Slowly but surely, MLB trade rumors are swirling faster by the day.
The deadline is now just over a month away. The rumors mill began quiet, but noise will continue to pick up as teams' desperation rises for one last piece of their championship-push puzzles.
Here's the latest trade buzz from around the league.
LHP David Price, Tampa Bay Rays
The talent that has Tampa Bay at the bottom of the AL East has hurt some of Price's numbers this season. But it hasn't stopped him from leading the MLB in strikeouts with 133 in 16 starts.
He's the biggest name on the trade block by far.
According to ESPN's Jason Stark, the Los Angeles Dodgers, San Francisco Giants and Atlanta Braves are the favorites to acquire Price. Stark also reported that the New York Yankees, Boston Red Sox and Toronto Blue Jays are impossibilities because they play within the Rays' division.
This is after ESPN's Buster Olney (subscription needed) reported last week a high-ranked executive told him, “It’s inevitable that [Price] will wind up with the Dodgers, isn’t it?”
And then there's this from Friday night:
The Rays need to trade him. They can't be left empty-handed after his contract expires after next season. Trading Price for the right price can greatly quicken their rebuilding process.
OF Matt Kemp, Los Angeles Dodgers
Speaking of the Dodgers, they aren't looking up at everyone in their division like Tampa Bay, but one of their biggest names could also be on the move. Kemp is third on the team in batting average and fourth in home runs and RBIs.
However, FOX Sports' Ken Rosenthal reported not his bat but a "tempestuous" relationship with superiors could have him on a plane out of Los Angeles.
Rosenthal did clarify that's he'll most likely be dealt in the offseason. But considering how aggressively the Dodgers are expected to work the phone at this year's deadline, if Kemp's name comes up, he seems far from untouchable.
Bleacher Report's Scott Miller doesn't think they should wait until the offseason to trade him, claiming, in fact, that moving Kemp could save their season as they sit four games behind the Giants at 40-34.
ESPN's Jim Bowden (subscription required) also reported earlier this week that another Los Angeles outfielder has started to draw interest, Scott Van Slyke.
New York Yankees
The New York Post's Ken Davidoff reported that Yankees general manager Brian Cashman plans on buying at the deadline.
For who is the question. If not Price, rumors suggest they'll exclusively pursue starting pitching. Bowden (subscription required) reported that New York will indeed acquire a starter this season, and Gary Sanchez will likely what it deals in return.
John Ryan Murphy is another Yankee who could be traded, if they share the interest of the teams calling according to CBS Sports' Jon Heyman.
In 63 at-bats for them this season, Murphy hit .286.
David Daniels is a columnist at Bleacher Report. He tweets, too.
Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com
- Login to post comments