Wild Card Contenders, Potential Sellers Pick Up Big Wins Ahead of MLB Trade Deadline
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This year's MLB trade deadline could become a quiet one, considering Tuesday night's results.
MLB Network insider Jon Heyman pointed out on Twitter that a handful of bubble teams picking up wins could impact their willingness to trade away veteran pieces as Aug. 1 approaches. The Los Angeles Angels beat the Detroit Tigers 7-6, the Chicago Cubs beat the Chicago White Sox 7-3, the San Diego Padres beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 5-1, the New York Mets beat the New York Yankees 9-3, the Boston Red Sox beat the Atlanta Braves 7-1 and the Cleveland Guardians beat the Kansas City Royals 5-1.
As a result, the 54-47 Red Sox are now just 1.5 games back of the third AL Wild Card spot, while the Angels are 3.5 games out at 52-49. The Guardians are unlikely to snag a Wild Card spot given their 50-51 record, but they are still just 3.0 games out of first place in the AL Central.
The Cubs, Padres and Mets and 5.0, 6.0 and 7.0 games out of the playoffs, respectively, but given the latter two's star-studded rosters and exorbitant payrolls, they might just be a hot streak away from contention.
If none of those teams decide to sell at the deadline, a long list of potentially valuable trade pieces could come off the board.
Most notably, the Angels may elect to hold onto starting pitcher and designated hitter Shohei Ohtani, as well as right fielder Hunter Renfroe and reliever Matt Moore.
The Cubs could choose to retain outfielder Cody Bellinger, starting pitcher Marcus Stroman and starting pitcher Kyle Hendricks, while the Padres may decide not to trade starting pitcher Blake Snell, closer Josh Hader or outfielder Juan Soto. According to Heyman, the Mets may be less willing to deal starters Max Scherzer and Justin Verlander, or closer David Robertson, due to their 11-7 record in July.
There were rumors about the Red Sox trading starting pitcher James Paxton, as well as the Guardians sending away starting pitcher Aaron Civale, but those deals appear less likely with the two teams still in playoff contention.
There are plenty of struggling teams that are likely to make trades, from the Chicago White Sox to the St. Louis Cardinals, but the AL and NL Wild Card races being so wide open could wind up cooling the middle class' instinct to sell this summer.
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