The MLB trade deadline is July 31, which means we are eight days away and the ticking of the clock is starting to become visible. So far, we have hardly seen action, but there is still some sort of sorting out on the standings, and we have been around for over a week. Meanwhile, the rumor factory is stirring. Let's get started.
The Mariners and Yankees sit on the common attractions, chasing the same player. The Denver Post reported that the two teams expressed interest in Rocky Mountain third baseman Ryan McMahon. McMahon is dealing with a biceps injury and may be on the list of injuries, although players can be traded on the injured list, so it is not necessarily a trader.
Like most Rockies players, McMahon, 30, is much more productive at Coors Field than he has been in his entire career. This year, this means that an OP below .600 leaves the home. McMahon was a differential guard at third base and he signed until 2027 – and affordable. He is an attractive trade target in the market for influencer batsmen.
PADRES that wish to spin stop for multiple MLB players
Padres sit on the third NL universal card, so they are certainly buyers before the deal deadline. ESPN said hearing Padres' hanging pitcher Dylan stop might surprise some onlookers. Scease was ranked fourth in the NL Cy Young voting last season and is declining for a year, but talented, he is 29 years old. He will also hit free agents after the season ends.
The mentality here is to pause to add multiple squads at the major league level. Sure enough, Buster Olney noted that Padres showed interest in Orioles' starting Charlie Morton. In this case, stop will be used for multiple useful MLB parts, and then Padres will also get the rotational position where Morton takes over Cease.
This may sound a bit confusing, but Padres wants to win now, without overly deep farm systems, owning financial constraints imposed by ownership and having multiple vulnerabilities to fill. Also remember that starting pitcher Michael King is recovering from a shoulder injury and can rejoin the rotation sometime in August.
The Nath is listening
The Nationals’ Rebuild has produced three Surefire players in outfielder James Wood, infielder CJ Abrams and starter Mackenzie Gore, all of whom conveniently came over in the trade with Juan Soto. Will the Nath really move on from Gore with former general manager Mike Rizzo being fired? “Yes, trading Gore is a vision, but the temporary GM Mike Debartolo is at least listening because a) it's what a good organization does, b) the national needs a lot of help.”
Gore, 26, has 3.59 ERA and 140 strikeouts in 112 innings this season. He was not eligible for free agent until after the 2028 season.
The report most severely connects Gore with pups that require frontline starters, has a deep farm system and has an affinity for left and right. That said, every competitor can use pitching help, especially from someone who is as good as team control as Gore.
Royals want outfield help if trade Lugo
Royals may eventually open to trade All-Star pitcher Seth Lugo, who finished second in the Cy Young vote last season, but they will seek a “controllable” outfielder in return.
Lugo, 35, entered Wednesday's regular start, starting at a 2.94 ERA in 18 games. He signed a $15 million player option this season. Asking the team might find this attractive because Lugo looks likely to be worth $15 million next season, so he is either a rental player this year or a cheaper next year.
Garcia mixed Phillies
Rangers have only 1.5 games in AL wildcards and just won a Universal Card Berth two years ago, so it seems odd if they are going to sell. Nevertheless, ESPN reports that Adolis García is a “mixed together” for the Phillies, who can use the right-handed bat in the outfield. García showed off the worst season of his MLB career in three games in 2020, but he showed a lot of pop before that. Also mentioned are Luis Robert of the White Sox, for a team that is not very consistent in offense, can use more firepower to balance left-handed Kyle Schwarber and Bryce Harper.