– The Chicago Cubs are aggressively shopping for a starter, and have talked to teams about everyone from the Tigers’ Tarik Skubal to the Mets’ Clay Holmes to the Giants’ Robbie Ray to the Mariners’ Emerson Hancock.
– Teams are salivating over the idea of acquiring Hancock, who’s easily the most prized young starter on the market. They believe that the Cubs could have the best shot at him if they include outfielder Seiya Suzuki and perhaps infielder Matt Shaw in a deal.
– The Giants plan to keep outfielder Jung Hoo Lee and trade Heliot Ramos. They also are telling teams they are willing to eat part of starter Robbie Ray’s $25 million contract in a trade.
– The Arizona Diamondbacks would love to find a first baseman, but have let teams know their biggest priority is relief pitching after removing Paul Sewald from the closer’s role this week.
– The Miami Marlins will listen on everyone, with the exception of ace Sandy Alcantara, who they plan to exercise his $21 million option next season.
– Teams are leery about trading for Blue Jays starter Shane Bieber after he lasted just two-thirds of an inning in his last start, walking six batters and pulled after 42 pitches.
– The Blue Jays are willing to trade George Springer, who’s in the final year of his contract, but there’s limited demand for right-handed hitting DHs.
– Teams are convinced that Mets closer Devin Williams would thrive in a small market, just as he did in Milwaukee, but he still has $30 million left in the final two years of his contract.
– The Minnesota Twins, who are hanging around the AL Central race, still are having nightmares about trading away reliever Louis Varland a year ago. Varland, their popular homegrown kid, has become an All-Star closer in Toronto.
If the Twins had kept him, they might be running away with the AL Central, but instead are desperately scrambling for bullpen help.
