MLB trade rumors: Latest news and buzz around potential deals
As the Major League Baseball season rolls toward July, it’s time to start gathering trade rumors ahead of the July 31 deadline. Which players might be on the move, and which teams are looking to buy or sell?
Late last week, SI’s Albert Chen took a look at four teams that need to make a move before the deadline. He discussed the Washington Nationals and their desire to improve their bullpen; the New York Mets’ need to complement their talented young pitching staff with more offensive firepower; the Toronto Blue Jays quest to shore up their starting rotation and the San Francisco Giants looking to strengthen their outfield for another World Series.
Below are the latest MLB rumors—check back for the latest scoops.
June 30
• There is friction between Angels GM Jerry Dipoto and manager Mike Scioscia, “extending to the Angels coaches and even the players,” Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports reports. The tension is the result of a perceived failure on the part of the coaches to convey scouting information to players, Rosenthal reports, and resulted in an unnamed Angels coach and Albert Pujols confronting Dipoto this weekend.
• The Yankees will move Adam Warren to the bullpen rather than go to a six-man rotation, the team announced late Monday night. The return of Ivan Nova from Tommy John surgery had left the team with a surplus of starters.
• The Red Sox signed first-round pick Andrew Benintendi, the National College Player of the Year, with a $3.5 million signing bonus, MLB.com's Jim Callis reports.
June 29
• The Miami Marlins are expected to be sellers at the deadline in light of Giancarlo Stanton’s hand injury, reports the New York Post’s Joel Sherman. Veteran starters Mat Latos and Dan Haren could be on the move, as could relievers Mike Dunn and Steve Cishek and infielder Marin Prado. Fox Sports’ Jon Morosi reported on Monday the Marlins have received multiple trade inquiries on Latos and Haren.
• The Houston Astros could look to add starting pitching help at the deadline, reports the Houston Chronicle’s Evan Drellich. Cincinnati Reds righthander Johnny Cueto is the Astros’ “most attractive potential acquisition,” though the Los Angeles Dodgers, New York Yankees and Toronto Blue Jays are also interested in Reds pitchers. MLB Network’s Peter Gammons also reported that the Astros could be looking into a deal for Oakland Athletics lefthander Scott Kazmir. Kazmir is also a Houston native.
• The Dodgers and Chicago Cubs are among teams interested in Mets lefthander Jon Niese, reports Fox Sports’ Ken Rosenthal. CBS Sports’ Jon Heyman later reported that the Cubs looked into Niese, but are not interested in him right now.
• The Blue Jays could be interested in adding a lefthander in addition acquiring starting pitching, reports Rosenthal. “We still need to make upgrades in the rotation and the bullpen, that goes without saying,” Blue Jays GM Alex Anthopoulos told a Toronto radio station on Monday.
• The only perceived untouchable players on the Milwaukee Brewers are catcher Jonathan Lucroy, righthanders like Wily Peralta and Mike Fiers, and lefthander Will Smith, according to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel’s Tom Haudricourt.
• The Los Angeles Angels are trying to acquire hitting at the deadline, specifically a left-handed batter who could fit at left field or designated hitter and has on-base percentage skills, reports Fox Sports’ Jon Morosi.
