The MLB trade deadline of August 1st is rapidly approaching and the MLB trade rumors are starting to heat up. With the All-Star break out of the way, teams in the postseason race are focused on improving their rosters before the non-waiver deadline. The sellers, meanwhile, are hoping to find prospects to jumpstart their rebuild. Here are all the latest rumors and news from the MLB hot stove.
Dodgers targeting Chris Sale?
Los Angeles is trying to find a top-end starter to add to their rotation, and they've been heavily linked to Tampa Bay's Chris Archer. However, they could also be pursuing Chris Sale of the White Sox, reports Jon Heyman of FanRag Sports:
#SFGiants also checked in on cashner but their need is more bullpen. Dodgers seem to be aiming even higher. TB guys? Sale?
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) July 23, 2016
Chicago has been rumored to be shopping Sale, and the Dodgers would love the opportunity to snatch him up and pair him with Clayton Kershaw. Sale is 14-3 with a 3.18 ERA in 19 starts this season.
Orioles close to acquiring Upton
The Baltimore Orioles have expressed interest in acquiring outfield Melvin Upton Jr. from the San Diego Padres, and the two sides are closing in on a deal, reports Dennis Lin of the San Diego Union-Tribune:
The Padres and the Orioles reportedly are discussing a trade that would send outfielder Melvin Upton Jr. to Baltimore in exchange for right-hander Ubaldo Jimenez.
According to a FoxSports.com report, no agreement is close, as the Padres also are seeking a prospect from the Orioles. Acquiring the diminished Jimenez would help offset Upton's contract.
Upton, a candidate for Comeback Player of the Year, is owed a little more than $22 million over the rest of this season and 2017. The 31-year-old is hitting .259 with 16 home runs and 20 steals. He went 1-for-5 with an RBI single in Friday's victory at Nationals Park. The Orioles had a high-ranking official in attendance.
Such an exchange would save the Padres some money while opening up playing time for young outfielders Alex Dickerson and Hunter Renfroe. Additionally, San Diego already has traded away two starting pitchers and could use an innings-eater in its rotation.
The two sides still have to agree on which prospect (or prospects) the Orioles would send to the Padres. Toronto is also reportedly targeting Upton.
Blue Jays interested in Jay Bruce
Speaking of the Blue Jays, Toronto's quest to add another bat to their lineup has led them to targeting Cincinnati's Jay Bruce, according to Jon Heyman of FanRag Sports:
In a trade market flush with outfield talent, perhaps no outfielder is drawing as much interest as Cincinnati Reds right fielder Jay Bruce.
Bruce is drawing the eyes of many teams across baseball looking to add an impact bat prior to the August 1 non-waiver trade deadline. The Indians, Rangers, Dodgers, and Blue Jays all have interest, with the Nationals also on the periphery.
Bruce was nearly dealt to Toronto during the offseason, before medicals on one of the players slated to be moved from the Jays to the Reds showed red flags; that trade ultimately fell apart. While Toronto has a top-five offense in baseball in terms of runs scored, a bat like Bruce’s could be enough to vault the Blue Jays back to the top of the American League East, where they currently sit in third place, just one-and-a-half games behind division-leading Boston.
Bruce is batting .264 with 19 homers and 66 RBIs so far this season.
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