MLB trade deadline rumors tracker: Latest on Giants, Phillies, Shohei Ohtani

Major League Baseball

Updated Jul. 22, 2023 1:27 p.m. ET

The 2023 MLB trade deadline is Aug. 1, but there’s already plenty of buzz across the league.

Here are the latest MLB trade rumors.

JULY 22

Giants considering Justin Verlander?

San Francisco is among the teams doing their due diligence on Verlander should he become available via trade as the New York Mets continue to struggle, per MLB Network. But there are several reasons to think that the three-time Cy Young award winner will remain in Queens after signing a three-year, $120 million contract with New York last offseason.

FOX Sports’ Ken Rosenthal reported last week that even if the Mets do become sellers after an extremely disappointing 2023 season thus far, Verlander and fellow veteran starter Max Scherzer will likely stay put due to a number of reasons, including their respective intricate contract structures and no-trade clauses. Plus, Verlander himself recently told The Athletic that he remains committed to try to win another World Series title in New York.

Phillies looking for right-handed bat

Philadelphia took a big step towards replacing Rhys Hoskins for the remainder of 2023 with Bryce Harper impressing in his debut at first base on Friday. But the team is still searching for additional help from the right-handed side of the plate, per the Philadelphia Inquirer, after Hoskins went down with an ACL injury in Spring Training and Trea Turner has struggled this far in his first season with the Phillies.

Phillies’ Bryce Harper makes a PHENOMENAL diving catch in his first base debut vs. the Guardians

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The Phillies are reportedly open to that bat being a corner outfielder, keeping Harper at first as he continues to recover from offseason Tommy John surgery while moving Kyle Schwarber or Nick Castellanos, both subpar outfield defenders, to the designated hitter role that had been occupied by Harper. Of course, an outfielder who also has the ability to play first base when needed could open the door for Harper, a world-class defender when healthy, to return to the outfield himself this season as his recovery continues.

JULY 21

White Sox trading Tim Anderson?

The chances of Chicago moving the former batting champion are “increasing,” MLB Network reported. Anderson, a two-time All-Star, is in the midst of the worst season of his MLB career, low-lighted by him totaling zero home runs and just 15 RBIs while owning a .235/.274/.275 slash line through 73 games for the fourth-place White Sox. The shortstop is under team control through the 2024 season.

So, you’re saying there’s a chance?

While Shohei Ohtani‘s future is anyone’s guess, don’t rule out the Los Angeles Dodgers acquiring him from the Los Angeles Angels, the New York Post reported. A free agent at the end of the season, the Angels have reportedly been listening to offers for the two-way superstar.

Ohtani is in the midst of arguably the best season of his MLB career, as he has hit a league-best 35 home runs while owning a remarkable .306/.397/.678 slash line. On the hill, he has posted a 3.50 ERA over 18 starts.

Nolan Arenado unlikely to be dealt

While likely in seller’s mode at 44-53, the St. Louis Cardinals are unlikely to trade their star third baseman, the New York Post reported. The only way that could change is if Arenado, who has a no-trade clause, requests a trade, which hasn’t happened.

Arenado has totaled 21 home runs and 74 RBIs while boasting a .287/.336/.526 slash line this season.

Jose Quintana on the move?

Quintana has piqued teams’ interest across the sport, SNY reported. The southpaw is in the first season of a two-year, $26 million deal with the Mets, who are in fourth place in the NL East, and recently made his 2023 debut, as he was previously recovering from a rib injury. In said start, the 34-year-old Quintana surrendered just two runs across five innings.

JULY 20

Angels waiting it out on Shohei Ohtani

The Angels might be listening to trade offers on their two-way superstar, but don’t expect any possible movement to happen until close to the Aug. 1 deadline. Los Angeles is “not close” to making a decision to trade Ohtani and is likely to wait until the final “24-48 hours” before making a decision, MLB Network reported.

Mets not ready to enter sell mode

Even though the Mets have seemed to flirt with the idea of possibly being sellers at the trade deadline, they aren’t ready to commit to that plan yet as they hope they can make a push still, the New York Post reported.

New York entered the season with the highest payroll in MLB history though it can shrink it by possibly trading players ahead of the deadline. With the record payroll, the Mets have been one of the biggest disappointments in recent MLB history. They’re 45-50 and are seven games out of a playoff spot entering Thursday.

If the Mets opt to become sellers, they’ve reportedly already decided not to make Pete Alonso available.

JULY 19

Yankees could take multiple paths at deadline

As the Yankees sit in last place in the AL East this late in the season for the first time since 1990, their approach at the deadline appears in question. New York could end up being both buyers and sellers, according to FOX Sports’ Ken Rosenthal.

Even though they’re in last place, the Yankees are only a couple games back for the final wild-card spot in the AL. And they’re expecting Aaron Judge back soon.

But the Yankees are also over the highest luxury tax threshold, which carries extreme tax penalties, and New York could want to get under that threshold, according to Rosenthal.

Astros among teams interested in Dylan Cease, have checked in on pair of Cubs

Houston’s rotation is in a rough spot with injuries. So the Astros are seeking pitching help at the deadline, and the White Sox ace is among the players they’d “love” to add, MLB Network reported. However, the White Sox have made Cease “close to untouchable,” according to the report. Cease has followed his breakout 2022 campaign with a middling 4-3 record and 4.18 ERA in a league-high 20 starts so far in 2023.

Cease isn’t the only Chicago player the Astros have their eyes on. The Astros have checked in with the Cubs on Cody Bellinger and Marcus Stroman, according to USA Today. Both pending free agents could be available at the deadline, depending on the Cubs’ performance the rest of the month.

Despite missing a month with a knee injury, Bellinger has shown signs that he’s getting back to the player he was early in his career with the Dodgers. Through July 18, he’s hitting .308 with a .888 OPS to go along with 12 homers and 35 RBIs. Stroman is also having a strong year, with a 10-6 record and a 2.88 ERA so far.

Mets not expected to discuss Pete Alonso trade

Though the Mets have appeared to flirt with the idea of being sellers at the deadline, there’s at least one player who won’t be moved. The Mets “do not plan” to engage with other teams on a trade involving their All-Star first baseman, SNY reported. Alonso is hitting just .205 this season but has 26 homers and 62 RBIs through July 18. He’s under team control through the 2024 season.

JULY 18

Cardinals selling with focus on pitching

No team has been more publicly vocal that they are sellers than the Cardinals, as president of baseball operations John Mozeliak reiterated recently. Mozeliak also made his specific priority clear: “Pitching, pitching, pitching,” he told reporters Monday per The Athletic.

That applies to both what the Cardinals are looking for in return — young, MLB-ready pitchers under team control for the next few seasons who have some upside — and what they have to trade away. St. Louis’s pitching staff has been its biggest issue this season, but pending free agents — such as starters Jordan Montgomery (3.23 ERA) and Jack Flaherty (4.29 ERA) and reliever Jordan Hicks (3.86 ERA in 38 appearances) — could draw interest. Switch-hitting outfielder Dylan Carlson is also a likely trade candidate with Tyler O’Neil expected to supplant Carlson as the team’s everyday left fielder upon O’Neil’s return from the injured list, per MLB.com.

Reigning National League MVP Paul Goldschmidt and All-Star Nolan Arenado, who both have no-trade clauses, are likely not going anywhere, though Mozeliak said he would not rule that out despite having “no intentions” to trade his biggest stars.

JULY 17

Angels won’t trade Shohei Ohtani to Dodgers

Many people across baseball, including “Flippin’ Bats” host Ben Verlander, think it’s likely Ohtani takes his talents a few miles up the I-5 Freeway and joins the Dodgers in free agency this coming winter. But he probably will not be wearing Dodger blue before the end of the 2023 season.

[Ranking potential Shohei Ohtani trade destinations]

Angels owner Arte Moreno is reportedly against signing off on trading Ohtani to the Dodgers, and the Dodgers’ front office does not expect that stance to change between now and Aug. 1, per FOX Sports’ Ken Rosenthal. However, Rosenthal expects several other contending teams would pursue Ohtani if he is made available — and it is still an uncertainty that Moreno will go that route at all.

Ken Rosenthal provides an update on Shohei Ohtani trade rumors

Yankees looking at corner outfielders

The New York Yankees reportedly want some more corner outfield help with Aaron Judge still sidelined and the team’s depth pieces struggling at the plate. Randal Grichuk of the Colorado Rockies and Dylan Carlson of the St. Louis Cardinals are possible options for New York, per MLB.com. Surging Chicago Cubs outfielder Cody Bellinger is also a name that has come up, per the New York Post.

The Yankees are also seeking upgrades at catcher, in the starting rotation and in the back end of their bullpen, per MLB.com.

JULY 16

Padres likely out on Shohei Ohtani, but are the Rays in?

The Padres appear to be taking a different approach ahead of this year’s trade deadline, looking to add “around the edges,” according to CBS Sports. They’re “hopeful” to add a bat and possibly a reliever, the New York Post reported. There are conflicting reports, though, on just how interested the Padres will be in Ohtani if he’s made available for trade. Some believe the Padres will just wait until the offseason to pursue him in free agency, with many in baseball including FOX Sports’ Ben Verlander and John Smoltz expecting Ohtani to prefer West Coast teams, but Ken Rosenthal notes that A.J. Preller is never afraid to make a big splash this time of year.

The Padres are also 44-49 and 10 games out of first place in the National League West, so they could also look to deal pending free agents Blake Snell and Josh Hader with an eye towards fixing their star-studded roster to compete in 2024, which is also the last season of team control for their prized acquisition at last year’s trade deadline, Juan Soto.

Tampa Bay, on the other hand, appears to be throwing its hat into the Ohtani sweepstakes. The Rays are expected to call the Angels about a possible deal for the two-way superstar if he becomes available prior to the Aug. 1 trade deadline, the Tampa Bay Times reported Sunday. The Rays are widely considered to have one of the best farm systems in all of baseball, which could help them match the Angels’ reported asking price of multiple top-100 prospects. With Ohtani only owed $10 million between the Aug. 1 deadline and the end of the 2023 regular season, Ken Rosenthal believes the Rays and other small-market teams could join the trade sweepstakes if they do begin in earnest.

Corbin Burnes assured that he won’t be moved

The Brewers ace won’t be traded ahead of the deadline, or at least that’s what he’s been told. Burnes shared with reporters over the weekend that general manager Matt Arnold assured him in a recent private conversation that he wasn’t going to be traded ahead of the Aug. 1 deadline.

Arnold previously indicated that he wouldn’t be trading his top two players, Burnes and Willy Adames, ahead of the trade deadline this year after the Brewers dealt Josh Hader to the Padres last season despite being in the playoff hunt.

JULY 15

Mets GM open to trades; team likely to sell

The 2023 trade deadline is just weeks away, and the baseball community is engrossed in the debate over whether the Mets will engage as buyers or sellers. Mets general manager Billy Eppler has refrained from revealing his intentions outright, he did offer insight into the organization’s perspective as they embark on the latter half of the 2023 season.

“You look at all of it,” Eppler said Friday of how he evaluates this year’s team. “More this year, but you have to honor some of the things that happened recently. You look at the season as a whole, the track record, what the projections were and if they were updated. And make the call on what other people are seeing.”

FOX Sports’ Ken Rosenthal said Saturday before the Mets’ loss the the Los Angeles Dodgers that he expects the team to ultimately become sellers before the trade deadline, though the Mets will likely hold onto expensive veteran starters Max Scherzer and Justin Verlander.

Angels “listening” to Shohei Ohtani trade offers

The Angels are “listening” to trade offers for Ohtani and are asking for multiple top-100 MLB prospects in any trade scenario, MLB Network reported Saturday. Los Angeles is 45-47, six games out of the No. 3 American League wild-card seed and risks losing Ohtani, who is a free agent after this season, for nothing if they don’t trade him.

Reds eyeing pitchers

The Reds have reportedly made inquiries to several teams regarding the availability of starting pitchers. Among the teams they have reached out to is the Chicago White Sox for Lucas Giolito, Lance Lynn and potentially Dylan Cease, although the likelihood of acquiring Cease appears lower.

JULY 14

Angels will “consider” Ohtani trade

The Angels will consider trade offers for two-way superstar Ohtani, though the standard for actually trading him remains “extraordinarily” high, according to MLB Network. The outcome of the Angels’ upcoming homestand against the Houston Astros, New York Yankees and Pittsburgh Pirates will be a big factor in what the front office ultimately decides.

FOX Sports MLB insider Ken Rosenthal reported before the All-Star Game that the MLB-wide consensus is that Angels owner Arte Moreno will refuse to sign off on an Ohtani trade before the Aug. 1 deadline, and Rosenthal reiterated that Friday, though he also said pressure on Moreno will continue to mount if the injury-plagued Angels keep losing.

Ohtani is widely expected to command the richest contract in MLB history when he hits free agency this winter.

JULY 13

Dodgers interested in Lucas Giolito

With the White Sox floundering at 38-54, eight games out of first place in a weak American League Central, onetime top prospect Lucas Giolito appears to be the team’s most obvious trade candidate. Giolito, who will hit free agency after the season, is getting some interest from the Dodgers, according to MLB Network.

A move to L.A. would be a homecoming for Giolito, who was born in nearby Santa Monica, California and starred in high school at prep powerhouse Harvard-Westlake, which is also the alma mater of fellow big-league hurlers Jack Flaherty and Max Fried. Giolito has had a solid bounce-back campaign after a rough 2022, with a 3.45 ERA over 112 innings this season as of July 13. Perhaps even more importantly for the Dodgers, he is tied for the MLB lead in games started over the first half of 2023 with 19, and his durability would be a major boost to an injury-plagued Los Angeles starting rotation that desperately needs some depth. Giolito is also expected to draw interest from other MLB first-half division leaders, including the Texas Rangers and the Cincinnati Reds, according to the New York Post.

JULY 12

Cardinals open for business

St. Louis president John Mozeliak said that the team is “going to trade people” before the deadline. The Cards are 38-52 as of July 13, leaving them in last place in the NL Central and 13th in the league. They’re seen as an attractive trade partner given the likes of perennial All-Star Nolan Arenado and struggling ace Jack Flaherty on their roster.

JULY 3

Brewers seek ‘opportunistic’ deadline, won’t trade top players

Even though the Brewers are atop the NL Central, there have been some questions about their possible trade deadline approach — as they acted as both a buyer and seller in 2022 when they were in the thick of the playoff race. Brewers general manager Matt Arnold said that his team is hoping to find moves to win this season. “Look, we want to be competitive here in 2023,” Arnold said, via MLB.com. “We will be opportunistic to try and improve this team where we can, responsibly, I think we have a lot of good players here.”

After Milwaukee traded All-Star reliever Josh Hader at the deadline last season, Arnold shot down any ideas that they would trade Willy Adames or Corbin Burnes. “We’re not looking to move any of those guys,” Arnold said. “They’re huge parts of our team right now. Those are guys we believe will help us this year and help us with our goal of trying to win a World Series here in Milwaukee.”

‘Slim’ chance Mets trade Pete Alonso

The Mets could be open to being sellers at the trade deadline after a disappointing first half of the season, but one player that doesn’t seem likely to move is Alonso. “The chances of the Mets moving him appear exceedingly slim,” FOX Sports’ Rosenthal wrote in The Athletic.

JULY 1

Cubs not extending Marcus Stroman?

Chicago doesn’t feel “inclined” to extend right-handed starting pitcher Stroman before the deadline, The Athletic reported. Stroman — who’s in the midst of arguably the best season of his MLB career, highlighted by sporting a 2.96 ERA as of July 13 — is in the second season of a three-year, $71 million deal and has a player option for the 2024 season.

If the Cubs sell, Stroman could be a prime trade candidate.

JUNE 30

Chas McCormick on the move?

The New York Yankees have expressed interest in acquiring McCormick from Houston, The Athletic reported. McCormick, 28, is under team control through 2026 and would give the Yankees outfield depth with an injured Aaron Judge.

JUNE 27

Max Scherzer open to waiving no-trade clause?

Scherzer could be a surprising trade deadline candidate for the New York Mets, which have struggled mightily this season. He was signed in December 2021 to lead the Mets’ rotation into perennial playoff contention and is currently in the second year of a three-year, $130 million contract with a full no-trade clause. However, he could be open to waiving his no-trade clause to facilitate a deal if the Mets do not improve, according to MLB.com. The 38-year-old right-hander has missed some time due to neck spasms and a suspension in April for violating MLB’s grip-enhancing substances rule.

Pirates‘ Andrew McCutchen, Royals‘ Salvador Perez likely to stay put

McCutchen and Perez are both beloved among their respective fan bases. McCutchen, the 2013 NL MVP with the Pirates had an emotional return to the franchise he started his MLB career with and reportedly hopes to retire in Pittsburgh. Perez, a seven-time All-Star, has spent his entire 13-year MLB career with the Royals and was a crucial part of their 2015 World Series championship team. However, both the Pirates and Royals are currently well out of contention even in weak NL and AL Central races, respectively, and both veterans might get a better-than-anticipated price in what is anticipated to be a weak trade market.

JUNE 7

Rangers targeting bullpen

The Rangers will likely try to fortify their bullpen before the trade deadline, FOX Sports’ Rosenthal told “Flippin’ Bats” host Ben Verlander. “They’ve invested a ton of money the last two years in their club,” Rosenthal said. “They want to see this through. They want to max out, and the bullpen right now is their biggest hole.”

The Rangers may also look for starting pitching help after the news that their ace starting pitcher Jacob deGrom will undergo Tommy John surgery and miss the remainder of the year and most of 2024.

White Sox, Angels likely to stand pat, try to contend

The Angels and the White Sox both had designs on contending in 2023, but so far the season has not been going to plan. FOX Sports’ Rosenthal claims that’s because both teams put so many resources into trying to content this season, and it’s unlikely they’ll pivot from that approach and be open to trading their veteran stars before the deadline. That include the Angels’ Shohei Ohtani, despite Rosenthal’s belief that there is “no chance” Ohtani will re-sign with the Angels in free agency this coming offseason.

JUNE 6

Royals moving Scott Barlow?

Kansas City could move their reliever, The Athletic reported. Barlow, who owns a 4.09 ERA as of July 13, is under team control through 2024.

JUNE 4

Giants buying?

Giants president Farhan Zaidi told MLB Network Radio that the team will be “aggressive” in upgrading its roster.

JUNE 1

Could Shane Bieber be dealt?

Three general managers told ESPN that they suspect the Cleveland Guardians will trade their ace Bieber, a Cy Young Award winner and two-time All-Star. This thinking comes from the franchise’s track record of trading and then developing starting pitchers. (They’ve traded Trevor Bauer, Corey Kluber, Mike Clevinger and Carlos Carrasco and since developed Bieber, Triston McKenzie, Aaron Civale, Cal Quantrill and Logan Allen, among other pitchers.)

Jonathan India staying put?

The Cincinnati Reds are “in no hurry” to move India, their primary second baseman for the better part of the last three seasons, ESPN reported. Trade interest and speculation comes against the backdrop of the Reds having several blue-chip infield prospects; Matt McLain and now Elly De La Cruz have reached the big leagues, with Christian Encarnacion-Strand, Noelvi Marte, Cam Collier and Edwin Arroyo making their way through Cincinnati’s minor-league system.

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