The MLB trade deadline is now just hours away (4:00 pm ET), and there are plenty of trade rumors gaining traction. Teams in the postseason race are focused on improving their rosters before the non-waiver deadline. The teams selling are hoping to find prospects to boost their rebuild or even getting rid of some payroll. Here are all the latest rumors and news you need to know.
Mets targeting Jay Bruce
The New York Mets are trying to add a bat at the deadline for the second straight year, which again has them trying to work out a deal to acquire Jay Bruce from the Reds, reports ESPN's Buster Olney.
The Mets continue to work on a deal for Jay Bruce on trade deadline day. Deja vu all over again.
— Buster Olney (@Buster_ESPN) August 1, 2016
The Dodgers and Giants have also been linked to Bruce, who is batting .265 with 25 homers and 80 RBIs in 97 games this season.
Beltran looking to stay with Yankees
The New York Yankees have been shopping outfielder Carlos Beltran for a month, and he is expected to be dealt before the deadline today. However, if Beltran has his way, that won't be the case. According to Randy Miller of NJ.com, Beltran wants to stay with the Yankees.
"I'm sticking with what I said before, for me it's out of my hands what's going to happen," Beltran said. "I know that Miller got traded and he's a great person. We wish him the best. At the end of the day, this is business and we've got to be professional as team ... go out and compete and try to win ballgames."
"I know it's difficult sometimes when you see a good guy and a good friend leave the team, but at the end of the day we have a commitment here. Whatever happens is going to happen, so I'm not going to think about it. Honestly."
Mimicking past interviews, Beltran again made it clear that he wants to stay. He is a native New Yorker, after all, and he's greatly enjoyed spending the last three seasons as a Yankee.
"I always say that I love it here," Beltran said. "I love playing here."
The Indians, Rangers and Red Sox have all been linked to Beltran, who is batting .304 with 22 homers and 64 RBIs this season.
Sale unlikely to get traded
Chris Sale's name has been floated in various trade rumors throughout the week, and it seemed like he was destined to be playing somewhere else after the deadline. Now, that doesn't appear to be the case as Jon Heyman of FanRag Sports reports the White Sox aren't expected to deal him:
Word is that the Rangers, Dodgers and Red Sox are three of the teams talking to the White Sox and three of the potential landing spots, maybe the main three potential landing spots — though at the moment it’s hard to tell if any of them has a great chance to land the five-time All-Star.
Those three teams are known for their fertile farm systems, and all of them could pull off such a blockbuster. The question is whether they have the appetite for it.
It is believed the White Sox and Dodgers have spoken about L.A.’s top two pitching prospects — Julio Urias and Jose DeLeon — as part of a potential package. It’s believed the names discussed with the Rangers include young outfielder Nomar Mazara, third base prospect Joey Gallo and young infielder Jurickson Profar. It’s been reported that the White Sox and Red Sox have heavily scouted each other, with speculation centering around young outfielder prospect Andrew Benintendi in strong farm system. Boston also has the Cuban star Yoan Moncada and 105-mph-throwing Michael Kopech, though word all along out of Boston has been that it is somewhat of a long shot.
One executive with one of the involved teams suggests he doesn’t believe Sale is going anywhere, and some of the teams have tried to engage the White Sox in their No. 2 starter, Jose Quintana, but it isn’t believed those talks have gone very far.
Sale is 14-4 with a 3.17 ERA in 20 starts this season.
Back to the MLB Newsfeed