With the All-Star Game officially in the rearview mirror, baseball fans can turn their attention to the next major date on the MLB calendar — the Aug. 1 trade deadline.
Now less than three weeks away, teams are starting to set course for the rest of the season and choosing whether to buy or sell. With more than half the league either currently in a playoff spot or five or fewer games out of the October dance, there will surely be plenty of competition on this year’s trade market.
Here are some of the latest rumours from around MLB to get you set for the trade deadline.
All eyes on Shohei
After hearing the “Come to Seattle” chants during his at-bats during Tuesday’s All-Star Game, it appears to be open season in the recruitment of baseball’s preeminent pending free agent, Shohei Ohtani.
Los Angeles Angels general manager Perry Minasian shut down the prospect of dealing the 2021 AL MVP back in June. But now, as losers of five in a row and nine of their last 10 heading into the break, the Angels are all of sudden five games out of the final wild-card position with three teams ahead of them.
On July 6, Jon Heyman reported in The New York Post that “Angels people seem to be leaving open the slight possibility of an Ohtani blockbuster.”
In his post-All-Star column, Bill Shaikin of the Los Angeles Times wrote about the public courting of the Japanese star from players and fans alike. He mentioned Ohtani’s compliments towards the city of Seattle, Los Angeles Dodgers star Mookie Betts, and Miami Marlins star Luis Arraez.
He also said that “[Ohtani] has not ruled out returning to the Angels, although you could not find anyone [at the All-Star Game] who thought he would be back in Anaheim.”
The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal recently appeared on Sportsnet Central to talk about Ohtani and the potential of a trade for the two-way star.
“If you’re asking me if they keep him through the trade deadline, yes, I believe they will keep him through the trade deadline,” said Rosenthal. “They’ve invested too much in the season, and if they cut the cord with him and trade him, then their chances of getting him back as a free agent probably disappear.”
As for a potential free-agent destination?
Rosenthal said: “The Dodgers loom as the obvious favourite, but free agency is a wild card.”
Selling in St. Louis
St. Louis Cardinals president John Mozeliak joined Martin Kilcoyne ahead of the All-Star break for a one-on-one conversation about how the season has gone.
“I can tell you, we’re going to trade people. You just don’t know if it’s going to be household names or guys who are more likely to not be here next year,” he said when asked about the team’s deadline plans.
“We’re not going to just give away players. We want to get some value in return,” he later added. “We want to get some value that helps us in 2024. And that’s really going to be our focus as we enter the trading period.”
The Cardinals have been one of the most disappointing teams in baseball, currently sitting in the NL Central basement with a 38-52 record.
According to Heyman, star third baseman Nolan Arenado addressed the whispers that he could be on the way out if St. Louis committed to selling.
“It is a business, right?” Arenado said. “I guess it doesn’t surprise me anymore what happens in this game. It would still be surprising seeing some things happen. But I understand there are certain things that probably should.”
Heyman listed pending free agents Jordan Montgomery, Jack Flaherty and Jordan Hicks, and Canadian Tyler O’Neill as “more likely” to get dealt.
White Sox open for business — save for core four
Continuing his busy All-Star week, Heyman reported that the Chicago White Sox “plan to seriously consider deals for all but four cornerstone players on their roster: Dylan Cease, Andrew Vaughn, Eloy Jimenez and of course All-Star Luis Robert Jr.,”
Heyman identified pitchers Lucas Giolito, Reynaldo Lopez, and Keynan Middleton as the most likely to be traded and that Giolito has drawn interest from the Cincinnati Reds and Texas Rangers, among others.
USA Today’s Bob Nightengale reported on Sunday that the Rangers also have a “strong interest” in right-hander Lance Lynn and that Chicago has a “high-asking price” for the veteran pitcher.
Pitching, pitching, pitching
As is always the case, pitching help seems to be the hot commodity at this year’s deadline.
In his report, Nightengale listed the Mariners, Dodgers, Reds, Arizona Diamondbacks and Baltimore Orioles as teams that will be looking to the trade market for arms.
He added that the Orioles “will listen to offers for their loaded infield surplus” and that the Diamondbacks will do “the same with their deep outfield corps” in the search for pitching.
The Toronto Blue Jays have also come up as a team that will look to the pitching market. At the end of June, general manager Ross Atkins called starting pitching an “obvious need.”
On Wednesday, during his weekly appearance on The Sean Salisbury Show, Houston Astros general manager Dana Brown threw his hat in the ring, as well, saying help in the rotation will be the team’s priority leading up to Aug. 1.