The trade deadline in Major League Baseball is traditionally the time when contenders give up their future assets to obtain immediate help in the chase for playoff spots. Experienced players are always in demand and that hasn’t changed this season either.
Completed deals
Nathan Eovaldi (Rays to Red Sox), J.A. Happ (Blue Jays to Yankees) and Cole Hamels (Rangers to Cubs) are three pitchers who were shipped off to playoff contenders for minor league pitchers. The Yankees also added to the Minnesota Twins’ starting pitcher, Lance Lynn for minor leaguers, Tyler Austin and Luis Rijo.
Ian Kinsler traded to Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox also acquired 2B Ian Kinsler for RHP Ty Buttrey and LHP Williams Jerez. The veteran should help fill the gap in Boston’s lineup left by the missing Dustin Pedroia.
Adam Duvall – Atlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves, who are still in the conversation for the Rangers 3B Adrian Beltre, strengthened their outfield with the acquisition of outfielder, Adam Duvall from the Cincinnati Reds for three minor leaguers: RHP Lucas Sims, RHP Matt Wisler and OF Preston Tucker. It’s quite a lot to give up for Duvall, who has had a rough season at the plate. The Braves must be banking on his home run track record. The 29-year-old has hit 60 home runs since 2016/17.
Relievers on the move: Osuna, Kela
Like usual, relievers are first on the trade conveyer belt.
Keone Kela was traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates for LHP Taylor Hearn and a player to be named later. The Texas Rangers’ now-former closer will provide competition for Felipe Vazquez, who’s had a solid season, but has gone through rough patches as well.
Roberto Osuna, whose 75-game suspension for domestic violence ends on Sunday, was sent to the World Champion Houston Astros in exchange for RHP Ken Giles, RHP Hector Perez and RHP David Paulino. The Astros grew tired of Giles’ inconsistencies and opted to move on. The 23-year-old Osuna brings a 2.87 ERA, 0.92 WHIP and 253/40 K/BB ratio over 223 relief innings in his major league career.
Andrew McCutchen to move again
Andrew McCutchen left Pittsburgh for the first in his career this off-season and by the looks of it, he could be on the move again soon. The market for the experienced outfielder is strong, with the Indians, Phillies and Yankees emerging as primary candidates to sign him. The San Francisco Giants are below .500 and are about to lose their starting pitcher Johnny Cueto to the season-ending Tommy John surgery. McCutchen, a former MVP, is batting .253/.348/.405 with 10 home runs, 24 doubles, and nine stolen bases in 103 games.
Bryce Harper biggest name on the market
The biggest name on the market is the Washington Nationals’, Bryce Harper. The superstar is in the final year of his contract with the club and is batting just .220. His poor season puts the Nationals in a tough position. If they want to re-sign him in the off-season, they need to keep him at the deadline, since any sense of loyalty is eliminated once Harper joins another organization. Cleveland is using a Greg Allen/Rajai Davis platoon in the centre field and is in the market for another centre fielder.
Where will Chris Archer end up?
There hasn’t been a single trade deadline without the name of Chris Archer coming up in the last four years. The Tampa Bay Rays ace has had a solid, yet unspectacular season once more. As such, the Rays are willing to sell him, but only for the right price. In previous years, that price has always been too high, which is why he’s still with the organization. We’ll see how things turn out this time around. The Braves, the Yankees, the Dodgers and the Padres have all reportedly made offers to Tampa Bay and expectations are that the righty will be traded before Tuesday’s deadline.
