There have already been a number of impact trades in Major League Baseball with Monday’s non-waiver trade deadline quickly approaching, but there are still plenty of rumors as teams look to add last-minute additions before the stretch run.
Teams such as the Baltimore Orioles, New York Mets and Pittsburgh Pirates are still in the playoff chase, and critical trades could help swing the postseason race in their favor during the final two months of the season.
With that in mind, here are some of the latest trade rumors before Monday’s deadline.
Wade Miley Could Be the Southpaw for the Baltimore Orioles
Jon Heyman of Today’s Knuckleball, citing sources, reported that the “Orioles are taking a hard look at Seattle Mariners lefty Wade Miley.”
Heyman said the Orioles have been searching for another starting pitcher “for weeks” and would prefer a lefty in particular.
Miley hasn’t been spectacular this season with a 4.98 ERA and 1.35 WHIP in 19 starts, but he looked like someone who could help a contender on Saturday during Seattle’s victory over the Chicago Cubs. He threw seven innings and allowed a single hit and run on the afternoon and even had a no-hitter through the initial six innings.
Miley doesn’t have overpowering strikeout stuff with 82 punchouts in 112 innings, but he was on top of his game right before the trade deadline on Saturday. That likely only increased the Orioles’ interest in the southpaw.
Baltimore is in the middle of a tight race with the Toronto Blue Jays and Boston Red Sox in the difficult American League East, and it could use some help in its starting rotation. Despite its position in the playoff pursuit, it ranks a lackluster 28th in all of baseball in starting rotation ERA, per ESPN.com.
Miley would address an area of need in a crowded division.
Jay Bruce in Queens?
The New York Mets could use some more offense this season, and it may be coming in the form of Cincinnati Reds outfielder Jay Bruce.
Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports cited sources who said the Mets were “continuing to talk to” Cincinnati about the left-handed hitter, although he did caution the trade was “not close.” If it happened, Rosenthal said the Mets would use Bruce in right field, Michael Conforto and Curtis Granderson in center and Yoenis Cespedes in left.
What’s more, Mark Sheldon of MLB.com cited a source who said the Mets were still “very involved” in the pursuit of Bruce.
According to Kristie Ackert of the New York Daily News, the Mets also looked at Bruce last year before they eventually acquired Cespedes, so this isn’t new interest. Bruce has been red-hot for Cincinnati lately and had six home runs and 14 RBI in his last six games entering Saturday’s contest against the San Diego Padres.
Going into Saturday’s game, Bruce was slashing .268/.319/.566 with 25 home runs and 80 RBI.
The Mets rank a dreadful 29th in all of baseball in total runs scored, and the lack of offense is one reason they are looking up at the Washington Nationals and Miami Marlins in the National League East.
They added Cespedes last season and bolstered the lineup on the way to the World Series. They may look to replicate that same formula with another power-hitting outfielder in Bruce.
Pirates May Not Be Sellers and Are Pursuing a Starter
The Pittsburgh Pirates traded closer Mark Melancon to the Washington Nationals on Saturday, per an announcement from the Nationals, and appeared to potentially be sellers after the move. But they are reportedly still looking to be buyers.
Rosenthal said Pittsburgh was “trying to get a starting pitcher” and had conversations with “numerous" clubs.
While the Melancon trade could have been seen as a seller type of move, Rosenthal’s report suggested the Pirates aren't full-on sellers. Pittsburgh is still within striking distance of the National League Central (9.5 games behind the Chicago Cubs) and a wild-card spot (three games back), and another starting pitcher would be a major addition.
The Pirates reached the postseason in each of the last three seasons, but they are on the outside looking in largely because of problems with their starting rotation. They currently rank 22nd in the league in starting rotation ERA, per ESPN.com.
There is plenty of ground to make up in the playoff race, and another starter would improve an area of weakness that has held the Pirates back this year.
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