The 2023 MLB trade deadline is 6 p.m. ET on Aug. 1 and the biggest trade of the summer went down Saturday: Max Scherzer was traded to the Rangers. Scherzer is still a reliable pitcher and can give you a strong performance when needed, which makes him a good replacement for the injured Jacob deGrom. Will there be more trades before the deadline? Let’s find out. Here are the latest trade rumors:
Verlander discusses Mets’ situation
The Mets traded Max Scherzer on Saturday and now there are rumors about whether Justin Verlander, another veteran pitcher, will also be traded. Verlander had a good performance and win on Sunday and discussed with reporters whether he would be open to waiving his no-trade clause for a deal to another team. He mentioned that it would depend on how the organization views their plans for next year and if they decide to go in a different direction, he would be more open to a trade.
This situation with Verlander is similar to what happened with Scherzer. Initially, it didn’t seem likely that Scherzer would be traded, but then he made some comments and was traded less than 24 hours later. So, it’s possible that the Verlander situation could unfold in a similar way.
Rangers get Montgomery, Stratton
Even after acquiring Scherzer, the Rangers were still looking for more pitching. They made a five-player trade with the Cardinals on Sunday, acquiring Jordan Montgomery and Chris Stratton. The Rangers now have seven starters for five rotation spots, but they also have a couple of pitchers dealing with injuries. Despite that, the Rangers are leading the AL West and haven’t been to the postseason since 2016, so they are being aggressive in their pursuit for a playoff spot.
The Blue Jays, who recently placed closer Jordan Romano on the injured list, made a trade with the Cardinals for Jordan Hicks. Hicks has been performing well since making a change in his pitching technique and will join a strong late-inning unit for the Blue Jays. The Cardinals are in the process of rebuilding their team and it’s expected that more players will be traded, with pitcher Jack Flaherty being a potential next move.
Cubs pull Bellinger off the market
The Cubs have decided to keep Cody Bellinger and not trade him. The team is currently on an eight-game winning streak and is making a push for a playoff spot. They are only three games back in the wild-card race and 3.5 games back in the NL Central. Bellinger was a highly sought-after outfielder on the trade market, but the Cubs may now try to sign him to a contract extension after the season.
Marlins interested in Torres
The Marlins have shown interest in Yankees second baseman Gleyber Torres. However, the Yankees have set a high asking price, making a potential deal difficult. The two teams have discussed Torres in the past, but couldn’t reach an agreement. The Yankees need to make room for infield prospect Oswald Peraza and adding more bats to support Aaron Judge and Torres would be beneficial in their push for a playoff berth.
Phillies interested in Duvall
The Phillies are interested in Red Sox outfielder Adam Duvall as an upgrade to their bench. They are specifically looking for a right-handed bat to complement their left-handed hitting outfielders. The Red Sox are in the wild-card race, but Duvall has become expendable due to the emergence of Rob Refsnyder. Duvall has been traded at previous deadlines and has dealt with a wrist injury this year, but is starting to regain his form at the plate.
Braves add infield depth
The Braves have acquired infielder Nicky Lopez from the Royals in exchange for left-handed pitcher Taylor Hearn. Lopez will provide depth at second base, shortstop, and third base for the Braves. He hasn’t had great offensive numbers this season but has been valuable defensively. Lopez will likely be used as a late-inning defensive replacement when needed.
Burleson drawing interest
Cardinals outfielder Alec Burleson is attracting trade interest from other teams. The Cardinals currently have a crowded outfield situation and may look to make a trade before the deadline to address other needs on the roster. Burleson, who has struggled to find consistency this season, could be one of the players the Cardinals consider trading to help settle their outfield situation.
