The MLB trade deadline of August 1st is rapidly approaching, and the trade rumors are starting to heat up. With the All-Star game out of the way, the trade deadline is now the biggest event next up on the calendar. Here are all the latest rumors and news from the MLB hot stove.
Pirates shopping pair of pitchers
The Pittsburgh Pirates are right in the thick of the NL wild card race, and they are looking to make a move or two at the deadline to improve their roster. However, they are also looking to get rid of either Jon Niese or Jeff Locke:
Glasnow not listed in @indyindians rotation yesterday. #pirates trying to move Niese and/or Locke to open spot in their rotation.
— Rob Biertempfel (@BiertempfelTrib) July 14, 2016
Niese is 7-6 with a 5.13 ERA, while Locke is 8-5 with a 5.26 ERA.
Orioles looking to add starting pitcher
Baltimore holds the AL East lead at the All-Star break, and they're hoping to add some pitching to help their push towards to playoffs, according to Jon Heyman of Today's Knuckleball.
One thing everyone knows: The Orioles have to get a starting pitcher, at least one. “We need pitching,” one Orioles person said, flat out. Most of all, they want a lefty … They have looked into both Rich Hill and Drew Pomeranz, who may be the two best lefties who go in trade. Hill might make a nice fit. He also happens to be from the same part of Massachusetts as GM Dan Duquette, for what it’s worth … Chance Sisco, a lefty swinging catcher with a great name who hit an opposite field homer in the Futures Game, looks like a real player … Mark Trumbo for Steve Clevenger might be the trade of the year.
The Orioles are tied for 26th in the league in quality starts with 34.
Cubs to add bullpen help from minors?
Chicago is in the market for pitching at the deadline, but help may be coming from their farm system. According to Chris Kuc of the Chicago Tribune, the Cubs are looking to call up Brian Matusz sooner rather than later:
The left-hander then prepared to pack up his belongings from Smokies Stadium — home of the Cubs' Double-A affiliate — and head west to join the five-man rotation at Triple-A Iowa. Meeting him in Iowa will be six-time All-Star Joe Nathan, who also left the Smokies on Wednesday to continue his rehab from a second Tommy John surgery.
Matusz began the season with the Orioles with whom he pitched portions of eight seasons before a May 23 trade to the Braves and subsequent release. In their on-going search for inexpensive depth on their staff — especially left-handers — the Cubs signed Matusz to a minor-league deal June 15.
Matusz spent the last four years with the Orioles and held lefties to a .186 average last season.
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