MLB’s trade deadline occurs at 3pm central time today, and with about seven hours to go, we recommend you buckle up for a wild ride. This is our tenth trade deadline here at MLBTradeRumors.com, and we’re happy to have you on board. You can follow us on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook and download our free app as well. Here’s a look at who’s been traded so far, who’s likely to be dealt today, and which teams to keep an eye on.
Who’s Already Moved
- David Price grabbed most of yesterday’s early headlines when he was sent to Toronto in a four-player trade that netted the Tigers left-handers Daniel Norris, Jairo Labourt and Matt Boyd. Toronto has its ace, but it comes at the price of their top prospect (Norris), who’s already penciled in to start for Detroit this weekend.
- Somehow, Price is only the second-biggest move that Blue Jays GM Alex Anthopoulos has made this week. Troy Tulowitzki homered in his Blue Jays debut, but Tulo in Toronto and Jose Reyes in a Rockies jersey will take some getting used to. Full details of that swap here.
- The Astros struck out of nowhere to land both Carlos Gomez and Mike Fiers less than 24 hours after a trade of Gomez to the Mets fell through due to medical and/or financial concerns surrounding Gomez (depending which reports you believe). Astros prospect Brett Phillips was thought to be untouchable, but he headlines a package of four players going to Milwaukee. Houston had already added Scott Kazmir in a trade last week.
- Cole Hamels is a Ranger, or at least he will be later today when the eight-player blockbuster sending him and Jake Diekman to Texas in exchange for Matt Harrison and five prospects is announced. Philadelphia took its time with the trade, but in the end gave quite a bit of financial help to its trade partner in order to take on at least three players that profile as Top 100 prospects in some circles.
- Johnny Cueto and Mike Leake are no longer Cincinnati Reds. Cueto stayed in the midwest and will make his Royals debut tonight after being shipped to Kansas City in exchange for their 2014 first-round pick and postseason bullpen hero, Brandon Finnegan, and two other prospects. Leake cost the Giants their top prospect or their No. 2 prospect, depending on your preferred list, but the San Francisco rotation is unquestionably better off than it was 24 hours ago. As for the Royals — don’t forget they picked up Ben Zobrist, too, before the chaos truly kicked off in earnest.
- We could barely make sense of the 13-player blockbuster between the Dodgers, Marlins and Braves in 2000 words, let alone in a sentence. You’ll have to see for yourself, but we do know that Mat Latos, Jim Johnson and Alex Wood are Dodgers, and Hector Olivera is now property of Atlanta.
- Jonathan Papelbon wanted a trade and at long last got one. He’ll stay in the division as the Nationals’ new closer with a restructured contract.
- The Angels bought a whole outfield, though David Murphy (trade link), David DeJesus (trade link) and Shane Victorino (trade link) won’t all be in the lineup at the same time.
- The Pirates have made a pair of ’pen additions — one more minor than the other — in adding Joakim Soria from the Pirates and Joe Blanton from the Royals. Don’t forget they added Aramis Ramirez last week, too.
- The Mets might not have landed Gomez, but they’ve been plenty active by bringing in Tyler Clippard (trade link) in addition to both Juan Uribe and Kelly Johnson (trade link).
Who’s Likely To Be Moved
- Yoenis Cespedes, Rajai Davis, Tigers: Two of the Tigers’ big rentals — Price and Soria — have already departed, but expect Cespedes to be among today’s most-talked-about players. Alex Avila and Alfredo Simon could go, too.
- Justin Upton, Ian Kennedy, Tyson Ross, Padres: Upton and Kennedy are both status as a rental player seals his fate, and while Ross has three years of control left, there’s too much chatter about him to not consider it likely. Andrew Cashner, Joaquin and even Craig Kimbrel could all go as well.
- Gerardo Parra, Brewers: A rental player on a rebuilding team that’s already begun its sale figures to be as good as gone. The bigger question is if the Brew Crew will move Jonathan Lucroy.
- Marlon Byrd, Jay Bruce, Reds: Same rental caveat applies to Byrd, but Bruce’s connection to the Mets is strong. Aroldis Chapman is the wild card name for the Reds.
Teams To Keep An Eye On
- The Padres are the major wild card here, and they’ve been connected with a variety of scenarios. San Diego has rentals (Justin Upton, Ian Kennedy, Will Venable), players controllable for 2016 (Andrew Cashner, Joaquin Benoit), and high-end players with lengthier control (Tyson Ross, Craig Kimbrel). If A.J. Preller is as aggressive in selling as he was buying over the winter, it could be a busy day.
- Meanwhile, the Cubs have long been said to be pursuing a starter and are looking at various options. Chicago has been connected to San Diego’s young arms and is shopping shortstop Starlin Castro.
- The big-money Yankees have added Dustin Ackley, but seem in need of a starter, especially with Michael Pineda hitting the DL, and may be pursuing Kimbrel in an effort to give the club a three-headed bullpen monster.
- The Astros have already been huge players on the market, but could be looking for more. They’re at least exploring a big move with the Padres, and could dangle Jake Marisnick in an effort to find a quality pen arm.
- Likewise, the Mets have already made some upgrades. But after seeing their deal for Carlos Gomez fall apart in dramatic fashion, New York has been tied to other outfielders — in particular, Jay Bruce.
- Speaking of Bruce, the Reds are another team to watch on the sell side. Cincinnati has already moved its best rental assets, but could deal its excellent right fielder or even star closer Aroldis Chapman.
- We’ve seen little in the way of action from the Orioles, Twins, and White Sox, but all three have given indications of buying in the days leading up to the deadline. Modest additions seem likely for the first two clubs, but both remain outside contenders for significant deals. As for the South Siders, the club has gone from a presumed seller to aggressively shopping for bats (thus also, presumably, taking starter Jeff Samardzija off the market).
I wonder if a deal around Julio Teheran from ATL for Lucroy in MIL could work. More pieces involved, but that could be the framework knowing that both are having relative down years and are cost-controlled for the next few years. ATL could move some pitching and address one of their largest needs. ATL could also include Bethancourt in a deal that could provide more C depth in MIL. I would love to have Lucroy in ATL now with Olivera, Freeman, Simmons and more.
Bethancourt’s stock has absolutely plummeted. Lucroy is pretty much the only viable catcher in the Brewers entire system so he’s going no where unless they get an unbelievable package in return with at least one big catching prospect.
Bethancourt’s stock has taken a hit, but he’s only 23, currently hitting .300 at AAA and has an elite arm and above-average defense that once made him a top prospect. He could use the good ole “change of scenery” while providing MIL the C depth. Lucroy is under control for only 2 more seasons including his option) at a rock-bottom rate. Teheran is signed through 2020 (with team option) who was an All-Star is going through a down year. Some other minor pieces could be involved, but Teheran would be a great get for MIL.
There were always questions as to whether Bethancourt could hit at the major league level and scouts have him rated as a below average hitter and he’s pretty much proven that those concerns are accurate. The Brewers already have that exact same player in Martin Maldonado, they need a guy who can play and hit now. Teheran would be a decent get for Mil, or any team, but not at the cost of Lucroy. If anything Luc’s stock will only go back up in the off-season or by the deadline next year thanks to his awful start and injury this year.
It’s not really a team I follow, but why have the Twins been so quiet? Seems to me that the Jays, O’s and others are poised to push past them. Perhaps they have a plan to where they ‘seriously’ contend in 2016 and beyond, but in this game when you’re in a situation to make the playoffs standing pat seems like a mistake.
Lifelong Twins fan here…the Twins are always playing for next year. That’s why Torii Hunter left the team the first time…just waiting for him to blow up on the organization for doing it again. Who cares if you didn’t expect to compete, you are..and at this point have just as good a chance as anyone to make a run. Make some moves already!! If you read between the lines of Hunter’s comments and know the history he is sarcastically saying what I just said.
I agree…
Look, I’m an A’s fan so I’ve seen first-hand how deadline deals can bite you in the backside. But at least I know that Beane has gone for it.
The Twins are one of those teams that I’d like to see do well. I don’t know if they are cheap, overly conservative or what but they are about to get caught by the competition if they don’t at least look to add an arm or two to the rotation.
It’s too bad…
They grossly over value prospects that hardly ever pan out. That is why they have sucked the last 5 years. They missed on all of their overhyped prospects…so they reaped no value from at least 4-5 years of drafting. Right now they have so much perceived value in their farm system there is no better time than now to get som value for it and go for it!! This team is better than people think, it’s a sum of all parts…and Molitor has them playing with character and consistency. Now the stupid front office has to change their idea of ‘Twins Way” and start playing the game and how to run franchises in this century and not the 1980’s and 90’s.
A trade like Nolasco, Arcia and Kohl Stewart to the Padres for Benoit and Shields would be a start.