Major League Baseball’s August 1 trade deadline is just hours away as the transaction market is expected to heat up very soon.
Contending teams that are looking for a final piece to get them over the hump in terms of a playoff push will get one last chance to add a big asset. On the opposite end of the spectrum, teams that are already out of contention could ship some big names out of town in order to acquire pieces to build a team around in the future.
Here is the latest on some big names that are on the block:
Chris Sale
It’s been a tumultuous week for Chicago White Sox ace Chris Sale, whose second half of the season has been dominated by off-field headlines after starting for the American League at the All-Star Game.
With trade whispers surrounding him, Sale was suspended on Monday after he cut up his team’s throwback jerseys before his start on July 23. The rift with management though didn’t mean that he was going to be shipped out for a lesser price if the opportunity presented itself, as White Sox general manager Rick Hahn told the media via Katie Strang of ESPN.com:
I want to be clear to all of you: The actions or behavior of the last 24 hours does not change in any aspect, any respect, our belief that Chris Sale can help us win a championship and win multiple championships. It does not move the needle one iota in terms of his value, his value to any other club that may be interested in his services or the likelihood of him being moved or kept whatsoever. None of that stuff is impacted at all by these events.
Strang also noted that the asking price for Sale was “steep” and hasn’t lessened the closer baseball moves toward its trade deadline as Bob Nightengale of USA Today reported on Friday:
But Fox Sports’ Ken Rosenthal has heard from many that it is unlikely the White Sox will deal Sale: “Industry still skeptical that White Sox will move Sale. However, spoke with GM last night who said for ‘first time’ he thinks it’s possible … Asked GM why. He said, ‘The tone of it. They’ve never even responded before. There’s at least a discussion. Still not sure they get enough.'”
Even though the White Sox are 50-53 this season, they are just 9.5 games behind the Cleveland Indians in the American League Central, which isn’t an insurmountable deficit.
Dealing one of the league’s best pitchers would more than likely bury Chicago’s chances of making the playoffs. Sale is 14-4 this season with a 3.17 ERA and has made five consecutive All-Star appearances.
No other White Sox pitcher has more than eight, though Jose Quintana does have an ERA of 2.89 in 21 starts.
Unless Sale could bring in a big-time bat that could spark Chicago’s powerless lineup that has the third-least amount of home runs in the American League, then it’s unlikely that he will be dealt.
Andrew Miller
The New York Yankees have already lost a big bullpen arm by dealing closer Aroldis Chapman to the Chicago Cubs for two top-tier prospects, but they might not be done dismantling their late-inning pitchers.
A source told Fox Sports’ Jon Morosi on Friday that the Yankees would ship Miller to the Washington Nationals for the young starter Lucas Giolito “straight up.”
However, MLB Network’s Jon Heyman and the New York Post‘s Joel Sherman quickly reported that the Yankees would not execute such a deal.
The 31-year-old Miller has become a force at the back end of New York’s bullpen alongside Dellin Betances. Entering Friday, he was 6-1 with a 1.39 ERA and nine saves.
He was the Yankees’ closer last season, recording 36 saves before the team acquired Chapman during the offseason. Since Chapman’s departure, Miller has been 2-for-2 in save opportunities, striking out three batters in two innings of work.
However, Giolito is the No. 1 prospect in the National’s system, per MLB.com:
Giolito has the highest ceiling among Minor League pitchers, boasting an elite fastball that sits mid-to-upper-90s and a 12-to-6 curveball that he throws with power and hard, downer action. His changeup has steadily improved in the past two seasons and his confidence along with it, giving him a legitimate weapon against left-handed hitters.
The 22-year-old Giolito has already made his major league debut, not recording a decision in three starts with a 4.91 ERA. He’s had control issues, walking nine and striking out five in 11 innings pitched while allowing 12 hits.
It’s possible that the Yankees wouldn’t want to dismantle the strongest part of their team to acquire a pitcher that still has some work to do before properly living up to that No. 1 prospect ranking.
Josh Reddick
Oakland Athletics outfielder Josh Reddick has been involved in trade talks as early as July 10 when Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reported that the Kansas city Royals were “closely” following Reddick. Slusser reported the San Francisco Giants, Los Angeles Dodgers, Toronto Blue Jays, Nationals and Chicago Cubs were also interested.
Poised to hit free agency after this season, Reddick revealed on July 21 that there haven’t been any contract negotiations, which he described as “kind of disheartening,” via Joe Stiglich of Comcast Sports Network.
Of the teams from Slusser‘s initial reports from earlier in July, one surfaced up on Friday when ESPN’s Buster Olney reported that the Dodgers have inquired about Reddick.
Entering Friday night, Reddick was batting .300, which was on pace for a career best, with seven home runs and 27 RBI.
While his power numbers have dipped compared to a 32-home-run season in 2012, Olney noted that Reddick “is generally considered to be the best available outfielder by rival executives.”
With Enrique Hernandez and Trayce Thompson battling injuries, the Dodgers currently have just four natural outfielders available.
Reddick‘s presence could not only add another body to Los Angeles’ outfield during the dog days of summer, but he can also give them a nice offensive boost.
Stats courtesy of Baseball-Reference.com.
Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com