Trade Deadline Megathread: Good Morning!

Happy Trade Deadline! Check here for all Trades, Rumors, and Speculation about all things across the league!

---

COMPLETED TRADES:

(As of 12:00 PM [EST] on August 1st, 2023)

The above list of trades will continue to be updated throughout the morning, until 2 PM (EST) when the "Afternoon Trade Deadline" megathread will get posted.

Today's Trades:

12:00 PM - Angels PR: "Today, the #Angels have traded LHP Tucker Davidson to the Kansas City Royals for cash considerations." (Tweet)

12:51 PM - Robert Murray (MLB): "Trade: The Atlanta Braves are acquiring left-hander Brad Hand from the Colorado Rockies, according to a source familiar with the deal. Alec Barger goes to the Rockies." (Tweet)

1:05 PM - Jeff Passan (ESPN): "The San Diego Padres are finalizing a trade to acquire left-handed starter Rich Hill and first baseman Ji-Man Choi from the Pittsburgh Pirates, sources tell ESPN." (Tweet)

---

LATE NIGHT/MORNING RUMORS:

7:50 PM - Bob Nightengale (USA Today): "The #Mets are engaged in trade discussions with the #Dodgers and #Astros about Cy Young winner Justin Verlander. Verlander's contract certainly is a big hurdle in discussions. He is being paid $43.3 million this year, $43.3 million next year, with a $35M vesting option in 2025." (Tweet)

8:39 PM - Jon Morosi (MLB): "The Orioles and Tigers have been talking, as we mentioned here a few days ago. Baltimore's system -- heavy on hitters at the top levels -- matches up well with Detroit, which is looking to add offense." (Tweet)

8:45 PM - Mike Mayer (Metsmerized): "Mets still getting plenty of interest in Tommy Pham. He’s one of the better hitters left on the market. Blue Jays, Yankees, Twins, and Dodgers are among the many teams that have interest in the Mets veteran outfielder." (Tweet)

9:01 PM - GENY Mets Report (via Jack Harris, Dodgers Beat Reporter): "UPDATE: According to

@ByJackHarris, the #Mets "covet" #Dodgers No. 6 prospect RHP Emmet Sheehan. #LGM" (Tweet)

9:20 PM - Jon Heyman (NY Post): "Opposing team that recently engaged on Josh Hader suggested the Padres are pricing him high enough to believe the star closer is almost surely staying. The unpredictable Padres aren’t saying officially." (Tweet)

9:28 PM - Bob Nightengale (USA Today): "Several teams who inquired about trading for Boston #RedSox outfielder Alex Verdugo were told the Red Sox plan to keep him through at least this season. He's a free agent after the 2024 season." (Tweet)

9:40 PM - Jon Morosi (MLB): "Sources: Mariners OF Teoscar Hernández is drawing interest from at least a half-dozen teams, and a trade is increasingly likely before 6 pm ET tomorrow. The Phillies, Blue Jays and Giants are among the clubs that have been involved." (Tweet)

---

7:58 AM - Jon Heyman (NY Post): "Mystery team(s) emerging for Justin Verlander. In other words “other significant interest” beyond the known Astros and Dodgers" (Tweet)

8:56 AM - Jon Morosi (MLB): "The Orioles are among the teams actively pursuing a Justin Verlander trade with the Mets on deadline day, source confirms. The O’s are engaged on pitching with multiple sellers, including the Tigers." (Tweet)

9:16 AM - Jon Heyman (MLB): "Pirates are weighing multiple offers on Rich Hill and Austin Hedges. Also getting inquiries on Bednar, Keller, Holderman and Choi. Bednar and Keller of course have big price tags." (Tweet)

9:25 AM - Mark Feinsand (MLB): "The Tigers are expected to trade both Eduardo Rodriguez and Michael Lorenzen by 6pm ET, but sources say Detroit’s asking prices remain quite high for the two starters. Will the Tigers lower their price or will a contender feel the pressure as the deadline approaches?" (Tweet)

9:51 AM - Andy Martino (SNY): "Tommy Pham trade expected before long. Significant internet on Brooks Raley but Mets have ‘24 option and could hold him." (Tweet)

10:31 AM - Jon Morosi (MLB): "Cardinals have been active in trade conversations last night and this morning. They're willing to move multiple bats. Most frequent names mentioned: Paul DeJong, Alec Burleson and Dylan Carlson. Trade status of Tommy Edman, on the IL with right wrist inflammation, is unclear." (Tweet)

11:08 AM - Jon Heyman (MLB): "Dodgers are in hot pursuit of Eduardo Rodriguez now (and have been discussing Verlander). @ByJackHarris reported E-Rod and JV are their top targets." (Tweet)

11:17 AM - Jon Morosi (MLB): "Update on Justin Verlander: Sources say the Astros, Dodgers, Braves, and Orioles are all involved. The same four clubs are engaged on other rotation options; there likely will come a point today when Verlander suitors pivot and find their pitching elsewhere." (Tweet)

9:31 AM - The Athletic MLB: "The Mets have been open to trade talks involving players whose contracts are up at the end of 2024. That includes the Polar Bear. Pete Alonso has been available on the market over the last week, sources tell @TimBritton and @WillSammon." (Tweet)

12:51 PM - Bruce Levine (Marquee Sports Network): "Multiple front office sources confirm White Sox will trade anyone except Luis Robert" (Tweet)

---

Yankees Rumors:

7:00 PM - Joel Sherman (NY Post): "The Yankees are willing to at least discuss walk-year players -- which gives hints about their deadline strategy." (Tweet)

10:11 AM - Buster Olney (ESPN): "As of late last night, the Yankees' FO was not close to making a move. Today will say a lot about the direction they're going to go. A lot of skepticism in the organization that they will affect a major sell-off; more likely to be measured additions." (Tweet)

1:00 PM - Brendan Kuty (TheAthletic): "As of now, I'm told the Yankees are still intending to buy as they still search for OF help, and that it's highly unlikely they part with either King or Holmes in buy/sell at the same time situation. The goal is to give themselves a chance to stay in the race w/ Judge back." (Tweet)

---

Morning Discussion:

On Justin Verlander:

I believe Justin Verlander is going to be moved today. My feelings throughout the week have been that the Houston Astros will be his biggest suitor, given the familiarity with Verlander. The push by the Los Angeles Dodgers does seem to be legitimate and has a bigger indication of price out there (as stated by Jack Harris). The Orioles making a last-minute push could be fun to watch as a baseball fan. Maybe a 3-team trade involving the Tigers could be happening behind the scenes?

On The Yankees and Tommy Pham:

I'm not going to be buying into any rumors about the Yankees being included in a mass tweet of teams that are interested in any one player. I don't imagine the Yankees are going to be heavy players today with their noncommittal stance. Take any throw-in mention of the Yankees as exactly that, a throw-in name used to generate clicks and interest given the Yankees branding.

On The Yankees Selling:

At the very least, the Yankees should be exploring moving their expiring contracts (Harrison Bader, Wandy Peralta, Luis Severino, IKF) before today at 6:00 PM. I'm heavily in favor of the "sell movement" for this year, so while I'd be stringent on price, I wouldn't set an impossible bar for another team to cover. Think of it like a garage sale. You don't want to have to lug all that stuff back inside afterwards, so make any junk priced to sell and anything worth while give a price that will get many looks. Chances are somebody will bite.

Make available the option of trading others like Gleyber Torres, Clay Holmes, Domingo German, Kyle Higashioka, etc. The market this year appears to be a very heavy sellers market, so I'd be capitalizing on teams willing to overpay when not many great bats, relievers, starters, and filler pieces are out there. Gleyber Torres is blocking a spot to see what Oswald Peraza can do. Relievers are volatile. Higgy (as much as it pains me to say) should be moved to make room for Austin Wells. Open up spots to see what the next generation can do.

On The Max Scherzer Trade:

I was at Citi Field talking with many Mets fans on the day that Scherzer was traded to the Rangers. Mets fans understand the move and many are hopeful that Luisangel Acuna is going to be able to make it to the MLB to face off and strengthen a budding rivalry between the Mets and Braves. The Battle of Ronald vs. Luisangel Acuna will be a very fun one to follow if the younger brother (the #44 prospect in baseball) can live up to his own hype and the name his brother established.

On The Jordan Montgomery Trade:

The Rangers are going for it, and this was a great secondary move for them after getting Scherzer. Gives them another good-to-great starter in the rotation along with a veteran pitcher who is finding himself in the bullpen. Seems like a great trade. The Cardinals front office must be pumped about getting two new Top-10 prospects for their system in this trade. They clearly won the Bader-Montgomery deal.

On The David Robertson Trade:

Now a member of the Phillies, Mets, and Marlins, one has to wonder if an offseason signing with the Nationals in hopes of a trade deadline trade to the Braves in 2024 is in his mind. (I'm kidding of course.) D-Rob will forever be one of my favorite players and it was a shame that he was traded out of New York the day before I was going to Citi Field. The Mets got crushed that night, so I guess I wouldn't have seen him pitch anyway, but that was a bummer for me. And to the Marlins (?) seems odd to me. I don't have them in my mind as a team that needed a reliever away from doing a lot in the playoffs.

On The Mets:

The Mets went all-in on this offseason and are seemingly going to blow it up at the deadline this year. It seems like a very interesting move with the bustling already about them making a big run at Shohei Ohtani this offseason. If players like Alonso and Verlander are gone, could he take them off his list? I can't imagine they'd be super competitive while needing to fill spots at the top of their rotation (to accompany Ohtani) and in the order (to accompany Ohtani). Personally, I can't see them trading away Alonso for anything less than a kings ransom.