Things to watch as trade deadline approaches
BOSTON — The trade deadline hits Friday at 4 p.m. and it’s a real deadline. As of 2019, waiver trades no longer exist. Players can be claimed off waivers, but that’s it.
So for contending teams, this is their best shot to improve.
In 2019, there were 25 deals made in the 48 hours leading up to the deadline. The deadline was pushed back to Aug. 17, and 17 trades were made on the final day.
With 17 teams within six games of a playoff spot, the expectation for many executives is that Thursday and Friday will be busy days.
“For now there are a lot of names being thrown around nobody is too interested in,” one American League executive said. “It’ll take the deadline to force the action, as it usually does.”
A look at the people and developments that will drive the coming days:
The rental market: Teams have been reticent in recent years to give up much for veteran players who can become free agents in two months. That could change with the Rays trading two legitimate pitching prospects for Nelson Cruz.
Cruz, 41, is an outstanding hitter who brings leadership to any clubhouse in addition to 46 games of playoff experience. Maybe he’s the outlier.
But the Cubs have to feel better about what they can get for Javier Baez and/or Kris Bryant, and the Rockies for Trevor Story.
Creative GMs: Cruz hasn’t played in the field since 2018, and that was forfourgames.ButNationalLeague teams were asking about him.
Along with Baez and Story, shortstops Andrelton Simmons (Twins), Freddy Galvis (Orioles), and Nick Ahmed (Diamondbacks) are available.
It wouldn’t be a surprise to see a team in need of a third baseman or second baseman acquire a shortstop and use him at a different position. It worked for Toronto with Marcus Semien.
Or a team could trade for a shortstop and move its shortstop to another position. With how often teams shift, middle infielders in particular are comfortable moving around.
The Twins: Cruz is probably only the first to go. They also have Simmons, and pitching options with Michael Pineda, Tyler Duffey, Alex Colome, and Taylor Rogers.
Josh Donaldson, who has $59 million left on his deal as of Aug. 1, will be tough to move. They are willing to discuss Max Kepler, but the price is high.
National League East: Outside of the Marlins, every team is in the mix. The Mets still need pitching, even after acquiring Hill. The Phillies, as usual, need relievers. The Braves already have supplemented their fractured outfield with Joc Pederson.
The Nationals are in fourth place. It’s not in Mike Rizzo’s DNA to concede, but he conceded there may not be much choice if his team doesn’t make a run soon.
If that happens, the Nationals have a lot to offer. Max Scherzer, Brad Hand, Yan Gomes, Josh Harrison, Josh Bell, Jon Lester, and Kyle Schwarber are all pending free agents, although Schwarber has a mutual option.
The Yankees: They’re on the periphery of the American League East race and, like the Nationals, are at the point where a decision about whether to buy or sell could come the day of the deadline.
But what do they have to offer unless a team is willing to take on a lot of salary? It’s far more likely the Yankees wait, get healthier, and try to make a run in August. At the moment, 26 of their final 59 games would be against teams with losing records.
The sellers: There are roughly 10 teams with no hope and they’re fielding calls from all the others. The Marlins can build a big market for Starling Marte and the same is true for other sellers with prominent players.
“As you can imagine, there’s a lot of interest in our players. We are trying to figure out exactly what we’re going to do and when,” Diamondbacks GM Mike Hazen said.
The closer: Craig Kimbrel is on his fourth team in eight years. “I’m good at packing,” he said at the All-Star Game. “I’m prepared for whatever happens.” After struggling from 2019-20, Kimbrel has been dominant this season, sharply cutting his walk rate and giving up one home run though his first 131 batters.