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We’re keeping track of all the latest rumors and buzz leading up to the Trade Deadline on Aug. 1.
June 15: What will Cardinals do at Trade Deadline?
The Cardinals were expected to contend for the postseason again in 2023 after making the playoffs in each of the past four years, but the club has one of the worst records in the NL at 27-42.
St. Louis is still in the NL Central race with the first-place Pirates only two games above .500, but the club is going in the wrong direction, following up a 15-13 May with a 2-10 start in June.
As a result, there’s growing speculation that the Cards could become a Trade Deadline seller.
MLB.com’s Will Leitch made a case earlier this week why now is the time for the Cardinals to shop reigning NL MVP Paul Goldschmidt. While a complete teardown remains unlikely, MLB Network insider Jon Paul Morosi thinks the club at least needs to talk about trading some of its young hitters for young pitchers who can help its rotation.
Top prospect Jordan Walker figures to be off limits, but 23-year-old infielder Nolan Gorman (controllable through 2028), 28-year-old infielder Tommy Edman (controllable through 2025), 24-year-old outfielder Dylan Carlson (controllable through 2026), 27-year-old outfielder Tyler O’Neill (controllable through 2024; currently on IL) and 25-year-old outfielder Lars Nootbaar (controllable through 2027, currently on IL) could be put on the trade block.
Though the Cardinals’ offense hasn’t been great this season, the club’s starting pitching is a much bigger reason for its struggles. St. Louis’ starting staff has the ninth-highest ERA (4.69), the fourth-highest WHIP (1.52) and the fifth-lowest K/9 (7.54) in the Majors.
Shopping one or more of their bats for MLB-ready young arms could be a way for the Cardinals to keep an eye on the future without waving the white flag on 2023.
If St. Louis does opt for a more extensive sale, we could see the club shop impending free-agent pitchers such as Jack Flaherty, Jordan Montgomery, Jordan Hicks and Chris Stratton, as well as reliever Giovanny Gallegos, who is signed through 2024 and has a 2025 club option.
June 15: E-Rod still likely to be traded despite injury?
Trade speculation surrounding Tigers ace Eduardo Rodriguez was put on the backburner when the left-hander went on the injured list with a left index finger pulley rupture last month, but with the veteran ramping up his throwing this week, he could be back weeks before the Deadline.
As a result, MLB Network insider Jon Heyman thinks the chances of Rodriguez being traded this summer are still “high.”
Rodriguez can test free agency this offseason if he opts out of the final three years on his five-year, $77 million deal with the Tigers. Coming into 2023, the chances of the 30-year-old opting out seemed slim, after he made just 17 starts and posted a 4.05 ERA in 2022.
However, he recorded a 2.16 ERA, a 3.16 FIP and a 4.19 K/BB ratio over his first 11 starts this season, increasing the likelihood of an opt-out while also making himself a more attractive trade candidate.
June 15: Greinke a ‘name to watch’ at Deadline
The Royals have said they have no intentions of trading catcher Salvador Perez, but perhaps one of their other veteran leaders will be on the block. MLB Network insider Jon Paul Morosi tweeted Thursday that Zack Greinke is ‘a name to watch’ as we approach the Aug. 1 Trade Deadline. Morosi adds that the club isn’t currently engaged in trade discussions regarding the 39-year-old right-hander.
Greinke owns a 4.65 ERA across 71 2/3 innings this year. However, he has been effective in eight starts since the beginning of May, posting a 3.54 ERA and limiting hitters to a .580 OPS. Greinke, competing in his 20th Major League season and his ninth with Kansas City, is the Majors’ active leader in innings pitched. He is also 64 strikeouts away from 3,000. The six-time All-Star and 2009 AL Cy Young Award winner is slated to be a free agent following this year.
June 13: Morosi expects Stroman to be traded before Deadline
With the Cubs sitting at 28-37 and Marcus Stroman eligible to test free agency this offseason if he declines his $21 million player option for 2024, you can expect to hear the right-hander’s name come up in trade speculation prior to this year’s Trade Deadline.
Stroman recently claimed on Twitter that he and his agent, Brodie Van Wagenen, have made “multiple attempts” to engage the Cubs in talks about an extension, but the club hasn’t shown interest in doing so.
The 32-year-old is having a terrific season despite the Cubs’ struggles, posting an NL-leading 2.42 ERA and 1.04 WHIP over 85 2/3 innings. He’s thrown 12 quality starts in 14 attempts.
Stroman has experience with changing teams in the middle of a season, as he was traded from the Blue Jays to the Mets in 2019.
MLB Network insider Jon Paul Morosi predicted Tuesday that Stroman would indeed be dealt before the 2023 Deadline and named the D-backs as a potential suitor.
Arizona entered Tuesday with the best record in the NL at 41-25, but the team has had trouble finding reliable starting pitching behind Zac Gallen and Merrill Kelly.
June 13: Would the Cards consider Goldy trade if things don’t improve?
Would the Cardinals actually entertain the idea of trading reigning NL MVP Paul Goldschmidt? MLB.com’s Will Leitch laid out the case why St. Louis should consider it if the club doesn’t turn its season around after a 27-41 start.
Leitch also named the most likely trade fits for Goldschmidt if the Cardinals did shop him, including the Giants, Angels and Padres. More >
June 12: Is this big-name catcher a potential trade chip?
The Royals figure to be one of the more prominent sellers leading up to the Aug. 1 Trade Deadline. Relievers Aroldis Chapman and Scott Barlow are two priority trade chips. Kansas City could be open to trading hitters such as Edward Olivares and Nicky Lopez, both of whom are under club control through at least 2025. But one Royal, if he is placed on the trading block, could really create a buzz: veteran catcher Salvador Perez.
The Athletic laid out a scenario recently in which the team could package Chapman with another player that could help shed payroll. The outlet also reported (subscription required) that one club which spoke with the Royals interpreted the scenario as an indication Perez could be moved.
“We don’t have any intention of trading Salvy. It’s not something we’re looking to do. But it doesn’t mean that teams won’t ask about him.”
Entering Monday’s game, Perez was slashing .273/.308/.502 with 13 homers in his age-33 campaign. His 114 wRC+ ranks fourth among qualified backstops, and his bat and leadership could be desired by teams with playoff aspirations that haven’t gotten much production out of their catchers. The Royals’ captain is making $20 million this season and is slated to earn $42 million guaranteed in 2024-25, with a $2 million buyout if the $13.5 million club option isn’t picked up in ‘26. He also has full no-trade protection.
June 8: Who are some potential trade candidates on reliever market?
If the Brewers’ trade of Josh Hader last August taught us anything, it’s to never say never when it comes to the reliever trade market.
The Royals’ Aroldis Chapman is the most likely reliever to be dealt before the 2023 Trade Deadline, but there are several other surprise names who could be available if their teams fall out of the postseason race. Here’s a breakdown of some of the pitchers mentioned by MLB Network insider Jon Heyman when he took a look at the reliever market on Thursday:
Emmanuel Clase (CLE): Clase’s strikeout rate is down this season, but he still leads MLB with 20 saves and has posted a 3.00 ERA with a 2.69 FIP. The Guardians are only 2 1/2 games out of first place in the AL Central, but at 28-33, it’s possible they’ll become sellers. The 25-year-old’s five-year, $20 million deal runs through 2026 and includes $10 million club options for 2027 and 2028.
David Bednar (PIT): Pittsburgh won six straight games from May 30-June 5 and remains in the hunt for the NL Central crown, but it has gone 12-21 since a surprising 20-8 start. Bednar (1.13 ERA, 30-to-1 K/BB ratio) is controllable through 2026.
Alexis Díaz (CIN): The younger brother of injured Mets closer Edwin Díaz, Alexis has posted a 1.74 ERA with 129 K’s in 88 innings since making his MLB debut in 2022. He’s converted all 14 of his save chances and has a 17.0 K/9 this season. The Reds sit four games under .500 but are trending upward, going 10-6 over their past 16 games, including two straight comeback wins against the Dodgers in top prospect Elly De La Cruz’s first two games. Díaz is controllable through 2027.
June 8: Trade candidates who have improved their stock recently
Recent performance isn’t everything, but sellers would obviously prefer to have their potential trade chips playing well leading up to the Trade Deadline.
MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand broke down some possible trade candidates who have heated up lately, improving their stock with eight weeks to go before this year’s Deadline.
Among the most notable names on Feinsand’s list? White Sox right-hander Michael Kopech, Giants outfielder Michael Conforto and Nationals third baseman Jeimer Candelario. More >
June 7: Is there any chance the Angels sign Shohei to another contract?
In a new interview with Ben Verlander on the Flippin’ Bats Podcast, The Athletics Ken Rosenthal said that, while he doesn’t expect the Los Angeles Angels to trade two-way star Shohei Ohtani, he doesn’t see any way Ohtani re-signs with the Angels after this season.
“Do I think they’re going to sign [Ohtani]? No, I don’t think there’s a chance they’re going to sign him,” Rosenthal said. “Yes, there’s a chance, but I would say it’s pretty minimal right now.”
Ohtani, who is signed to a one-year, $30 million contract with the Angels this season, is off to another fantastic start, and is hitting .276 with 16 home runs along with having a 3.30 ERA on the mound.
June 7: Are Royals looking to package Salvy with Chapman?
Royals reliever Aroldis Chapman is an obvious trade candidate this summer, with Kansas City sitting at 18-43 and Chapman on a one-year, $3.5 million deal.
Chapman, 35, has rejuvenated his career with the Royals, reversing his recent velocity decline and increasing both his whiff rate (up 6.3 points) and strikeout rate (up 11.6 points). He has extensive postseason experience, having pitched for the World Series-winning Cubs in 2016 before handling a high-leverage role with the Yankees in the playoffs from 2017-20.
According to a report from The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal (subscription required), the Royals are already shopping Chapman and giving interested suitors two options.
- Trade a better prospect now to gain control of Chapman for four-plus months.
- Take on one of the Royals’ higher-priced players along with Chapman.
Per Rosenthal, one club that spoke with the Royals interpreted the second option as an indication that the Royals are looking to trade longtime catcher Salvador Perez, who has two years (plus a 2026 club option) remaining on his four-year, $82 million deal.
However, as Rosenthal notes, trading Perez would be difficult for multiple reasons.
Teams typically are reluctant to acquire a catcher in the middle of a season when they’d have to learn a new pitching staff on the fly. Other clubs also are unlikely to part with a significant package of young talent for a player with so much money left on his deal, even if Chapman is attached.
At the same time, the Royals are unlikely to trade Perez in a straight salary dump, given the sentimental value he brings to the franchise as the last remaining player from the 2015 World Series championship-winning team. Perez, 33, has spent his entire career with the Royals since he debuted in 2011.
As a result, a Chapman-Scott Barlow pairing is more likely. Barlow is earning $5.3 million this season and has one year of team control remaining after 2023. The right-handed reliever has posted a 2.46 ERA with 201 strikeouts over 171 2/3 innings since the beginning of 2021.
June 7: How much value does Bieber have on trade market?
The Guardians could find themselves in a familiar situation this summer, shopping a controllable starting pitcher to maximize his value ahead of free agency.
They did it with Trevor Bauer in July 2019, Corey Kluber in December 2019 and Mike Clevinger in August 2020. Next up? Possibly 2020 AL Cy Young Award winner Shane Bieber, who is controllable through 2024.
However, as The Athletic’s Zack Meisel writes (subscription required), the situation is complicated. Bieber remains effective (3.57 ERA in 2023) at the age of 28, but his whiff rate (23%) and strikeout rate (16.3%) are both career lows, while his average exit velocity (91.7 mph) and hard-hit rate (47.5%) are career highs. His average four-seam fastball velocity has dropped from a high of 94.1 mph in 2020 to 91.2 mph in 2023. Cleveland will likely look to sell Bieber as a No. 1 or No. 2 starter, while other teams might view him differently.
“I can’t say with 100 percent certainty he’s a playoff difference-maker,” one executive told The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal. “He may help you get there, but I don’t know that he’s the answer in the playoffs.”
June 4: Which youngsters could benefit from a change of scenery?
Although the best available veterans typically receive most of the attention leading up to the Trade Deadline, there are a number of young players who could benefit from a fresh start with a new organization and might draw interest on the trade market this summer.
MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand looked at nine of these players on Sunday, including the Angels’ Jo Adell, the Rangers’ Sam Huff and the Rays’ Vidal Bruján. More >
