By Mark Halpern
Wednesday, we saw one big team and two small teams make trades. The New York Yankees land slugger Joey Gallo. Gallo was on the Texas Rangers and is a fan favorite there. The ball explodes on his bat, with a Yankee short porch in the right and left field. He could be a piece of the puzzle the Yankees are missing. However, The Texas Rangers received a very young crop of Prospects, Including Josh Smith, one of the Yankee top 2 prospects. Did the Yankees get a Gold Digger, or did the Texas Rangers rob the cradle? I see this as a significant win for the Rangers. Gallo, who is a power hitter, fits perfectly for the dimension at Yankee Stadium. His defense is exemplary and should help a Yankee team make it to the Wild card. But He hits a career batting average of .221 and strikes out plenty. With a Yankee team needing a bat, they got whether he could hit it, we don’t know.
The Florida Marlins and the Oakland Athletics made a trade last night. The Florida Marlins traded Star outfielder Starling Marte who has been the only star on that team to have a great season. The Athletics, in a surprising move, traded Jesus Luzardo (He was considered as a top prospect for Oakland), who is having a disaster year but, he comes with a few years of team control. Marte is batting .288 currently, and Luzardo is 2-4 with a 6.87 era. Luzardo is better than what he is throwing this year. A change of League might be the change that’s needed. Marte is a star who can hit for average he is a good defender and drives in runs. In this case, both sides win because the marlins have a star prospect and a few years of team control, and the Athletics got one hell of a ballplayer. I can’t see what these two do here in the second half.
The Diamondbacks and the Milwaukee Brewers made a trade last night. Infielder Eduardo Escobar will be heading to Arizona, and two AAA prospects, Cooper Hummel and Alberto Ciprian. With Marte a free agent at the end of this season, this is a rental as I don’t see him take an extension out there.
Today, Thursday, July 29th/2021, is going to be wild. The Big names have been rumored all over the country as team Owners, and General Managers run up their Verizon bill as they will be on the phones all day. The Mets, Yankees, Tampa Rays, Colorado Rockies, Boston Red Sox. The San Diego Padres and the Chicago Cubs seem to be the big teams ready to make a trade, and many teams are willing to sell off big pieces because they believe it’s time to clean house and prepare for next season. So, it’s 10:10 in the morning right now, and there hasn’t been any talk or movement yet, but I smell smoke in the air, and I see things just starting to heat up.
Early this afternoon, the Toronto Blue Jays have acquired Nationals Relief Pitcher Brad Hand for top 20 prospect Riley Adams. This is a good addition for the Blue Jays as their bullpen is sluggish.
More teams this afternoon seem to be inquiring about Berrios. The Mariners and Angels have phoned in. It’s likely if Berrios is traded, it will be in the form of a package deal. Also, we know the Yankees have been heavy on Trevor Story but, the Mets have now inquired about Story and Pitcher Fohn Grey. With the loss of Lindor and deGrom, this would help significantly; however, as a Mets fan, I see no need for this trade to happen. The Mets have also been in contact with the Cubs about Javy Baez. The burners are starting to heat up.
Today the Chicago White traded with Cleveland for second baseman Cesar Hernandez. The White Sox will send minor league pitcher Konnor Pilkington. This is a small move but impactful. Hernandez has an excellent glove to go along with his bat, which has some pop. Pilkington is not a #1 prospect but is a good pitcher in the minors.
Not much movement over the last 3 hours, and The Yankees are now dangling the likes of Luke Voit to try and make offers for Kyle Schwarber and are still pressing on Trevor Story. I will keep eyeing everything.
As of 6:30 pm, many rumors have been flying through the air. The Mets Owner Steve Cohen has told GM Sandy Alderson to shoot for the moon without dealing with the top four prospects being Vientos, Baty, Alverez, and Mauricio.
The Yankees name is being thrown around still with Colorado and a possible trade to bring in Trevor Story. I believe the Rockies asking price will be too high, considering what they gave away prospect-wise for Gallo; I can’t see them doing much.
The Padres are favored to make a deal with the Nationals on a deal for Max Scherzer. Not much information, but a few sources have confirmed a deal is close. However, that may be the Red Sox are also in contention to make a deal regarding Scherzer, so we will see what we will see.
Other rumors still surround some big names, Anthony Rizzo and Kris Bryant. They were both not starting today but were available off the bench. It seems like the Cubs are just cleaning the house and will be watching this whole ordeal up till midnight.
In a significant move, the Yankees appear to have a deal for Cubs Anthony Rizzo. One day after picking up slugger Joey Gallo, they get another slugger in Rizzo. However, nothing is 100% yet as the Red Sox have also expressed significant interest. Suppose this is true; it will be exciting to see what the Yankees had to give up for this with the number of prospects they gave up for Gallo. At 9 pm est, The Yankees acquired Rizzo from the Cubs for Alcantara. The Yankees still have a chance at a wild card spot/.
The Seattle Mariners have acquired Tampa Bay Rays Closer Diego Castillo. Seattle, who needed pitching, has done well over this deadline, adding much-needed bullpen pieces.
The Dodgers have traded for Starting Pitcher Daniel Duffy of the Royals. Duffy Considered as a significant move as the Dodgers don’t know how long ace Kershaw will be out.
At 9 pm est, the Dodgers look like they are about to make a massive trade with the Nationals for Scherzer and Trea Turner. Currently, Max Scherzer was dealing with an injury, and I believe it will be pending a physical if dealt. Both teams have been at it for a while, and as soon as this happens, I will have details. The Mets are also now in the same boat as they try to push for Kris Bryant and Zach Davies from the Chicago Cubs. From what I understand, it has to do with specific prospects that the Mets are currently not ready for trade. Also, Javy Baez has explicitly said we want to play on the Mets with Lindor, and the Mets can get all three and still keep the big 4?
Looking at the rumors and tweets from the top analysts in the sports world, the Dodgers, once the ink is put on paper, are the winners of the trade deadline, with the Yankees in second. One of the more prominent names such as Trevor Story has quieted down. I believe teams that are interested in him will now wait, and a bidding war will commence. On a more personal note, I want the Mets to complete a deal filling two big holes. I like J.D. Davis but Bryant is such a significant upgrade. He can play right field and can platoon with Conforto and then keep Davis in the lineup now, and then I would think that the Cubs would want a third baseman for the rest of the season. Davis would be just one piece they would send in return.
So a few minutes ago, I saw several reports that the Dodgers have acquired Max Scherzer and Trea Turner. I did not think Turner would be traded this season. This trade is a bold move for the Dodgers organization, getting them both. With Corey Seager and Mookie Betts on IL, Turner will see everyday playtime considering where he can play on the diamond. The Nationals will get Kiber Ruiz, Josiah Gray, Gerardo Carillo, and Donavan Casey. Ruiz and Gray were the Dodgers top 2 prospects.
In a strange turn of events, the RedSox are going to acquire Kyle Schwarber from the Nationals. No word on what prospects and other considerations are as of yet. What happened with the Padres? They were big on multiple trades and have done nothing at all. They could also make some trades, but most of the big fish have been reeled in.
It has been an exciting day of Trades and Trade rumors. Teams have until 4:00 pm tomorrow to make those last trades. With how today has shaped up, I can say it will be more exciting than what today has handed us, and that is how the old man sees it.
Be sure to check in tomorrow for the 4th installment of the trade deadline. “Down to the Wire” will wrap up this year’s Trade Deadline.
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