MLB Rumours: Giants have decision to make
Published
We're just two days from the MLB trade deadline as the clock ticks closer and closer to Aug. 2 at 6:00 p.m. ET. Here are all the latest news and rumours ahead of Tuesday evening.
Blue Jays looking at Happ?
The Toronto Blue Jays have been looking for a left handed hitter and the New York Post's Jon Heyman suggests Chicago Cubs outfielder Ian Happ could fit the bill.
Happ, 27, has a .280 batting average with nine home runs and 46 RBIs and has one more year of control after this season.
However, Heyman reports that the Blue Jays will have competition for Happ's services with interest from the San Diego Padres, Milwaukee Brewers, and Atlanta Braves.
What route will the Giants take?
The San Francisco Giants entered play Sunday 50-51 but are just four games back of the final National League wild card spot.
According to ESPN's Buster Olney, this puts them into an interesting position with starter Carlos Rodon and outfielder Joc Pederso, who are both scheduled to become free agents at the end of the season. Olney adds that Rodon in particular is expected to generate lots of interest if he is made available due to the dearth of starting pitching available on the market.
According to Olney, San Francisco is looking for major-league ready help if they end up making a deal.
The 29-year-old Rodon is 8-6 with a 3.18 ERA in 20 stars this season. Pederson is hitting .242 with 17 home runs and 43 RBI in 87 games.
Meanwhile, according to multiple reports, the Giants acquired infielder Dixon Machado from the Chicago Cubs on Sunday.
Machado, 30, has not appeared in an MLB game since 2018 but has a .796 OPS in 86 triple-A games so far this season.
Mariners check in on Soto, Ohtani
It looks like the acquisition of Luis Castillo isn't slowing down the Seattle Mariners.
The Athletic's Jim Bowden tweets that the M's checked in on both Juan Soto and Shohei Ohtani according to general manager Jerry Dipoto.
While they did their due diligence on both superstars, Dipoto did not get the sense there was a pathway for the Mariners to make a deal for either one of them.
ESPN's Jeff Passan said on Friday there is an 80-20 chance Soto gets dealt before Tuesday's deadline as he and the Nationals appear unable to agree to a contract extension. He is under club control through 2024 but declined a reported 14-year, $440 million offer from the Washington Nationals earlier this year.
Ohtani, 28, has a season and a half of club control remaining as the Los Angeles Angels are on track to miss the playoffs for the eighth season in a row.
Mets, Red Sox potential trade partners?
The New York Mets and Boston Red Sox could be aligned on a deal sending catcher Christian Vazquez and designated hitter J.D. Martinez to Queens, tweets Jon Heyman of the New York Post.
Boston's presence as a potential seller and the Mets' willingness to add to their lineup may create a fit, especially as Heyman notes if they can't close the gap in talks regarding Willson Contreras and Josh Bell.
Contreras is enjoying another strong season for the Chicago Cubs, slashing .255/.369/.459 with 14 home runs and 38 RBI. Bell has also impressed with the Washington Nationals, hitting .305 with 14 homers and 57 driven in.
The Red Sox enter play Sunday last in the American League East division at 50-52.
Reds with more pieces to deal?
After the Cincinnati Reds dealt starter Luis Castillo to the Seattle Mariners Friday night for a package of prospects, focus turns to other trade chips Tyler Mahle and Brandon Drury.
The Athletic's C. Trent Rosecrans points out that both players could be fits on a number of contending teams.
Mahle delivered an impressive showcase start for the Reds on Saturday, holding the Orioles to two runs over six innings while striking out seven in a 8-2 victory. Drury went 2-for-5 with an RBI and after it was revealed Drury would not be in the starting lineup Sunday, it's possible both have played their final games with the organization.
The 27-year-old Mahle is 5-7 with a 4.40 ERA in 19 starts while averaging north of a strikeout per inning. Drury has impressed over 90 games, slashing .272/.332/.513 with 19 home runs and 58 RBI.