The non-waiver trade deadline is set for 4pm ET on July 31 as rumours continue to swirl on who may be heading to a new team for the stretch run. Follow all the rumours here on TSN.ca. 

 

Phillies Eyeing Granderson?

J.A. Happ is not the only Toronto Blue Jays player rumoured to be on the move ahead of the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline.

According to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic, the Philadelphia Phillies are showing interest in Jays outfielder Curtis Granderson. Rosenthal says the Phillies are looking for a left-handed bat off the bench that could also play some outfield. Philadelphia is also apparently looking at Asdrubal Cabrera of the New York Mets, Derek Dietrich of the Miami Marlins and Eduardo Escobar of the Minnesota Twins. 

Granderson, a veteran of 15 MLB seasons, signed a one-year contract with Toronto this off-season and is hitting .230 with nine home runs and 29 RBIs over 81 games in a backup role. The 37-year-old also owns an on-base percentage of .337 and a slugging percentage of .417.

The Blue Jays are 46-52 and are 13 games behind the Seattle Mariners for the second Wild Card spot in the American League while the Phillies hold a one-game lead over the Atlanta Braves in the National League East.

 

Divisional Move?

The Tampa Bay Rays are listening to offers for their ace Chris Archer and apparently the division rival New York Yankees are among the teams interested, according to ESPN's Jerry Crasnick. Crasnick adds other teams are skeptical that Tampa would move Archer to a team in the American League East. 

The 29-year-old is signed through the 2021 season. 

Archer is 3-4 with a 4.30 ERA and 99 strikeouts over 90 innings pitched this season, his seventh year with the team. 

 

Headed To Houston?

The Houston Astros don't seem satisfied with just on World Series championship as they are apparently "all in" on acquiring Baltimore Orioles closer Zach Britton, according to Jim Bowden of The Athletic. The Astros were reportedly close to acquiring the 30-year-old last season, but the trade fell apart. However, Bowden notes that the negated trade won't impact negotiations this season. 

Jon Heyman of Fancred Sports reports the Atlanta Braves, Colorado Rockies, Milwaukee Brewers, Chicago Cubs, Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Yankees are also showing interest. The Astros and Cubs are the clubs "most linked to Britton," says Heyman. 

Rosenthal says the Arizona Diamondbacks are also in the mix for Britton's services. 

The lefty is 1-0 with a 3.45 ERA and four saves over just 15.2 innings pitched in 2018, his eighth season with the O's. Britton has missed much of this season with a right Achilles injury. 

The American was one of the best relief pitchers in the game in 2015 and 2016, making two All-Star appearances. Britton finished fourth in Cy Young voting in 2016, posting a 1.94 ERA with 47 saves over 67 innings pitched. 

The defending champion Astros hold a 66-36 record and have a five-game lead over the Seattle Mariners for first in the American League West. 

 

Starter Depth?

Britton won't likely be the only Baltimore pitcher to be on the move this month as starters Dylan Bundy and Kevin Gausman are getting interest from the Rockies, according to Rosenthal.

In a tweet from Sunday, Rosenthal notes that teams were asking about acquiring Bundy or Gausman as well as Britton in a deal. 

The 25-year-old Bundy is 6-9 with a 4.57 ERA and 116 strikeouts over 108.1 innings this season. 

Gausman, 27, is a native of Colorado and has a 4-7 with a 4.33 ERA and 97 strikeouts over 112.1 innings this season.  

 

Out of the Big Apple? 

The New York Mets sit in last place in the National League East with a 40-56 record and will more than likely be sellers at the trade deadline.

According to Heyman, the Mets are getting plenty of interest for starting pitcher Zack Wheeler with six teams apparently making calls for the 28-year-old. 

Wheeler is 3-6 with a 4.44 ERA over 18 starts this season, his fourth with the Mets. Wheeler missed the 2015 and 2016 seasons after Tommy John surgery. 

In other Mets' rumours, Heyman says they are listening to offers for starters Jacob deGrom and Noah Syndergaard, but notes if a deal gets done it likely won't happen until the winter. 

Syndergaard was placed on the disabled list with hand, foot and mouth disease on Sunday, but the 25-year-old has had a solid season with a 6-1 record and 2.89 ERA over 74.2 innings.

DeGrom, 30, was named an All-Star for the second time in his career and has a 5-4 record with an impressive 1.68 ERA over 123.1 innings. 

 

Swinging for the Fences? 

Minnesota Twins infielders Brian Dozier and Escobar could be on the move this month with some teams reportedly trying to acquire both in a deal, says Rosenthal. 

Rosenthal speculates that the Brewers could be a team that would be trying to get both players, but notes it's unlikely to happen.

Dozier, 31, is hitting .225 with 16 home runs, 50 RBIs and a on-base percentage of .309 over 96 games this season. He hit a career-high 42 homers and 99 RBIs two seasons ago. 

Escobar, 29, has a .272 batting average with 14 homers and 58 RBIs over 93 games.