All of the latest MLB Rumors, featuring the Mets situation, the Braves biggest need, and Shane Bieber's trade buzz heating up.
The MLB season is in full swing and following the All-Star break, the trade market is expected to heat up tremendously.
Teams will have to decide whether they want to be sellers or buyers and whether they will attack this idea cautiously or aggressively.
There isn't much time to make these decisions either. But here's what we know as of now surrounding the ideas of crucial players in the trade game.
MLB Rumors: Shane Bieber trade buzz is heating up with a surprise suitor potentially interested
Shane Bieber has potential to be the biggest name dealt at this season's MLB Trade Deadline, but there are some pieces that would need to fall in place first. The main one being the Guardians would need to buy-in to being big time sellers at the deadline. As of now, Cleveland is in the middle of a tough playoff race, making it irrational to move Bieber. But if they decide to, there's a surprise team showing some interest.
Bieber has been good all season, sporting a 3.77 ERA across 117 innings. The Cleveland ace is under team control this season and next, which just adds to his value and the incentive for Cleveland to move him. But the Boston Red Sox could show the urgency it would take to make a deal like this happen. Boston has seen a plethora of injuries to their starters, to the point where they haven't had much reliable starting pitching this season.
This kind of move is the right amount of crazy that it might just make sense for both sides, if the situation presents itself. If Cleveland gets off to a slow start to the second half and Boston gets off to a hot start, don't be surprised if rumors begin to swirl of a potential Shane Bieber trade to Boston.
MLB Rumors: Mets being sellers could end up as a lose-lose situation
For a lot of teams, being sellers at the trade deadline is just a part of the game. Usually, these teams don't spend too much money and they are okay with selling their better players for future prospects, following a mold that has been executed by the Reds and Orioles. But these teams have built their rosters through their farm systems.
But that's not how the Mets typically do business. Especially recently. The Mets bought nearly all their best players including Max Scherzer and Justin Verlander and both of them could be on the trade block over the next few weeks. And that situation would be a complete lose-lose situation for New York.
Imagine this. The Mets will only sell if they are struggling bad enough to be out of playoff contention for the next year or so. This would result in them dealing Scherzer, Verlander or both. But the only way they could struggle that bad would be if those two ace pitchers were struggling on the mound. If these two struggled and were to be dealt, they would now be dealt at a much lower price tag because of their recent struggles. See the problem? It could be a lose-lose situation for New York.
MLB Rumors: Braves biggest need is heightened following Nick Anderson to the 60 day IL
The Braves have one of the most complete rosters in the MLB this season. Despite that, they still have weaknesses, like any roster in MLB history. There are pieces they could acquire to upgrade their roster and their front office will absolutely explore these ideas. The biggest place for an upgrade on the Braves roster is clearly in the bullpen and that need just got even bigger.
The Braves recently placed their reliever Nick Anderson on the 60-day IL. Anderson joins Jesse Chavez, Tyler Matzek, Dylan Lee, and Huascar Ynoa on the list of Braves relievers currently stuck on the IL. Pair that with AJ Minter facing some unfortunate luck, seen by his ERA being two points higher than his FIP, and the Braves bullpen doesn't look as good as the rest of their roster. They need upgrades to secure the backend of games, especially after the Anderson injury.
Alex Anthopoulus and the Braves front office will look to improve on this hole in the roster. Anthopoulus is the kind of guy to leave no stone unturned in lieu of putting together a World Series ready team. The Braves will look towards quality guys like Scott Barlow, Jordan Hicks and other available relievers before the deadline in order to upgrade their bullpen.
