The 2020 Major League Baseball season is just four weeks old, and yet the trade deadline is already upon us. Such is life in this unpredictable, shortened campaign.
The year has brought every kind of uncertainty — and that goes for baseball, too, as we look ahead to Aug. 31. Here’s a roundup of rumours and rumblings as we prepare for what is shaping up to be a particularly intriguing time around the league.
The Blue Jays look like buyers
In a normal season, the gap between contenders and pretenders would be a lot wider by the time the deadline (typically July 31) rolls around, painting a pretty clear picture of who’s buying and who’s selling. Now, the Aug. 31 deadline brings little separation between the two, with plenty of teams clogging up the middle and finding themselves in a playoff spot in this year’s expanded format.
That’s where we’ll find the Toronto Blue Jays. Twenty-three games into the campaign, the young group has a 12-11 record for a .522 win percentage thanks to a surge of offence and find themselves very much in the post-season picture.
Their place in the standings puts them in unfamiliar territory right now as potential buyers, not sellers, at the deadline.
General manager Ross Atkins said as much during a media availability on Thursday, telling reporters he’s thinking about what pieces could complement this group. With the offence looking promising and defence not detrimental to its success, Atkins’ biggest target is starting pitching.
“If there’s ways to continue to build upon that depth, we will look to do that,” Atkins told reporters. “Thinking about pitching and preventing runs is where the focus will be.”
So, who might be available?
Uncertain deadline brings long list of possible movers
Finding good starting pitching is never easy, and it might especially difficult this summer due to the increased number of teams in the mix upping demand – and increasing the asking price for those who are available.
MLB.com’s Anthony Castrovince highlighted some names of pitchers who could be on the move in the coming weeks, and it includes some names that might be of particular interest to the Blue Jays.
Right-hander Kevin Gausman caught the Blue Jays’ eye over the off-season before signing in San Francisco. His one-year deal makes him a strong rental candidate with no long-term commitment and his excellent outings this summer – 4.21 ERA and 34 strikeouts in four starts – will make him a popular target. Considering the Giants’ last-place position in the division right now, it feels like he’ll be on the move.
Less certain right now is the status of Alex Cobb, whose Orioles are just below the Blue Jays in the standings and who has one more year remaining on his deal. Should they make him available, Cobb’s 3.76 ERA in 26.1 innings pitched would surely get a decent return for the rebuilders.
Other notable names on the list that could be of interest to Atkins & Co.: Marco Gonzalez (Mariners) and Nathan Eovaldi (Red Sox).
Red Sox look open for business
Red Sox president Sam Kennedy revealed during a New England radio appearance earlier this week that while he isn’t waving the white flag on the season just yet, he’s also not deeming anyone “untouchable” right now. (Considering he gave up the sensational Mookie Betts last off-season, that’s believable.)
The Athletic’s Chad Jennings broke down the roster by looking at who, exactly, Boston might be most likely to move. Among those most tradeable are the team’s best hitter in first baseman Mitch Moreland, familiar outfielder Kevin Pillar, outfielder Jackie Bradley Jr., and a pair of pitchers in Brandon Workman and Heath Hembree.
Rumour has it, the Philadelphia Phillies are plenty interested in Workman.
We’ll likely learn a lot about the Red Sox in the coming week, as the AL East’s last-place team toes the line between restructure and full-on rebuild.
Angels ready to sell
There aren’t many certainties these days, but here’s one according to Jon Morosi:
David Fletcher, 26, is incredibly versatile, having played third base, shortstop and second, and has had some really strong at-bats, too. He’s also under team control through 2025, which means he’s an investment, not a rental.
Don’t expect the Astros to sell
The Houston Astros don’t look as dominant as they have in recent years, and while they’re currently in playoff position the expectations of another World Series have lessened. Their most eligible pitcher might be the very man they acquired at last year’s deadline, Zack Greinke.
But The Athletic’s Jake Kaplan warns against putting the Astros in the “seller” column.
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