The MLB trade deadline is around the corner. These three teams are expected to be active on the phones looking to add to their roster.
Just over two weeks remain until the MLB trade deadline, and with the All-Star break here, time is going to fly by between now and August 1st.
This MLB season feels wide open and there for the taking. As such, most teams have kept themselves postured competitively and ready to deal if they so choose to.
There are clear should-be buyers out there and clear should-be sellers. But there's a middle ground of teams that sit in an area where one could make a case for going either direction. Add more and make a run at the playoffs. Or, sell, cash in, and retool for the future.
Since there is such a substantial grey area, it's hard to keep track of who wants to do what. Here's the latest on some teams who are leaning toward buying.
Texas Rangers are not done looking for more pitchers
You know that movie moment, now a popular gif, where Adam Driver playing Kylo Ren in Star Wars is screaming, "MORE!" as he's pummelling a weapon of mass destruction's entire capacity toward a certain popular Jedi?
That's how I picture the approach Rangers general manager Chris Young and the rest of the front office has toward pitching, because despite the fact that the Rangers have Nathan Eovaldi, Andrew Heaney, Dane Dunning, and Jacob deGrom (out for the season), they still want to add even more.
Granted, despite the Rangers adding some strong arms this offseason in Eovaldi and deGrom, they could still use a starter. Since deGrom went out and needs Tommy John surgery, there's a hole to be filled.
Enter Lance Lynn of the Chicago White Sox, who the Rangers are coveting according to Bob Nightengale of USA Today.
Lynn is one of the few players the White Sox are willing to give up in a trade this year, as Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports that several players are on a no-touching list for the White Sox. While Lynn hasn't emerged as a player Chicago is shopping, he didn't appear in Heyman's report as an untouchable.
In fact, at 36, there's a strong case to be made that the White Sox would be fine moving on from Lynn in favor of getting younger.
Lynn has a 6.03 ERA this season but evidence suggests a great deal of his stats are influenced by the oh-so-bad Sox. His FIP is a far better 4.81 and his WHIP is tenable at 1.417.
One would expect the Rangers, and any team calling the Southside Chicago team, would prefer Dylan Cease, but he's expected to be unavailable. Not to mention, if he were up for bidding, he would command a massive pricetag compared to Lynn.
Seattle Mariners hoping to play spoiler at MLB trade deadline
OK, shocker here… The Seattle Mariners figured to be sellers at this year's trade deadline. Maybe it's mojo from playing host for this week's MLB All-Star Weekend, but the Mariners think a 7-3 run in their last 10 proves they can make a comeback and get right back into the action. Maybe they're right?
Seattle already sent out Chris Flexen and Trevor Gott to the New York Mets weeks ago, which seemed to indicate they were ready to pack it in and sell this deadline. Instead, Bob Nightengale reports they're jumping into the buyer pool.
The problem is, they're looking for one thing that everyone else wants: A starting pitcher.
Nightengale also reports Seattle wants another bat, which would be easier to come by.
Seattle, a clear seller just weeks ago, jumping into the buyer market tells you everything you need to know about how the trade deadline is shaping up this year. Sellers are unclear, and becoming more sparse by the day. It's setting up for a trade deadline where there is much demand and very limited supply. If few trades end up going down, which is how it's looking now, teams that built well in the offseason will be rewarded, while teams that had poor offseasons and relied on making trades and signings in-season will surely be punished.
That is, if their existing team can't make a massive turnaround, as it seems as if some organizations believe is possible.
A resounding message from multiple executives has been that they feel the team is better than has performed, and there is faith that they'll turn it around.
Perhaps that's smoke screening, but it's been a more persistent message this year than ever before.
Padres could have themselves another active trade season
Another relatively surprising tidbit from Nightengale's massive column is that the Padres, who could easily go either way at the trade deadline, could be once again active buyers.
Juan Soto was added last year. That created a core of Fernando Tatis Jr., Manny Machado and Soto.
San Diego is 8.5 games back in the NL West and have much ground to make up. Selling would be wise, but instead of cashing in on someone like Soto who hasn't panned out, they're getting aggressive.
The Padres are sticking to their bit as Mets West by spending more and more.
Here's what Nightengale reports:
"Rival GMs believe the Padres should unload starter Blake Snell and All-Star closer Josh Hader among others at the deadline, while also listening to offers for Juan Soto.
Yet, two GMs were informed that the Padres instead plan to be aggressive at the trade deadline and possibly even be buyers."
So, maybe San Diego makes some moves and puts themselves in a position to creep up the standings. They are six games back from a Wild Card berth, but the playoffs are still possible. The Phillies proved last year that just getting in can be worth it because in the postseason any team can get hot and will themselves deep in the bracket.
And based on individual talent alone, the Padres should be able to win some games if they can get to the bracket.
The Padres, much like the Mariners discussed on the previous page, would drastically reduce supply by jumping into the buyer's market.
