Marco Estrada might be struggling at the moment, but that hasn’t stopped the Toronto Blue Jays starter from being linked to contending teams as the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline approaches.
The Kansas City Royals are apparently interested in the right-hander, according to SB Nation’s Chris Cotillo.
Estrada, who’s allowed 38 runs over 36 innings since June 1, is a potentially attractive option due to his track record of success in both the regular season and playoffs. Over 47.2 career post-season innings, Estrada’s posted a 2.64 ERA and 0.857 WHIP.
The Royals entered Wednesday with a 45-47 record and sat three games out of a wild-card spot. They’re reportedly looking to gear up for a final hurrah of sorts this year, with several core players set to become free agents at season’s end.
Yankees to shop Betances?
With the Yankees adding the impressive relief duo of David Robertson and Tommy Kahnle to their bullpen late Tuesday night in a trade with the Chicago White Sox, could New York deal right-hander Dellin Betances?
It’s certainly a possibility, writes Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports.
The Yankees’ need for starting pitching increased when right-hander Michael Pineda was lost for the season with a torn UCL in his right elbow that will require Tommy John surgery.
Betances, an elite reliever with a 16.9 K/9 rate this season, might be the best asset to net a replacement, Rosenthal writes, suggesting the team could even target Oakland Athletics starter Sonny Gray.
Sandoval back to San Fran?
Pablo Sandoval was a folk hero in the Bay Area, where he helped the San Francisco Giants win three World Series titles from 2010-2014. It’s where he earned his Kung Fu Panda moniker and made himself into a household name.
But the third baseman’s relationship with the city soured after the 2014 season when he publicly called out former teammates and signed a five-year, $95-million deal with the Red Sox. He was never the same player in Boston, however, resulting in his official release on Wednesday.
Now, the Giants appear to be interested in a reunion with the 30-year-old switch-hitter. General manager Bobby Evans joined local radio station KNBR 680 earlier in the day, before news of Sandoval’s release, and offered his comments.
“It’s possible, we’ll just have to see what the Red Sox do and see how this plays out,” Evans said. “I think that’s fair, I think that again, it’s not something we’ve spent a lot of time on of course. The trade deadline, there’s a lot of other focuses of course, but I imagine if he was available, anything would be possible.”
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