With the MLB trade deadline coming up on mere hours away, here are some of the latest rumors driving the conversation.
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We've got not so long before the MLB trade deadline hits at 6 p.m. ET on Tuesday, Aug. 1. With that in mind, after several deals, the landscape has crystalized and talks will continue to bubble through the next two days leading to a heap of deals.
Here's all the latest on rumors so far.
Tigers fielding calls on starting pitchers
Bob Nightengale is reporting that starting pitchers Eduardo Rodriguez and Michael Lorenzen are almost a lock to move. Detroit is fielding calls and waiting for someone to like the high price.
In a year where it seems almost every team could use a starting pitcher, the Tigers are poised to cash in. Rodriguez has a 2.95 ERA and Lorenzen a 3.58. Lorenzen has been rumored to be a likely mover for months, with Rodriguez a bit more of a surprise.
Teams that want to get someone like Justin Verlander could instead turn to a team like the Tigers to nab a different target. And speaking of Verlander…
Astros have a huge barrier to Justin Verlander reunion
The Houston Astros in theory could very much use Justin Verlander. They're rumored to be interested in the starting pitcher who has languished a bit with the New York Mets this year. Even a bad Justin Verlander is quite good, though, with his ERA clocking in at 3.15 and his ERA+ above 130.
The fit makes sense, as Houston wants starting pitching and the Mets are selling. Verlander is rumored to be open to waiving his no-trade clause for a team looking to contend in the near-term, Houston fits that bill. Plus, Verlander played for the 'Stros just before the Mets and had plenty of success — individually and team-centric — with the organization.
Though there's the motivation to make a deal happen for the Astros and Verlander, they might simply not have the means needed to push a deal past the finish line.
Jon Heyman is reporting that, though the Astros are one of many teams expressing interest in the pitcher, their lack of control of any top-100 prospects makes a deal incredibly challenging to push through.
The Mets received a top prospect from the Texas Rangers in exchange for Max Scherzer, Luisangel Acuña, who is ranked 44 overall. The Mets likely expect an even better return for Verlander who is under team control for longer than Scherzer was.
That is thought to be even more true because the Mets seem to want to hold onto Verlander after trading Scherzer. The thinking is that the Mets would like to retool rather than rebuild completely, and Verlander or Scherzer, whomever they kept, would anchor the rotation in 2024.
The Mets surely would still trade him if the price is right, but the price may be outrageous instead of just high.
Cardinals/Paul Goldschmidt trade is still on the table
Jake Mintz of Fox Sports has reported that the Cardinals, "haven't completely shut down offers on Paul Goldschmidt," (H/TMLB Deadline News).
The first baseman is one of the logical players St. Louis could look to sell, but only if you look through an objective lens. While he's become a comforting name for the franchise the last several years, he is nearing the final year of his contract and his historically great batting could tempt other teams looking to add to their infield or DH slot to provide an offer the Cardinals can't turn down.
After logging an OPS near .900 for the first two months of the season, his bat has cooled a bit as the Cardinals have struggled. His OPS has dropped to .766 in June and .752 in July. Still relatively decent, but not exactly the blistering pace fans have come to expect from Goldy.
Team President John Mozeliak has been rather shy and outwardly against trading foundational players like Nolan Arenado or Goldschmidt. Like I said, objectively, moving him makes sense. Subjectively, the Cardinals value their culture and hate to trade away good players.
Late last week, though, Arenado's name came up in trade talks, though the team later shut down the idea of him being included in any trades.
Goldschmidt would be a shock to see moved, but it's important for the Cardinals to at least listen to any offers coming in to see if there's a fee worth grabbing.
