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What Will Red Sox Do At Trade Deadline? Boston's Plan Reportedly Becoming More Clear Sports Illustrated[unable to retrieve full-text content]
SF Giants release former centerpiece of Giancarlo Stanton trade Sports IllustratedThe Yankees could use additional help at the trade deadline.
With Aaron Judge out for an extended period, the Yankees have been relying on a cast of misfit characters. The results, especially offensively, have been brutal. If not for the pitching staff carrying the club over the past few weeks, New York might be on the outside of the three American League wild-card spots. But the Yankees are firmly in the mix.
Getting into the playoffs isn’t ever the main goal for the Yankees though. It’s always about winning a title. To win their first championship since 2009, the Yankees will likely need to be active at the deadline.
We thought it would be a fun exercise to explore the different kinds of deals the Yankees could make to improve their chances of winning a World Series. They could use another outfielder (preferably a left-handed hitter), a starting pitcher and a reliever. Most of the deals we came up with here are centered around those types of players. After proposing seven hypothetical Yankees trades, we asked former general manager Jim Bowden to weigh in on them. Let’s get to it.
All statistics are updated through Thursday’s games.
The Yankees have to decide whether they want to extend free-agent-to-be Harrison Bader this offseason. If he’s in their long-term plans, maybe this isn’t the best deal. But if Bader is too injury-prone for their liking as he heads toward his 30s, Nootbaar brings exit velocity, a good eye, and solid enough defense so he could shift to left field this season and head back to center field next year. Helps, also, that Nootbaar is under team control through 2027 and is a lefty hitter. But to get a young player with Nootbaar’s skills, it’s going to hurt. Cortes is a Yankees fan-favorite, and the club could look to upgrade its rotation again in the offseason. Thorpe, 22, is a former second-round pick with good command and middling stuff. Dunham, 25, could become a third or fourth outfielder with just enough ability on both sides of the ball, and he’ll be eligible for the Rule 5 draft in December. — Kuty
Bowden says: I absolutely hate this trade idea. I think Nootbaar is a fourth outfielder, not an everyday outfielder. He’s a below-average defender in center field and isn’t going to hit enough to play a corner on a regular basis. I realize everyone loves his exit velocity, makeup and competitiveness. But I just don’t think he’s going to hit enough. He’s a career .240 hitter in his first 680 plate appearances and he profiles as a 15- to 18-home run hitter, but has never hit more than 14 in a season in his pro career. Also, I view Cortes as a solid mid-rotation starter, and being left-handed and under 30 years old gives him more value. In fact, I wouldn’t even do Cortes-for-Nootbaar straight-up.
The Yankees operated all offseason like they were avoiding the fourth luxury tax threshold. If they were to acquire someone like Pederson, they would likely require the other team to eat some of his remaining contract. (He signed the one-year, $19.65 million qualifying offer.) In exchange for the Giants doing so, the Yankees would part with one of their better pitching prospects in Warren. Pederson’s bat would play perfectly in Yankee Stadium, plus he’s had World Series success and come up clutch in big moments. The downside is he’s just been a DH this season. That’s a problem because Giancarlo Stanton is mostly a DH, though he can play some in the outfield. Though if the Yankees could add Pederson’s bat, I think they’d figure out the best alignment. — Kirschner
Bowden says: This is a solid trade idea for both teams. It might actually be a slight overpay for the Yankees but probably would be worth it to them. Pederson, thanks to advice from Barry Bonds, has learned how to pull the ball on inside pitches and would be extremely dangerous playing half his games at Yankee Stadium with the short confines of right field. Pederson hit 23 home runs last season in just 380 at-bats and has eight this year in 147 at-bats. He’s more of a platoon player but the fit works. He’s not that bad in left field and he and Stanton could share DH and a corner outfield spot until Judge comes back. I think parting with Warren is a bit of an overpay but to get the Giants to make this deal while in a pennant race themselves they’d have to “win” the trade. This trade helps both sides enough for both to pull the trigger.
If the Yankees don’t believe in Jake Bauers or Billy McKinney as rest-of-the-season options, and if the Cubs become sellers, Bellinger makes sense for the Yankees. He’s a lefty bat. He hits the ball in the air. He’s played in two big markets (Chicago, Los Angeles) and he’s finally healthy. He’s an above-average defender in center field and right field, though the Yankees would likely ask him to shift to left field. He’d be owed the remainder of his $12.5 million salary for this season with a $5 million buyout for next year. This package sends the Cubs a trio of Yankees prospects: Beeter and Warren — both nearly major-league-ready — would be the headliners with Florial added to sweeten the deal. Warren, 24, may be the Yankees’ best pitching prospect, with mid-rotation upside thanks to his fastball-curveball combo. Beeter, 24, was acquired when the Yankees sent Joey Gallo to the Dodgers, and he has impressed with his mid-90s fastball and a pair of breaking pitches. Florial, 25, is a former top prospect who would be a high-level defensive center fielder right now and has put up impressive power numbers this season at Triple A. But he strikes out way too much, and when the Yankees designated him for assignment earlier this season, he went unclaimed. — Kuty
Bowden says: Since I already endorsed the Warren-for-Pederson trade, let’s make this deal with the Cubs, too, but make it just Beeter and Florial for Bellinger. Florial is having a terrific season in Triple A, slashing .294/.383/.604 with 10 doubles, three triples, 20 home runs, 46 RBIs and 13 stolen bases. It’s clear the Yankees don’t believe in him and remain concerned about his swing-and-miss. They already have Bader, the impending free agent, who is a much better overall player. From the Cubs’ perspective, Bellinger will be a free agent after this season, and getting Florial (whom they’d control through 2028) to compete with rookie Pete Crow-Armstrong in the future makes sense, especially with Beeter as part of the deal. However, keep in mind, like the Giants in the above trade proposal, the Cubs are in postseason contention and would be hesitant to make this move. But I think there would be a place for both Bellinger and Pederson on the Yankees, especially given the uncertainty surrounding Judge and with so many of their older veteran players struggling in the first half of the season.
Giolito, 28, might be the most talented starting pitcher on the trade market — lots of strikeouts, good command, a former Cy Young Award candidate. But he’s a complicated trade target because he’d be a half-season rental. The Yankees gave up well-regarded outfield prospect Kevin Alcántara when they traded with the Cubs for a half-season of Anthony Rizzo in 2021. Pereira, 22, is a bit older than Alcantara, now 20, but he’s got a loud bat and a strong corner outfield arm. Serna, 21, has had a breakout year at Low-A Tampa, showing better line-drive ability to go with his impressive strike zone control, but he’s eligible for the upcoming Rule 5 draft and the Yankees likely won’t have room on their 40-man roster for someone so far from the majors. — Kuty
Bowden says: I definitely like the idea of trading for Giolito, but I don’t think the Yankees’ farm system can match what the Reds’, Diamondbacks’ and Dodgers’ systems can dangle in front of Chicago. I think the Yankees will fall short on what they’re willing to offer for him compared to the competition, especially if Giolito is the top starting pitcher traded at the deadline.
The Yankees’ on-base percentage is dreadful. McCutchen, the former Yankee, would help solve that problem. He ranks in the top 10 in MLB in OBP at .395 and has been one of the most productive outfielders in baseball this season. Because he’s a rental, it shouldn’t take too much to acquire him. Worth noting: After McCutchen left the Yankees in 2018, he spoke out against the team’s hair policy. He’d have to be OK with conforming if traded back. In this deal, the Yankees would part with Brito, who has seen some action in the Bronx this season but is still a few years away from potentially being a trustworthy starter. The Pirates also would get Chaparro, a slugger who’s likely a DH at the major-league level. The Yankees have plenty of those players on the roster. — Kirschner
Bowden says: I’ve always loved Cutch and am not opposed to the Yankees reuniting with him, especially if they planned to platoon him with someone like Pederson. That said, I am opposed to trading Brito for him — even straight-up; I’d give the righty some more time to develop. If Chaparro and another mid-level-type prospect could land McCutchen, I would have interest if I’m the Yankees. But I also won’t be surprised if McCutchen finishes his career where it started, in Pittsburgh, and ends up staying put. He’s a fan favorite and recently publicly voiced his desire to remain with the Pirates.
The Nationals’ representative in the All-Star Game will likely be Candelario, who’s been one of the best third basemen in the National League this season. Third base has been such a weakness for the Yankees that Josh Donaldson and DJ LeMahieu have been benched over the past week as they work to rediscover their swings. A potential issue in trading for the switch-hitting Candelario is it might only work if Donaldson is ultimately DFA’d. Even then, the Yankees could use his roster spot to call up Oswald Peraza instead of trading for a third baseman. For the Nationals, acquiring as much young talent as possible should be the goal. They would get Cabrera, who can play all over the field; a lottery ticket in Serna, who just returned from a shoulder injury this week; and Weissert, who has electric stuff but needs to work on his command. — Kirschner
Bowden says: This trade works for both sides. Candelario has been the Nationals’ second-best position player after outfielder Lane Thomas this season and has put together a nice bounce-back year. He’s only two years removed from leading the majors with 42 doubles. This year, he’s hit 26 doubles and 10 home runs with 38 RBIs in 289 at-bats. Donaldson looks done to me. LeMahieu looks like age and decline have arrived. This trio of players heading to Washington have solid value and I still think Cabrera, 24, has the upside of being an everyday player.
Forget for a moment that Judge once put Kelly in a headlock during an on-field brawl with the Red Sox in 2018. The righty reliever has been excellent with the White Sox this year, putting up a ton of strikeouts (11.5 K/9) with uncharacteristically low walk totals (2.5 BB/9). The 35-year-old will be a free agent after this season with a $1 million buyout of his $9.5 million team option for 2024. Weissert has big stuff but the 28-year-old has struggled to get consistent time in the majors. Gil, 25, likely won’t pitch in the majors this season as he recovers from Tommy John surgery in 2022, but some believe he has late-inning reliever upside. Lagrange, 20, is a 6-foot-7 lottery ticket with a big-time fastball who hasn’t pitched above complex ball yet. — Kuty
Bowden says: This trade offer seems like a box of baseballs, a rosin bag and a bat doughnut weight for Kelly, which certainly works for the Yankees. However, can the White Sox ask for lefty Brock Selvidge instead and, if needed, throw another A-ball fringe prospect back into the deal to make it work?
(Top photo of Cody Bellinger: Kirby Lee / USA Today)
The Kings put some of their cap space to use Friday morning.
Sacramento is "nearing a trade" to acquire Indiana Pacers guard Chris Duarte in exchange for draft compensation, The Athletic's Shams Charania reported, citing sources.
Duarte, 26, was drafted by the Pacers at No. 13 overall in 2021. The 6-foot-6 guard had a solid rookie season in Indiana, averaging 13.1 points on 43.2 percent shooting from the field and 36.9 percent from 3-point range, 4.1 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.0 steals in 28.0 minutes played.
In his sophomore season, though, his minutes decreased as rookie guard Bennedict Mathurin, the No. 6 overall pick in 2022, took over.
Duarte played just under 20 minutes per game, averaging 7.9 points on 36.9-percent shooting from the field and 31.6 percent from downtown.
The talent is undeniably there, but he needs the reps. Sacramento could serve as a fresh start for the third-year guard.
In the 2023 draft last Thursday, the Kings traded away their No. 24 pick and center Richuan Holmes to the Dallas Mavericks in a move that bumped their salary cap space to about $35 million. They reportedly agreed on a new three-year contract extension with veteran forward Harrison Barnes, slicing that number to roughly $18 million.
Adding Duarte to the mix would add depth to the roster while still giving Sacramento some wiggle room with what's left in cap space. The Dominican guard is entering Year 3 of his four-year, $17.7 million rookie contract he signed with the Pacers. He's owed just over $4 million in 2023-24 and has a team option at almost $6 million in 2024-25, per Spotrac.
With the Seattle Mariners continuing to hover right around .500, what will they do at the 2023 MLB trade deadline? Seattle has just over a month to figure that out as the Aug. 2 deadline is fast approaching.
MLB Network’s Amsinger: Mariners ‘politely losing’ is a bad look
The Mariners need offensive help in a big way, as they rank near the bottom of MLB in batting average, on-base percentage and slugging percentage.
“To look at the batting averages every single day is is nauseating. I can’t believe this team, which I believed going into the year had so many outstanding high-end offensive players, would be so below-average,” MLB Network host Greg Amsinger told Seattle Sports’ Wyman and Bob on Monday.
So could the M’s be in play for a big bat at the upcoming trade deadline?
“I think they’ve got enough on the mound. They’ve got enough to win. Unfortunately, they’re a bat away,” Amsinger said. “They’re a major bat away and they fall in to this cluster of a group of teams that clearly need to make a massive move to jolt this roster to make sure that every single day they show up, they’re not in this complacent performance where they’re losing one-run games.”
What the Seattle Mariners do have in terms of a resource is young pitching. Seattle has two rookies in the five-man rotation in Bryce Miller and Bryan Woo, as well as third-year starter Logan Gilbert and second-year hurler George Kirby. Of those four, Gilbert is the oldest at just 26 years old. Kirby is 25, Miller is 24 and Woo is 23.
Amsinger, like his MLB Network colleague Jon Morosi, thinks Seattle’s wealth of young pitchers could help the Mariners get what they need in a trade.
“I think the pitching depth is so immense in Seattle that they can take advantage of a weak market,” Amsinger said.
Amsinger expects a number of big-name arms to get traded at the deadline, such as Lance Lynn and Lucas Giolito of the Chicago White Sox, Shane Bieber of the Cleveland Guardians, and Eduardo Rodríguez of the Detroit Tigers if he’s healthy.
While those names are more widely-known than what the Mariners have, they’re older, and they’re on more expensive contracts with less team control. Trading a younger, cheaper and more controllable arm could get the M’s quite the haul, Amsinger said.
“If you look at what the Mariners have – controllable, young starting pitching, who have come up and impressed … I think they have an opportunity to really cash in,” he said. “The market screams ‘Mariners win’ on trade deadline day, and I think they need to explore it.”
Listen to Wyman and Bob full conversation with Amsinger at this link or in the player below.
• Mariners DFA Chris Flexen, reinstate Trevor Gott from IL
• Mariners prospects Harry Ford, Jonatan Clase in MLB Futures Game
• Julio Rodríguez announces he’ll compete in 2023 Home Run Derby
• Rost: Mariners questions we do and don’t have answers for
• Seattle Mariners’ Dipoto talks team’s ‘frustration’ and ‘level of focus’
Wednesday, June 28, 2023 7:38PM
INGLEWOOD, Calif. (KABC) -- Twenty dogs saved from slaughter in China's meat trade arrived at a new kennel at LAX for international rescues on Tuesday.
Rue's Kennel is the first airport animal care center in the country. The new facility partnered with the nonprofti China Rescue Dogs to bring the four-legged miracles to California.
The rescues joined organizers at the kennel's ribbon-cutting ceremony on Tuesday. Sixteen golden retrievers, two corgis, 1 poodle and 1 malamute were all smiles for the event, but it was quite the journey for them. Some of them were rescued from breeding farms and trucks headed to the butcher.
In China, it is legal to eat and sell dog meat, but it is not widespread, according to the Asia Society.
"Sadly, people look at these dogs and think how could someone actually brutalize. It's one thing to eat and consume an animal. That's not the case in China. They believe the more torture they ensue on the animal, the more meat is tenderized," said Jill Stewart, the president and co-founder of China Rescue Dogs.
Tibetan monks from Long Beach spoke blessings over the rescues.
"This is compassion. These animals would have suffered a very gruesome fate," said Mayor James Butts of Inglewood. "We are so happy to have our new residents and these animals will live happy and productive lives. We're grateful for that."
Since 2019, China Rescue Dogs has saved more 2,000 canines thanks to large and small donations.
The dogs that arrived at LAX will be adopted to loving families in California and across the U.S.
Copyright © 2023 KABC Television, LLC. All rights reserved.
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The Utah Jazz’s front court will be adding another valuable piece in John Collins — news broke Monday that the team will be trading with the Atlanta Hawks for the 25-year-old power forward.
The trade can not become official until July 6.
The Deseret News’ Sarah Todd was in favor of the trade — which sends Rudy Gay and a future second-round draft pick to Atlanta for Collins — and wrote that Collins has reportedly been on the Jazz’s radar for some time.
Getting a talent like the 6-foot-9, 235-pound Collins at an excellent value — getting a young starting power forward in exchange for a future second-round pick and an aging veteran in Gay — made the deal a “no-brainer,” Todd wrote, while also giving Atlanta financial flexibility.
What do national media members think about the trade from the Jazz’s perspective? Here’s a look at what five news outlets had to say.
The Athletic’s Zach Harper gave the Jazz an A for the trade, saying, “Acquiring him for almost nothing of short-term or long-term value in return is a major win.”
“The Jazz just saw Lauri Markkanen have his best season and become an All-Star and Most Improved Player by changing scenery to Utah. Maybe that’s too ambitious for Collins, but there’s plenty of room for him to grow,” Harper wrote. “The Jazz should be able to play Markkanen, Collins and Walker Kessler all together at the same time. Markkanen showed during his time in Cleveland that he can play the wing/small forward, and that should make the Collins transition a lot easier. It gives the Jazz a lot of frontcourt combinations they can utilize.”
ESPN’s Kevin Pelton graded this a positive trade for both teams, though he gave the edge to Utah — the Jazz received a B+ grade for the trade, the Hawks a B-.
“Spending their cap space in free agency wasn’t a likely outcome for the Jazz, who are still early in the process of retooling their roster after trading away Rudy Gobert and Donovan Mitchell last summer. So Utah’s alternative path was probably using space to take on less-desirable contracts while adding draft picks, a market in which it could have competition from the Indiana Pacers, the Oklahoma City Thunder, the San Antonio Spurs and possibly the Washington Wizards,” Pelton wrote.
“Instead, the Jazz are basically treating Collins as an addition via free agency on a three-year, $78.5 million deal — albeit with the benefit of offloading Gay’s $6.5 million salary this season.
“Surely, part of the hope for Utah is that Collins’ shooting slump was the product of a sprain to his right ring finger in March 2022, one that apparently hadn’t healed by last summer. If another offseason allows Collins to get back to the kind of above-average shooting we saw prior to the injury, the value proposition becomes far different.”
CBS Sports’ Brad Botkin gave the Jazz a B+ grade for the trade, with a move that fits into Utah’s mold of acquiring valuable assets while rebuilding their roster.
“The Jazz aren’t in a rush. They have a wheelbarrow of draft picks after the Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert trades. They have cap space. Kicking the tires on Collins is pretty much all upside,” Botkin wrote.
“It remains a question whether the Jazz will bring back Jordan Clarkson and/or Talen Horton-Tucker, both of whom will likely opt out to become free agents; if they don’t they can still have north of $20M in space even with Collins’ money on the books.
“Utah can build with patience while still making an honest run at the playoffs in the short term. The Jazz were in the hunt last season until they strategically dropped out. Utah will start a huge, talented frontline in seven-footers Lauri Markkanen and Walker Kessler along with Collins. Add in Ochai Agbaji and No. 9 overall pick Taylor Hendricks and you’re talking about an average of 7-foot wingspans.”
The Ringer’s Justin Verrier pointed out that Collins’ contract is more manageable for the Jazz than the Hawks at this point.
“The difference may lie in the cap details: Whereas the Hawks were bound to be squeezed by forthcoming extensions for not only Murray, but Onyeka Okongwu and the recently acquired Saddiq Bey, the Jazz had an estimated $47 million in space this summer, with few players clamoring to revel in Salt Lake City’s nightlife,” Verrier wrote.
“In Utah, Collins is a luxury, and while it’s still hard to see a pathway for him to become the kind of player worth the $125 million he signed for just two years ago, the Jazz’s reported interest in Kristaps Porzingis before he was sent to Boston suggests they may say see some advantage to stocking up on size. The Cavs’ moves to overstuff their depth chart at the 4 and 5 helped pave Lauri Markkanen’s way to Utah in the first place, but given how they renovated the Finnisher into a potential star in short order, the Jazz will at least get the benefit of the doubt as they embark on a fairly audacious plan to make size and depth matter again.”
NBC Sports’ Kurt Helin called Collins and the Jazz both winners in this trade — meanwhile, he listed the 2023 free agent class as the biggest losers (the trade loses the players leverage) and the Hawks not really winning or losing on the deal.
“Now Collins gets a fresh start and a fresh chance — and he has to take advantage of it. Collins will split time at the four with just drafted Taylor Hendricks and if Collins coasts Hendricks will eat up more and more of that run. Collins needed a fresh start and he got it. Can he take advantage of it?” Helin wrote.
“... Utah just landed a 25-year-old player at a position of need who, at the very least, is a quality NBA rotation player, and if he bounces back more than that — and they got him for nothing. It’s easy to picture Danny Ainge and Justin Zanik texting each other, saying, ‘They’re going to give us Collins for THAT!?!’”
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Dodgers Rumors: Insider Suggests Blockbuster Trade for Mets' Cy Young Pitcher Sports Illustrated
John Collins has been traded . Finally.
It’s been almost two full years that the Atlanta Hawks were looking to find a new home for Collins, but they kept their asking price high and rebuffed offers that fell short. Until Monday. What changed? The new CBA and an increased fear of the luxury tax by owners. With that shadow hanging over them, the Hawks agreed to what essentially is a salary dump of a trade sending Collins to Utah for Rudy Gay. Here is how the trade shakes out:
Jazz receive: John Collins
Hawks receive: Rudy Gay, future second-round pick
(Note for cap geeks: The Jazz absorb Collins into their cap space, so they don’t have to send back equal salary; the Hawks absorb Gay into a trade exception, and with that create another $25 million trade exception for possible future trades.)
Let’s break down the winners and losers of this deal.
John Collins can contribute — two seasons ago he averaged 16.2 points and 7.8 rebounds a game, and he’s the kind of athletic forward who can impact the game even off the ball or with blocks. Plus, he famously put Joel Embiid in a poster (then wore a T-shirt with an image of the dunk).
However, for the past four seasons, his usage rate has dipped lower and lower in Atlanta. He was disappearing from the offense (and Hawks fans would say, not earning those chances), and last season his usage rate dipped to a career-low as he shot below 30% from 3.
Now Collins gets a fresh start and a fresh chance — and he has to take advantage of it. Collins will split time at the four with just drafted Taylor Hendricks and if Collins coasts Hendricks will eat up more and more of that run. It’s possible this is a situation where a change of scenery is just what a player needed to find his old form. We will see if Collins fits that mold.
This isn’t the deepest, most impressive class of free agents ever, but everyone in that market just lost a little leverage. The Utah Jazz were one of just seven teams with cap space to spend on free agents, and this trade eats up a lot of that space. Even for the players with no sincere interest in going to Utah, it was a team free agents (and their agents) could use as leverage. Now Utah is off the board and one more option has dried up.
If Jordan Clarkson and Talen Horton-Tucker decline their player options in the coming days, the Jazz will still have some cap room, but it will not be the same.
Utah just landed a 25-year-old player at a position of need who, at the very least, is a quality NBA rotation player, and if he bounces back can be more than that — and they got him for nothing. It’s easy to picture Danny Ainge and Justin Zanik texting each other, saying, “They’re going to give us Collins for THAT!?!”
Rudy Gay was already on his way out the door in Utah, and they surrendered a future second-round pick. That’s it. And they get not only a player who can contribute today but also someone who allows them to explore trades for guys such as Kelly Olynyk and Damian Jones, bringing back players or picks. The Jazz are in the asset acquisition phase of rebuilding and they not only got a quality asset in this deal but also opened up potential other moves. This is a win of a trade.
The Atlanta Hawks did not lose this trade, they executed their plan — ownership wanted to get below the luxury tax, and the team has been ready to move on from John Collins for a while. This didn’t cost them much, in fact they created a $25 million trade exception they can use for a future move.
The Hawks also didn’t get better with this move. Collins may have faded in the rotation but he was still a quality player who could have helped the Hawks and maybe bounced back under a new coach and system in Quin Snyder. They ended up giving him away. It’s not a disaster, but it’s not good, either.
Over the course of the last 48 hours, it felt like the St. Louis Blues were going to swing a big trade with the Philadelphia Flyers. Unfortunately, it fell apart due to a player using their No Trade Clause.
We should be careful to point out that no official word has been released that it was Torey Krug in the deal. There is a slim possibility it was Colton Parayko and an even slimmer chance it was Justin Faulk.
All three players have no trade clauses in their contracts. All three are earning big-money deals that the Blues wouldn’t mind getting off their books.
Technically, it could have been Nick Leddy too, since he has a no trade clause. However, the money involved there likely doesn’t make sense from the Blues side.
In the rumored deal, the Blues would have brought in Kevin Hayes (center) and Travis Sanheim (defender). St. Louis was rumored to be sending out a defenseman with a no trade clause and one of their first-round draft picks.
We can argue the value of the trade, and I likely will in a different article soon. However, the usual vitriol spewed forth from social media calling Krug selfish and giving the fans another reason to dislike him and another example of a defender that can’t stay healthy ruining the team’s defense for next season.
If you don’t like Krug as a player, that’s your right. I can’t argue for him because he has not lived up to the hope of being a top-pair defender and has missed too many games to justify the role of being a power play quarterback and point producer.
What I can argue is, whether you want him gone or not, he has every right to use his no trade clause. That’s the very reason these players have it negotiated into their deal.
Ask yourself this – if you were a competitive player, why in the world would you want to go to Philadelphia right now? They’re clearly shedding pieces and going full rebuild.
The rumor shifted to Philly trying to swing Krug to a different team to keep the deal alive. If you are Krug, why would you ever be willing to accept the trade unless you knew with absolute certainty who the other team is?
You could accept the trade, having the word of the Flyers general manager they would trade you elsewhere, and then get stuck there if nobody else bites.
The argument that you’re getting paid either way holds no water either. If anything, the opposite would be true and you would want to be paid the same amount and play for a team willing to compete next season instead of just taking your money and not playing many meaningful games in 2023-24.
I think the fans that argue against a player using this power are short sighted and see things only through Blues-tinted glasses. Most of them have likely never had a negotiated contract either.
You don’t negotiate a no trade clause, or a no movement clause, into your deal just to accept a trade to wherever the team wants to send you. That negates the whole purpose of the clause and, really, the entire purpose of having a union. Teams used to be able to send whoever they wanted wherever they wanted and there wasn’t a thing they could do.
Without going into too much detail yet, I was on the side that favored the trade. It was not perfect and didn’t swing the needle incredibly far the other way, but it covered needs the Blues have and in a way that was cheaper than in the free agent market.
Yet, I don’t hold it against Krug, or Parayko or Faulk, for saying they don’t want to leave or they don’t want to go to the Flyers. Philadelphia had the second worst win percentage in the entire Eastern Conference.
Even though they’re worse than the Blues, they have an even worse cap situation than St. Louis. Unless you were a free agent, getting a big payday, why would you want to go there right now?
Krug had every right to nix this trade. Whether the Blues reform a different deal or move on remains to be seen, but you should only dislike Krug if you disliked him before. If you were in his shoes, you can’t honestly say you wouldn’t do the same thing.
Offseason NBA trade buzz is as busy as bees, even when it comes to the roster of the over-the-salary cap Phoenix Suns and center Deandre Ayton.
The most recent rumors included 12-year veteran forward Tobias Harris of the Philadelphia 76ers, according to Keith Pompey of the Philadelphia Inquirer.
Yet, as Arizona Sports’ John Gambadoro has reported in the past week, the only No. 1 pick in Suns’ franchise history will not be shown the door.
The Suns are expected to keep Ayton, as new head coach Frank Vogel is optimistic about coaching him, Gambadoro reports.
Bleacher Report’s Chris Haynes backed Gambadoro’s reporting that the Suns like Ayton with Kevin Durant, Devin Booker and Bradley Beal. Haynes reported Phoenix is “moving forward” with a plan to keep Ayton.
The Suns matched Ayton’s max contract offer sheet signed with the Indiana Pacers in the free agency last summer.
Ayton played 67 regular season games, averaging 18.0 points, 10.0 rebounds and 0.8 blocks on 58.8% shooting.
In the playoffs, he averaged 13.4 points and 9.7 boards on 55% shooting.
Ayton is set to make $32.5 million next season, with two more years on his contract after that.
As rocky as his season went, he was the most valuable asset the Suns could trade to help the team’s depth concerns, though opposing teams surely are aware of the inconsistency that has been a part of his game.
The Suns trading Chris Paul for Beal only added to the cap squeeze and heightened the expectations Phoenix could explore avenues toward an Ayton trade.
A new second tax apron that’s part of the new collective bargaining agreement will take away the Suns’ ability to use any salary exceptions above the veteran minimum, and the Suns will accept that fate for this year and more, especially if Ayton remains.
The Suns’ four max contracts add up to $161.6 million for 2023-24. The other currently rostered players get the team salaries close to the second apron at $182 million with half of the roster yet to be filled out.
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With the 2023 NBA draft now over, all attention shifts to free agency and trade season in the NBA, with the former beginning Friday at 6 p.m. ET.
James Harden and Draymond Green will be two of the biggest potential names on the market, with the latter already turning down his player option.
One of Los Angeles' biggest stars is reportedly available, while the powerhouse Phoenix Suns are apparently done making any big changes to their roster.
We'll look at the latest buzz surrounding these topics and more, buying or selling the latest NBA rumors.
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After the Phoenix Suns pulled off a surprising trade for Bradley Beal, the future of starting center Deandre Ayton was in question given the team's lack of depth around Kevin Durant, Devin Booker and Beal.
Using Ayton's $32.5 million contract to trade for multiple role players, including ones who can defend, space the floor and get the ball to the stars, would make for a more evenly rounded overall roster.
Despite this possibility, the Suns "are moving forward with the plan of keeping Deandre Ayton to play alongside Devin Booker, Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal," according to Bleacher Report's Chris Haynes.
Now, the words "moving forward with the plan of" isn't exactly a rock-solid guarantee. It simply means the Suns have tried to shop Ayton and haven't gotten the offers they'd like for a player who averaged 18.0 points and 10.0 rebounds and turns just 25 this summer.
There's a real chance Phoenix begins the season with the Arizona product and sees how he fits in with three All-Stars, especially if the team can re-sign players like Darius Bazley, Jock Landale, Torrey Craig and others for depth. With no first-round picks to trade or swap now until 2031, Ayton is the Suns' best trade chip.
Ayton appears safe for now. If a strong offer comes around, though, this stance could quickly change.
Buy or Sell: Buy Ayton staying in Phoenix until the first good trade offer comes along.
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While there were lots of winners on draft night, Draymond Green could become one of the biggest after a trade that went under the radar among the rest of the night's excitement.
The Kings traded the No. 24 overall pick to the Dallas Mavericks as an incentive to take Richaun Holmes and his remaining two-year, $25.9 million contract off their books. The move now gives Sacramento the fourth-most cap space of any NBA team this summer, up to $35.6 million according to Keith Smith of Spotrac.
Did the Kings already have a potential target in mind?
Just three days earlier, Green declined his $27.6 million player option with the Golden State Warriors, making him an unrestricted free agent for the first time in his career.
"The Kings can now go hunting for Draymond Green, if they wish," ESPN's Brian Windhorst pointed out. He also noted Sacramento head coach Mike Brown, formerly Steve Kerr's lead assistant at Golden State, is "extraordinarily close" with the 33-year-old from their previous time together.
While there's likely some bad blood between Green and Kings fans given how their first-round series went down, those feelings could quickly be washed aside if the veteran forward decides to join a starting lineup featuring De'Aaron Fox, Kevin Huerter, Keegan Murray and Domantas Sabonis.
For a Sacramento team that ranked 24th defensively last season, adding an all-world defender like Green would not only boost them up the standings, but it would also upset the Warriors as well.
Even if Green ultimately re-signs with Golden State, Sacramento should pursue the four-time All-Star, at the very least driving up the contract price and making financial life more difficult for the Warriors.
Buy or Sell: Buy. Green should be the Kings' No. 1 priority in free agency.
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Despite yet another early playoff exit, the 76ers want to at least bring most of the band back next season.
This includes James Harden, who has until Thursday to make a decision on his $35.6 million player option.
"They're determined to keep James Harden, but it will be a negotiation. It's probably not going to be just the traditional max, long-term deal that he's been able to command throughout his career," ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski told SportsCenter.
If the 33-year-old opts out and becomes an unrestricted free agent, he can sign for up to $210 million over four years with the Sixers or $201.7 million with another team.
The Sixers can't afford to lose Harden in free agency but keeping him at a max number would almost certainly push them into the new second tax apron. Paying him over $50 million per year as he enters his age-34 season doesn't project to end well, either.
If the 10-time All-Star walks, Philly already has $122.1 million in committed salary, even without new deals for Paul Reed, Jalen McDaniels and others. With a projected salary cap of $136 million, the Sixers won't be able to find a replacement for Harden for less than $14 million.
Signing Harden to a new non-max deal (three years, $100 million?) is a must for Philly this offseason.
Buy or Sell: Buy. The Sixers have to bring Harden back or at least find a sign-and-trade or opt-in-and-trade for the star guard.
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In four years together, the Kawhi Leonard and Paul George-led Clippers have missed the playoffs as often as they've made it past the second round, with zero titles or trips to the Finals thus far.
While Leonard is still safe for now, George is "certainly available," according to NBA insider Howard Beck via the FnA Union podcast.
The 33-year-old is coming off an All-Star season in which he averaged 23.8 points, 6.1 rebounds, 5.1 assists, 1.5 steals and shot 37.1 percent from three. He's still a very good defender and can play either wing position.
The problem, of course, is durability, as Paul has played an average of just over 47 games per season in his four years with the Clippers. Teams can sometimes manage one star going down with an injury, but Los Angeles has often had to deal with two.
Trading Paul now could still net a solid return, but the Clippers aren't looking for future draft picks and young prospects. With Leonard about to turn 32 and one of the league's oldest rosters around him, L.A. needs to flip George for win-now help.
Trying to find the right trade (Paul-for-Harden in an opt-in? Paul for DeMar DeRozan and Alex Caruso?) is going to be extremely tricky. Don't be surprised if the Clippers end up keeping both their star forwards, as teams interested in trading for George won't want to give up their veteran talent, either.
Buy or Sell: Sell the Clippers trading George, but buy that they explore deals for him.
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Few teams are destined for a shake-up more than the Hawks this summer.
Atlanta is already trying to make improvements, with Toronto Raptors power forward Pascal Siakam at the top of its wish list, per Marc Stein of the Stein Line substack.
He noted that the Hawks have "been trying—without success—to convince Toronto to part with" the 29-year-old.
This would set up a Big Three of Trae Young, Siakam and Dejounte Murray, one of the better trios in the Eastern Conference. Atlanta could offer Toronto a package of picks and players including John Collins, Clint Capela, De'Andre Hunter, Onyeka Okongu, Bogan Bogdanović, AJ Griffin and others.
The biggest issue with the Hawks' pursuit of Siakam are the future financial implications.
Young is already on a max contract, earning $40.1 million next season on a deal that continues to increase by about $3 million per year until 2027. Murray and Siakam will both become unrestricted free agents next season and likely command similar contracts. The Hawks would then be stuck between paying borderline All-Stars max money or watching them leave for nothing.
If the Hawks trade for Siakam, they need to feel confident that he'll be the missing piece to carry them to the top of the East and re-sign the following summer.
That's a big risk to take, especially for a team that already has one major 2024 free agent to worry about in Murray.
Buy or Sell: Sell the Hawks trading for Siakam. Buy them making making at least one big move this offseason, though.
Several interesting names figure to be available on the trade deadline, names that will be covered extensively by Twins Daily throughout the month of July. But the player who would make the biggest impact to this Twins team is first baseman Paul Goldschmidt.
The Minnesota Twins have struggled at the plate all season. They rank 20th in baseball in both OPS and runs scored. With a pitching staff that has been outstanding all season, it has been their hitting that has kept the Twins from running away with the American League Central.
Enter Paul Goldschmidt.
Paul Goldschmidt is quietly having yet another outstanding season at first base for the St. Louis Cardinals. Through 329 plate appearances, Goldy is slashing .287/.377/.493 with 13 home runs and 38 RBI. Goldschmidt ranks in the 95th percentile in both average exit velocity and hard hit percentage. Additionally, the right-hander is great at handling the strike zone, with a K% of just 21.6 and an excellent chase rate of just 24.3%.
Goldschmidt’s bat would fit perfect with the Twins for a few reasons. First of all, as a right-handed hitter the reigning NL MVP would help the Twins immensely with their struggles against left-handed pitchers. On the season, the Twins rank second-to-last in all of baseball against southpaws. While Goldschmidt has actually hit better against right handers this year, over the course of his career he has proven that he is much better against southpaws. Over his 13-year career, Goldy owns a 1.032 OPS against left-handed pitchers. Adding that right-handed bat into this lineup, especially against lefties, would be a total game changer.
Another reason that Goldschmidt would be the best possible addition for the Twins at the trade deadline is that he would fit perfectly into the Twins’ lineup. With Goldschmidt playing first base, the Twins would be able to move Alex Kirilloff to left field (or right field depending on what the Twins do with Max Kepler). Left field has been the worst position for the Minnesota Twins this season, receiving a lowly .596 OPS from the position this season, worst in the majors. By adding Goldy, the Twins would upgrade their first base position as well as left field, and would be able to move on from a struggling Joey Gallo.
Finally, Paul Goldschmidt would be an excellent addition to the Minnesota Twins because he is a darn good baseball player. The slugger has produced an above average OPS+ in every single season of his career and never posted an OPS lower than .821 in a full season. While Goldy is already 35-years-old, he is showing no signs of slowing down as he is coming off of an MVP season in 2022 and is continuing to hit at his career rates.
With the St. Louis Cardinals mired in a season-long slump, they just might consider trading away their all-star first baseman. Currently, the Cardinals are last in the National League Central with a 31-45 record and stand more than 11 games back of a playoff spot. Goldy is owed $22M this year and next year before becoming a free agent in 2024 and the Cardinals may be looking to recoup whatever assets they can get as they begin a new rebuild.
The question that the Minnesota Twins will be asking themselves over the next handful of weeks is “should we be trading away future assets for a team that may or may not be destined for greatness?” The answer to that might be no, but there’s also a decent argument that if you can make the playoffs (no matter how poor your division), you should construct the best roster possible because anything can happen in the postseason. And for the Twins to construct the best possible roster, a trade for Paul Goldschmidt would be a great first step.
Do you agree that Paul Goldschmidt would be the best addition that the Twins could make at the trade deadline? Leave a comment below and start the conversation.
As we get ever closer to the Aug. 1 Trade Deadline, it's a great time to look back at some of the best Trade Deadline moves in MLB history. With the help of each MLB.com beat writer, here is the best Trade Deadline deal each club has made this century:
Blue Jays: Jose Bautista (2008)
This takes us back to a different era of trades. Before 2019, players could be traded up to a secondary "deadline" of August 31, a month after the July 31 Non-Waiver Deadline. The only catch was that they needed to clear revocable trade waivers first, and this is where the Blue Jays made one of the best moves in the organization’s history. Toronto acquired Bautista for Minor League catcher Robinzon Diaz, and while the 27-year-old Bautista had some moderate upside at the time, nobody ever could have expected what would happen next. Just two years later, Bautista set a new club record with 54 home runs and carried the franchise forward to a new competitive era. -- Keegan Matheson
Orioles: Chris Davis and Tommy Hunter (2011)
The O’s were well on their way to a 14th consecutive losing season when they made a move that helped turn the franchise around. On July 30, 2011, Baltimore dealt right-handed reliever Koji Uehara to Texas, which sent back first baseman Chris Davis and right-hander Tommy Hunter in return. Although Davis had a polarizing end to his time with the Orioles -- he mostly disappointed after signing a franchise-record seven-year, $161 million contract in 2016 -- the slugger mashed 197 homers from 2012-16, twice leading MLB in home runs (53 in 2013, and 47 in '15). Hunter spent six seasons in Baltimore, with his best stretch coming from 2013-14, when he had a 2.88 ERA in 128 relief appearances. -- Jake Rill
Rays: Austin Meadows, Tyler Glasnow and Shane Baz (2018)
Forced into action by a hot stretch in July 2018, the Pirates dramatically overpaid to acquire starter Chris Archer from the Rays. Tampa Bay has reaped the benefits and could continue to do so for a long time. Meadows was an All-Star in 2019, drove in 106 runs for the Rays’ 100-win team in '21, and was traded for Isaac Paredes, who’s become one of their best power hitters. When healthy, Glasnow has been among the game’s most electric starters. Baz, who just turned 24, was a top prospect before undergoing Tommy John surgery last year. Meanwhile, Archer posted a 4.92 ERA in 33 starts for Pittsburgh and wound up back with Tampa Bay in 2021. -- Adam Berry
Red Sox: Orlando Cabrera, Doug Mientkiewicz and Dave Roberts (2004)
Red Sox general manager Theo Epstein traded the iconic Nomar Garciaparra just minutes prior to the July 31 deadline as part of a four-team trade in which Boston landed Cabrera from the Expos and Mientkiewicz from the Twins. In a side move, the Sox got speedster Roberts from the Dodgers for Minor Leaguer Henri Stanley. Garciaparra’s star was fading at the time of the trade due to an achilles injury that was limiting him on defense and unhappiness due to an unsettled contract situation. Cabrera and Mientkiewicz improved the team’s defense and Roberts wound up stealing the biggest base in postseason history. Epstein’s gutsy move was a catalyst in Boston winning it all for the first time in 86 years. -- Ian Browne
Yankees: David Justice (2000)
The Yankees had won three of the last four World Series, but they appeared to have a championship hangover in June 2000, showcasing a flagging offense and a record that hovered around .500. Enter Justice, who was already a three-time All-Star. Cleveland's asking price was significant, costing the Yanks pitchers Zach Day and Jake Westbrook along with outfielder Ricky Ledee. It was worth it: the 34-year-old Justice was an absolute force, batting .305 with 20 home runs and 60 RBIs in 78 regular-season games for the Yanks. Justice won MVP honors in the 2000 AL Championship Series vs. Seattle, then helped the Yankees to their 26th World Series championship in a victory over the Mets. -- Bryan Hoch
Guardians: Brandon Phillips, Cliff Lee, Grady Sizemore (2002)
It’s hard to top what Cleveland got in exchange for right-hander Bartolo Colon and Minor League pitcher Tim Drew in 2002. Colon was an All-Star in his sophomore season in 1998, and finished fourth in the AL Cy Young voting in '99. He owned a 2.93 ERA at the time of the 2002 Trade Deadline, but because he was set to be a free agent in '03, and there was little hope for a playoff run, Cleveland’s front office decided to make a move, acquiring first baseman Stevens and three prospects from the Expos: Sizemore, Lee and Phillips. In retrospect, it was a huge win, as Lee went on to win 90 games for Cleveland and secured a Cy Young Award in '08. Sizemore was one of the best outfielders in baseball from 2005-08. -- Mandy Bell
Royals: Ben Zobrist (2015)
Within a span of a couple days before the Trade Deadline, the Royals traded for Zobrist and Johnny Cueto, and both were crucial to Kansas City’s World Series title that year. Cueto was brilliant in the playoffs and could easily be the answer here. But we’ll go with Zobrist, whom the Royals acquired from the A’s for pitching prospects Aaron Brooks and Sean Manaea. Zobrist turned into a linchpin for that team, playing second base and the outfield, and helped the Royals clinch their first World Series title in 30 years. He hit .284 with 37 runs scored, 16 doubles and seven homers after the Royals acquired him on July 28, 2015. In the postseason, Zobrist batted .303 with two homers and six RBIs. -- Anne Rogers
Tigers: Doug Fister (2011)
This was a classic Dave Dombrowski deadline trade, dealing prospects at peak value and getting a player on the upswing. Ubaldo Jiménez had far more buzz on the market before going to Cleveland, but the Tigers looked beyond Fister's 3-12 record in Seattle and saw a pitcher with quality stuff and durability. Fister went 8-1 with a 1.79 ERA down the stretch for Detroit, became a clutch postseason starter and was a mainstay in Detroit’s rotation through 2013. Reliever Charlie Furbush was the only player in the deal who found a role in Seattle. -- Jordan Beck
Twins: Joe Ryan (2021)
This isn’t a successful Trade Deadline move in the traditional sense -- that is, a finishing piece to a winning roster that needed to fill some gaps or push the talent over the top. This was, instead, a selling move for an underachieving and disappointing team that has the potential to profoundly impact the franchise for the better part of a decade. The Rays needed a big bat, and the Twins offered two months of Nelson Cruz. Tampa Bay sent over Ryan, who was throwing almost exclusively fastballs at the time and wasn’t universally considered a slam dunk to become an MLB starter. Well, the Twins finished Ryan’s development as he found two legit secondary pitches, and he’s now arguably the best starter in one of the Majors’ best-performing rotations. -- Do-Hyoung Park
White Sox: Jose Contreras (2004)
Esteban Loaiza was the runner-up in 2003 AL Cy Young Award voting, but he struggled for the White Sox in '04. Contreras was facing similar struggles for the Yankees, but the White Sox got the best of the deal with Contreras posting career-best numbers in '05 and starting Game 1 in all three playoff series leading to a World Series title. Let’s also not forget the White Sox adding infielder Geoff Blum from the Padres on July 31, 2005, with Blum hitting one of the franchise’s most iconic home runs during Game 3 of the '05 World Series. -- Scott Merkin
Angels: Mark Teixeira (2008)
The 2008 Angels remain the only club in franchise history to reach 100 wins in a season and they did it with the help of Teixeira, who was acquired at the Trade Deadline from the Braves for a light return that included first baseman Casey Kotchman and pitcher Stephen Marek, who never reached the Majors. Teixeira hit .358/.449/.632 with 13 homers, 14 doubles and 43 RBIs in 54 games after the trade. He also went 7-for-15 against the Red Sox in the AL Division Series, but the Angels lost in four games. They tried to re-sign him in the offseason, but he ultimately left to sign with the Yankees. It wasn't all bad, however, as the Angels received Draft pick compensation as a result and took superstar Mike Trout with that selection in 2009. -- Rhett Bollinger
Astros: Justin Verlander (2017)
When the surging Astros didn’t acquire a starting pitcher at the non-waiver Trade Deadline, ace pitcher Dallas Keuchel said “disappointment was a little bit of an understatement.” That sentiment changed a month later when the Astros pulled off a last-second deal to acquire Verlander from the Tigers at the Aug. 31 deadline in exchange for prospects. Keuchel even called Verlander and helped convince him to waive his no-trade clause. Verlander helped the Astros win the World Series that year -- he was the MVP of the ALCS -- and went on to win two Cy Young Awards, two World Series titles, throw his third no-hitter and reach 3,000 career strikeouts in five-plus terrific years in Houston. -- Brian McTaggart
Athletics: Jermaine Dye (2001)
Dye, who was acquired from the Royals in a three-team deal about a week before the 2001 Trade Deadline, boosted the A’s offense en route to a 102-win season by hitting .297 with a .913 OPS, 13 homers, 17 doubles and 59 RBIs in 61 games with Oakland. Dye’s season came to an unfortunate and premature end when a foul ball off his left knee broke his leg in Game 4 of the ALDS against the Yankees that October, a series that New York won in five games.-- Martín Gallegos
Mariners: Luis Castillo (2022)
A team on the cusp of greatness took a significant step forward after Seattle’s front office mortgaged three of its top five prospects to acquire the top starting pitcher at the Deadline. Castillo’s biggest performance came during Game 1 of the AL Wild Card Series in Toronto, when he blanked the juggernaut Blue Jays over 7 1/3 innings to help ensure that postseason baseball returned to Seattle for the first time since 2001 via the ALDS against Houston one week later. -- Daniel Kramer
Rangers: Elvis Andrus, Neftalí Feliz, Matt Harrison (2007)
Probably the best trade of the Jon Daniels era, Texas received three future All-Stars and two key pieces of the 2010-11 teams that reached the World Series when the club sent Mark Teixeira to Atlanta. Andrus was a cornerstone of the franchise, spending 12 years as the Rangers' shortstop. Feliz and Harrison earned All-Star selections on the '11 team that ultimately fell to the Cardinals in the World Series. -- Kennedi Landry
Braves: Joc Pederson, Adam Duvall, Jorge Soler and Eddie Rosario (2021)
It’s hard to pick which of these four acquisitions proved to be the most valuable. The Braves needed to find an outfielder to account for the absence of Ronald Acuña Jr., who tore his ACL two days before the All-Star break. Pederson helped create confidence within the clubhouse and Duvall hit some big home runs down the stretch. Rosario was the NLCS MVP and Soler was the World Series MVP. It’s pretty hard to top that collection of deadline acquisitions. -- Mark Bowman
Marlins: Ugueth Urbina (2003)
The Marlins acquired Urbina, at the time the owner of 200 career saves, from the Rangers for 2000 MLB Draft first overall pick Adrián González. Urbina recorded six regular-season saves, then added four during the World Series run for the underdog Marlins. While González would go on to become a four-time Gold Glove Award winner and two-time Silver Slugger Award winner, surely there is no better evidence of the trade paying off than Urbina playing a pivotal role in winning a title. -- Christina De Nicola
Mets: Yoenis Céspedes from the Tigers (2015)
First, the Mets agreed to terms on a deal to acquire Carlos Gómez from the Brewers. When that fell through (and Wilmer Flores famously wept on the field), the Mets pivoted to Cincinnati’s Jay Bruce. Only after exploring those options did the Mets finally land on Céspedes, acquiring him for Luis Cessa and Michael Fulmer minutes before the deadline. He wound up being one of the most impactful rentals in Trade Deadline history, hitting 17 homers with a .942 OPS over 57 games with his new team. -- Anthony DiComo
Nationals: Trea Turner (2014)
In December 2014, the Nationals made a multi-team trade with the Padres and Rays that involved 11 players, including a player to be named later. On June 14, 2015, that player became 2014 first-round pick Trea Turner. At the time, there was a rule that required a player to stay with his original team for a year after he was drafted. Once that year was up, Turner became a member of the Nationals. He went on to be a key piece of their 2019 World Series championship team and hit .300 with 192 bases in six-plus seasons for Washington. -- Jessica Camerato
Phillies: Cliff Lee (2009)
The Phillies tried to pry Roy Halladay from the Blue Jays in July 2009, but they could not reach an agreement with Toronto. So Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. pivoted at the last minute, and landed Lee and Ben Francisco from Cleveland for a four-prospect package that included Carlos Carrasco. Lee stabilized the Phillies’ rotation down the stretch, helping them get to the World Series. -- Todd Zolecki
Brewers: CC Sabathia (2008)
Sabathia spent only three months in a Brewers uniform but he is one of the most beloved players in franchise history because he was the key to ending a postseason drought that had spanned nearly three decades. Acquired from Cleveland, he went 11-2 with a 1.65 ERA in 17 regular-season starts for Milwaukee, including seven complete games. One of them was one of the biggest victories in Brewers history -- a win over the Cubs in the 2008 finale that clinched the NL Wild Card. Sabathia's final three starts of the regular season and his start in Game 2 of the NLDS against the Phillies all came on three days' rest. Then-GM Doug Melvin called it the most unselfish act he'd ever seen from a player. -- Adam McCalvy
Cardinals: Scott Rolen (2002)
It's rare when a team can say it traded for a future Hall of Famer, but that’s what the Cardinals did on July 29, 2002, when they dealt Placido Polanco, Mike Timlin and Bud Smith to the Phillies for Doug Nickie and the slick-fielding Rolen. The All-Star third baseman won four of his eight career Gold Glove Awards while with St. Louis. He also teamed with Albert Pujols and Jim Edmonds to help the Cardinals reach two World Series and win one in 2006. On July 23, Rolen will go into the National Baseball Hall of Fame with a Cardinals hat adorning his plaque. Honorable mentions include acquiring Edmonds from the Angels in 2000; Matt Holliday from the A’s in 2009; Adam Wainwright from the Braves in 2003; Paul Goldschmidt from the D-backs in 2019, and Nolan Arenado from the Rockies in 2021. -- John Denton
Cubs: Jake Arrieta (2013)
The Cubs moved early with this trade, pulling off what wound up being a lopsided swap with the Orioles on July 2, 2013. In order to acquire future ace Arrieta along with reliever Pedro Strop, Chicago sent righty Scott Feldman and catcher Steve Clevenger to Baltimore. Arrieta blossomed into one of the best arms in baseball by 2015, when his historic second half led to a Cy Young Award. Strop developed into an elite setup man and one of the great relievers in club history. Without this trade, maybe the Cubs don’t hoist that World Series trophy in 2016, ending the club’s 108-year title drought. -- Jordan Bastian
Pirates: Oneil Cruz (2017)
This one took several years to bear fruit. At the 2017 Trade Deadline, the Pirates flipped Tony Watson to the Dodgers in exchange for Cruz, as well as right-hander Angel German. Watson was an invaluable piece of the Dodgers’ bullpen as they made their way to the World Series. He departed the following offseason for the Giants. As for Cruz? It’s still early, but in the time he’s been on the field, he has displayed a combination of power and speed that no one can truly replicate. He has 19 home runs and 13 steals in 98 career games, and while he’s currently recovering from a fractured ankle, Cruz projects to be part of Pittsburgh’s future for years to come. -- Justice delos Santos
Reds: Scott Rolen (2009)
The Reds were largely out of contention when they acquired the future Hall of Fame third baseman from the Blue Jays for Edwin Encarnacion, reliever Josh Roenicke and a Minor League pitcher. But then-GM Walt Jocketty made the move with a look to the future. Jocketty wanted Rolen’s example and leadership to create a culture change and boost younger players like Joey Votto and Jay Bruce. Rolen didn’t have his best production in the final three years of his career, but his presence was felt and rubbed off on the others. It helped pay off in 2010 and '12, when the Reds won the NL Central division. -- Mark Sheldon
D-backs: J.D. Martinez (2017)
It was tempting to go with the 2000 Trade Deadline acquisition of Curt Schilling from the Phillies here, but the D-backs failed to make the playoffs that year so it would be another year before Schilling helped them to a World Series championship. Meanwhile, GM Mike Hazen’s trade for Martinez in 2017 paid immediate dividends. The D-backs sent Minor Leaguers Jose King, Sergio Alcantara and Dawel Lugo to the Tigers for Martinez. Hazen jumped the gun on the deadline, completing the deal on July 18, which gave the D-backs an extra two weeks of production. Martinez hit 29 homers for Arizona after the trade, including four in one game at Dodger Stadium, as the D-backs rode his hot bat to the top NL Wild Card Spot.-- Steve Gilbert
Dodgers: Max Scherzer and Trea Turner (2021)
The Dodgers, especially under president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman, have made plenty of big trades at the Deadline. In 2018, they acquired Manny Machado from the Orioles. 10 years before that, Los Angeles got Manny Ramirez from the Red Sox. But of all the really impactful trades the Dodgers have made, it’s tough to argue with the '21 deal with the Nationals that landed them Scherzer and Turner. Scherzer gave the Dodgers another ace atop the rotation. Turner was a perfect addition to the Dodgers' lineup and he was one of the top hitters in the NL during his year-and-a-half stint in L.A. It didn’t result in a championship, but the deal did help the Dodgers secure a combined 217 regular-season wins. -- Juan Toribio
Giants: Hunter Pence (2012)
Locked in a tight division race with the Dodgers, the Giants sought to strengthen their club by acquiring Pence from the Phillies in exchange for Nate Schierholtz and prospects Tommy Joseph and Seth Rosin. Pence became San Francisco’s starting right fielder, giving the club another big right-handed power bat, as well as an inspirational leader who helped fire up the clubhouse during the Giants’ World Series runs in 2012 and '14. -- Maria Guardado
Padres: Fernando Tatis Jr. (2016)
It wasn’t exactly “the Tatis trade” at the time. The Padres sent veteran right-hander James Shields to the White Sox in a deal that netted righty Erik Johnson and a scrawny, unknown shortstop prospect who quickly developed into one of the game’s most exciting players. The Padres have since pulled off a handful of deadline blockbusters under general manager A.J. Preller, including deals for Juan Soto and Josh Hader last summer. But the Tatis trade remains a coup for the Padres, who sold high on Shields to a White Sox team looking to get out in front of the trade market. -- AJ Cassavell
Rockies: Seung-hwan Oh (2018)
Former general manager Jeff Bridich left three seasons later, maligned -- one reason was a sense that he didn't make bold enough moves when the team was in contention. Oh, acquired from the Blue Jays, didn't qualify as high profile. Whether the Rockies could have done more is still being debated. But in 25 appearances, Oh went 2-0 with a 2.53 ERA, one save and a sparkling 189 ERA+. Also, Oh pitched 1 2/3 scoreless innings over the 10th and 11th innings of the Rockies' most-recent postseason victory, a 2-1, 13-inning win over the Cubs in the 2018 NL Wild Card Game. -- Thomas Harding
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MLB.com calls the outfielder haul at the 2021 trade deadline Atlanta's greatest trade move of the century Sports Illustrated
