The MLB season is roughly a month and a half old, and there are already rumors flying about a few big names who could be dealt before the trade deadline. The Hot Stove is always on and several teams have already emerged as buyers and sellers. Here are all the latest MLB rumors you need to know.
Cubs actively looking for starting pitching
In an effort to shake off their rough start to the season- and with ace Jake Arrieta's contract up after the season - the Chicago Cubs are actively looking for starting pitching before the trade deadline, according to Jeff Passan of Yahoo Sports.
Here’s the truth about the Cubs: They already are canvassing the significant market of starting pitchers likely to be available before the trade deadline, according to sources. Much of who’s available depends on the next month or so, when the standings shake out and give teams a truer sense of their prospects for 2017. The potential list, though, gives Chicago plenty of possibilities.
Beyond the always-available types like Jose Quintana and Jeremy Hellickson are Gerrit Cole, Yu Darvish, Johnny Cueto, Ervin Santana, Jason Vargas, Sonny Gray, Alex Cobb, Marco Estrada, Matt Harvey, even Zack Greinke. At least a quarter of those dozen will be dealt, and that might be on the light side.
Chicago currently ranks 23rd in the majors in quality starts with 14.
New Marlins ownership to explore trading Giancarlo Stanton?
The Miami Marlins have an uncertain future as owner Jeffrey Loria prepares to sell the team, and Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports looked at what a new ownership might do to rebuild the franchise. One thing he suggests? Trading Giancarlo Stanton:
The team already has $95.3 million committed to eight players in 2018. The only way for the Marlins to compete might be to push the payroll to $150 million, and even then what would they be buying? The free-agent market is relatively thin, and the Marlins would be a long shot for a pitcher such as Yu Darvish — the true ace they desperately need.
So, get off the 70-to-80 win treadmill. Begin the deconstruction prior to the non-waiver deadline. And if the right deal arises before the Marlins host the All-Star Game on July 11, go ahead and get it done.
The bigger moves — specifically, a deal of Stanton, who has a full no-trade clause — likely would need to wait until the off-season and/or until after the team is sold.
The Marlins would need to include significant cash in any Stanton deal, and perhaps do the same on a lesser scale with other players. The prospective ownership groups know this. And they undoubtedly are leveraging it in their discussions with Loria — along with the Marlins’ numerous other problems — in an effort to drive down the team’s price.
Stanton is batting .259 with 11 home runs and 27 RBIs in 39 games this season.
Aroldis Chapman out for a month with shoulder injury
The New York Yankees placed closer Aroldis Chapman on the 10-day DL this weekend with a shoulder injury, but general manager Brian Cashman said the team is expecting him to miss about a month.
Chapman, who signed a five-year, $86 million deal to return to the Yankees in the offseason, could miss more than a month after being placed on the 10-day disabled list retroactive to Saturday with rotator cuff inflammation in his left shoulder.
“We’re probably looking at a minimum of a month if everything goes right,” Brian Cashman said.
Chapman had a 3.55 ERA with seven saves and 21 strikeouts in 14 appearances this season.
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