Rosenthal's Latest MLB Trade Dealine: Latest on Kimbrel, Bryant and Scherzer

[Sexymarinersfan]

Joey Gallo, Adam Frazier, Starling Marte and Eduardo Escobar are off the board. But as the clock ticks down to the trade deadline Friday at 4 p.m. ET, so much more is still in play.

Here are some of the teams, players and executives to watch in what is almost certain to be a frenzied finale to baseball’s trading season:

Max Scherzer
Some of the interested clubs expected a deal to be in place Wednesday night, giving the parties time to negotiate through Scherzer’s no-trade protection; he will be compensated in some form for giving up his right to veto any deal. But Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo might have been preoccupied with the outbreak of COVID-19 among four Nats players and eight staffers, leading to the postponement of the team’s game against the Phillies.

Interested clubs also note that Rizzo is setting a high price, but as one executive said, “Anyone who thinks the seller is being realistic has probably already acquired the player.” In any case, this is not a deal that can be consummated at 3:50 ET on Friday, not with the complexities involved.

The Cubs
So far they’ve traded only outfielder Joc Pederson and reliever Andrew Chafin. Closer Craig Kimbrel, infielder/outfielder Kris Bryant, shortstop Javier Báez, first baseman Anthony Rizzo, right-hander Zach Davies and reliever Ryan Tepera all have expiring contracts, and all remain candidates to be moved.

The market is flooded with relievers and position players, increasing the challenge for Cubs president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer. Kimbrel seems almost certain to go, but the Astros and A’s, once viewed as his principal suitors, might already have made their biggest moves. Red Sox closer Matt Barnes has said he is open to Kimbrel returning. The Red Sox also could be on Rizzo. Is it possible Hoyer could attempt to pressure Rizzo into an extension, knowing how badly he wants to stay in Chicago?

The Yankees
They’re not done, not when they’re only 2 1/2 games back in the AL wild-card race, with playoff odds of 43.3 percent. The Rangers reportedly will pay Gallo and pitcher Joely Rodríguez’s remaining salary of about $2.2 million, enabling the Yankees to make additional moves while still fulfilling their apparent goal of remaining under the luxury-tax threshold.

The addition of Rockies shortstop Trevor Story would enable the Yankees to move Gleyber Torres to second and DJ Lemahieu, but bullpen help figures to be a priority as well.

Padres GM A.J. Preller
After acquiring Frazier, he didn’t get Gallo, a player thought to be his white whale. But his biggest need remains starting pitching (or did you miss that lefty Blake Snell gave up seven runs against the A’s on Wednesday, increasing his ERA to 5.44?)

The Padres are in on Scherzer, the Twins’ José Berríos, the Rockies’ Jon Gray and others. As always under Preller, they are capable of anything. Oh, and they are looking at an uncomfortable situation if Preller fails to move first baseman Eric Hosmer, which rival executives say is one of his goals. How comfortable would Hosmer be remaining with a team that no longer seems to want him?

The Dodgers and Giants
Only one of the three NL West contenders can land Scherzer, assuming the Nationals satisfy his preference to be traded to that division. The Giants, given the depth of their rotation, seemingly will be in a greater position of strength if they lose out; they could turn to Bryant to boost them offensively and defensively, or other options. The Dodgers’ need for starting pitching, however, is unequivocal. Clayton Kershaw remains on the injured list and Trevor Bauer on administrative leave.

Winning the division and avoiding the wild-card game is paramount for every contender in a tight race. The Giants currently hold a two-game lead over the Dodgers and a 5 1/2-game lead over the Padres. Most in the sport have assumed both NL wild cards would come from the west, but the Padres’ 10-12 record in July has created an opening for the Reds, who are now only five games back.

Mariners GM Jerry Dipoto
Mariners players were livid when Dipoto traded Graveman, their best reliever, one day after their best victory of the season, a comeback from a 7-0 deficit to defeat the Astros, 11-8. That triumph moved the team to within one game in the American League wild-card race; they currently are two back, and their playoff odds are only 3.9 percent. But now Dipoto must back up what he said in the middle of the uproar — that once his work at the deadline was complete, players and fans would better understand his plan to compete in both the present and future.

Since then, Dipoto has acquired left-hander Tyler Anderson from the Pirates and signed righty Asher Wojciechowski to a minor-league deal. He has plenty of work ahead to restore the confidence of his players, if it is even possible. Another starting pitcher, an infielder under multi-year control and additional bullpen help all could be on his shopping list.

Mets owner Steve Cohen
The Mets already have added left-hander Rich Hill, and the next question is whether Cohen, the sport’s newest and wealthiest owner, will push for a splashier addition with shortstop Francisco Lindor expected to remain on the injured list until mid to late August.

Bryant? Báez? Trevor Story? Any of the three potential free agents would potentially fit; Bryant could play a variety of positions, and Báez or Story could move to second base after Lindor returned. Such a plan would not be without risk, however; Báez has played second in the majors, but not since 2018; Story has been exclusively a shortstop.

Right-hander Carlos Carrasco makes his 2021 debut on Friday, but starting pitching remains a focus.

The Twins
Potentially could be quite busy. The Twins, after sending Nelson Cruz to the Rays, can pawn off their remaining potential free agents (Colomé, Robles, right-hander Michael Pineda shortstop Andrelton Simmons), but their most intriguing trade candidates are those under longer control.

Berríos, under club control through next season, seems increasingly likely to be traded. Center fielder Byron Buxton (also under control through 2022), right-hander Kenta Maeda (through ‘23) and right fielder Max Kepler (through ‘24) also are possibilities.

Red Sox chief baseball officer Chaim Bloom
The Red Sox are in a fairly secure position, with a 95.7 percent chance of making the playoffs and 68.3 percent chance of winning the division. But Bloom could make any number of moves to fortify them for the postseason. This will be his first test as a buyer since assuming his role after the 2019 season; his biggest move so far was the trade of outfielder Mookie Betts.

A Kimbrel/Rizzo package from the Cubs would be a jaw-dropper, but Bloom might not be willing to pay the price in prospects when he is mindful of keeping the franchise strong both short- and long-term. Remember: Left-hander Chris Sale is expected to return from Tommy John surgery in August.

The Rangers
They will not stop with Gallo as they accelerate their rebuilding plan. Right-hander Kyle Gibson, who is under contract next season for $7 million, is almost certain to be moved, along with Kennedy, who is a potential free agent.

Relievers
A number already have been traded (Chafin to the A’s, Clay Holmes to the Yankees, Mychal Givens to the Reds; Kendall Graveman and Yimi García to the Astros). One of the best available, Twins lefty Taylor Rogers, went on the injured list Tuesday with a left middle finger sprain that effectively took him off the market. But given the supply — and the demand — one exec joked that approximately 43 bullpen arms might be moved in the final hours.

Among those being discussed, non-Kimbrel division (this is by no means a complete list): The Rangers’ Ian Kennedy; the Marlins’ Richard Bleier; the Diamondbacks’ Joakim Soria; the Rockies’ Daniel Bard; the Twins’ Alex Colomé and Hansel Robles; the Pirates’ Richard Rodríguez, Chris Stratton and David Bednar; the Orioles’ Paul Fry and Tanner Scott; the Nationals’ Brad Hand and Daniel Hudson.

Other lingering questions:
• How strong a push will the Blue Jays make when they’re 4 1/2 games out in the wild-card race, with playoff odds of 23.3 percent? Club officials still should be motivated after spending heavily on George Springer and others in the offseason, and with the team returning to Toronto on Friday for the first time since Sept. 2019.

• What will the Phillies and Braves do? The Phillies’ Dave Dombrowski and Braves’ Alex Anthopoulos are two of the league’s most aggressive executives, and their teams are both within five games of the Mets in the NL East. Thus, each plans to buy, but it’s not as if either of their clubs is inspiring — the Phils are at .500 and the Braves are two games under. Dombrowski badly needs starting pitching (a deal for Tyler Anderson fell through) and bullpen help. Anthopoulos continues to look for a bat and is also looking for relievers.

• Where are the White Sox? Two of their second-base targets, Frazier and Escobar, already have been traded. Eloy Jiménez is back, center fielder Luis Robert is on a rehabilitation assignment. Reinforcements for the infield (Story? The Nationals’ Josh Harrison?) and in the bullpen would enhance the team’s chances in the postseason. (Update: The White Sox are finalizing a trade for Cleveland second baseman César Hernández, The Athletic has confirmed.)

• Will the Marlins move one of their young starting pitchers for offensive help? The addition of left-hander Jesús Luzardo for Marte should only enhance that possibility. Controllable starting pitching might be the game’s most valuable commodity — and the Marlins have it.