After a busy Saturday with one ace pitcher moving to a new team, the trade gates have opened even wider. Here's the latest on MLB rumors.
Another day down, and just two more to go before the MLB trade deadline. Yesterday, we looked at one indication that fans should have expected Monday to be the day with a flurry of trades.
While that still may be true, one of the bigger names came off the board on Saturday with Max Scherzer being sent from the New York Mets to the Texas Rangers. While there was a brief snag in getting Scherzer to waive his no-trade clause, he eventually did and the trade became official.
Clearly, that marks the Mets as major sellers, and greatly changes the landscape of the upcoming deadline.
Here's the latest on MLB rumors around the league with the deadline coming up shortly.
MLB rumors: Rangers might have won the deadline already, but they're not done
The Texas Rangers already won the MLB trade deadline. After acquiring closer Aroldis Chapman weeks ago, they now added Max Scherzer. If they make no more moves between now and Tuesday, it's going to be near-impossible to crown anyone else as the winner.
It'll be even more difficult considering the Rangers look poised to make even more moves.
There's a possibility they look to add even another starter, as they were scouting other starting pitchers as the Scherzer deal was going down. Julian McWilliams reported that the Rangers were scouting Red Sox starter James Paxton on Saturday.
Jon Heyman also reported that the Rangers still might look to add some strength to their bullpen:
Look for the Rangers to keep adding until the clock runs out.
MLB rumors: Astros reunion on horizon for Justin Verlander?
Mets pitcher Justin Verlander played some of his best baseball ever in Houston. With the Astros, he won two Cy Young awards, was a three-time All-Star, and most importantly was a crucial piece in the Astros' two World Series wins.
After seeing how poorly things have gone on his new team, he would probably relish the opportunity to right the mistake of not re-signing with the Astros and get himself back to Houston to help them continue their dominance in the American League.
Several other teams are expected to at least try to trade for Verlander now that the star pitcher is almost certainly going to be sent out with the Mets designating themselves as the market's biggest sellers. But none looks more likely than the Astros, who have a great connection with Verlander which could put them across the finish line with a player who has a no-trade clause, giving him some say in where he ultimately ends up next.
Reports suggest that the Astros and Verlander reunion talks are intensifying:
The Dodgers will certainly be a part of the conversation as well, but it looks like the Astros have a massive lead in getting their star pitcher back.
MLB rumors: Braves chatter is just that for now
Braves executive Alex Anthopoulus met with the media to give them an update on pitcher Max Fried's injury recovery timeline but also snuck in a brief nugget about trade discussions.
Jim Bowden had the report:
The Braves, according to Anthopoulus, are not close on any trades but will, "keep the dialogue going," until Tuesday at 6 p.m.
If there is any team out there that doesn't need to make a trade, it's probably Atlanta. From start to now they have been convincingly the most dominant team in baseball, and changing things with the roster now quite honestly could do more harm than good. The chemistry is there and helping propel results. Swap a piece or two out and you risk the locker room factor sputtering out.
But talks are happening, which should be all Braves fans need to hear this season. Pursue opportunities, but only take action if they're truly going to make the team better. This season, with so few sellers, there is likely no real action for the Braves to take that will help them get better.
MLB rumors: Cardinals trade targets gaining steam
The St. Louis Cardinals have been self-proclaimed sellers for weeks now. Yet, no sale has happened. Time is running out, guys!
Phones are hot, though, as Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported that outfielder Alec Burleson is getting plenty of calls from teams looking to acquire an outfielder (subscription may be required) and Jordan Montgomery is the subject of trade talks, with the Orioles and Diamondbacks standing out as the most likely destinations as of now, according to Jon Morosi:
Meanwhile, the Cardinals have put the Nolan Arenado drama to bed. After his name came up in rumors as a player being shopped with the Dodgers, Arenado himself addressed the murmurs, not a good look for the organization. Then, news indicated Arenado was a peripheral part of the conversation, not a leading one.
Finally, the Cardinals have taken him entirely off the trade market, clarifying their intentions a bit better.
It's clear that the Cardinals have some irons in the stoves, and it's just a matter of which one is ready first and what deal is the right one. Sellers are often motivated to hold out as long as possible, and that may be especially true this season with very few sellers coming forward in the market.
