10:06 p.m.: Cleveland Indians starter Trevor Bauer is on the move. He’s reportedly heading to the Cincinnati Reds, per ESPN’s Jeff Passan.
Right-hander Trevor Bauer has been traded to the Cincinnati Reds, sources familiar with the deal tells ESPN. He will move as part of a three-team deal with the San Diego Padres, according to sources.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) July 31, 2019
8:15 p.m.: According to Sean McAdam of Boston Sports Journal, the Red Sox are targeting Arizona Diamondbacks lefty Andrew Chafin.
Source: ARI LHP Andrew Chafin is a target for the Red Sox in trade talks. Low salary ($1.95 million), controlled through 2020 and modest acquisition cost. Also, the D'backs-Red Sox connection (Hazen, Sawdaye, Porter) makes for familiarity with organization and easier discussions.
— Sean McAdam (@Sean_McAdam) July 31, 2019
What do you think? Leave a comment.
4:05 p.m.: Someone close to the Noah Syndergaard situation apparently is feeling chatty, as we just got a couple of new updates on the Mets pitcher.
More evidence #Mets do not intend to take step back: Sources say team is asking for major-league or major-league ready pieces for Syndergaard, even from clubs with top farm systems.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) July 30, 2019
Have heard Padres made offer of multiple Major-League players for Syndergaard. No evidence the sides are close however.
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) July 30, 2019
2:30 p.m.: Sticking with the day’s evolving theme of one reporter contradicting another, here’s veteran scribe Mark Feinsand with the latest on Madison Bumgarner.
Keep in mind: "doubtful" doesn't mean 100%. If the Giants are blown away by an offer, it's still possible Bumgarner moves. But it seems the Giants are inclined to hold on to him as of now. https://t.co/0y5dWZADME
— Mark Feinsand (@Feinsand) July 30, 2019
1:37 p.m.: Now we’re talking. If Madison Bumgarner ends up in Houston, the American League playoffs are going to be wild.
Source says Giants and Astros "engaged" on Bumgarner. Amount of traction unclear.
— Tim Brown (@ByTimBrown) July 30, 2019
1:12 p.m.: It’s hard to say what’s going to happen with Ken Giles, who was figured to be one of the top relievers available, but that elbow issue couldn’t have come at a worse time for the Blue Jays. According to Jon Heyman, though, Toronto could still strike a deal to trade the righty.
Jays are still talking to teams about closer Ken Giles who’s having a terrific year but wasn’t used last night due to what’s thought to be a minor elbow issue.
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) July 30, 2019
1:05 p.m.: This certainly feels like more than a coincidence, as it sure looks like the Mets are preparing to start Ervin Santana — not Noah Syndergaard — on Tuesday night. If that actually is the case, we’ll have to wait and see whether the move is cautionary or there’s a deal in place.
The #Mets scratched Ervin Santana from his Triple A start today. Syndergaard scheduled to pitch for them in majors tonight. Not known whether two are linked.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) July 30, 2019
11:18 a.m.: At some point this season, it appeared the Cleveland Indians might be poised to sell at the deadline. Terry Francona’s bunch, however, has played tremendous baseball since June 1 and now might be trying to add before Wednesday’s deadline.
The #Indians, an AL-best 17-5 this month, have played well enough that they're exploring short-term offensive upgrades. One name they've considered, according to a source: Nicholas Castellanos of the division rival #Tigers. @MLB @MLBNetwork
— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) July 30, 2019
11:15 a.m.: At this point, everything might be a giant shrug emoji, but here’s the latest on Tigers pitcher Matthew Boyd, per Bob Nightengale.
Starter Matthew Boyd is likely to stay put now. No team has made an enticing offer to the #Tigers to persuade them to move him.
— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) July 30, 2019
10:52 a.m.: The Houston Astros, meanwhile, lay in the weeds as they try to add a starting pitcher.
Source: #Astros showing continued interest in #Tigers LHP Matthew Boyd. Detroit has asked for Kyle Tucker in the past. Acquisition cost on #Mets RHP Zack Wheeler would be lower for Houston, and there is substance to those HOU/NYM talks, as @Ken_Rosenthal has reported. @MLB
— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) July 30, 2019
10:50 a.m.: Don’t go printing those Red Sox “Diaz” jerseys just yet — all of a sudden, it’s very much public that the Red Sox reportedly don’t seem likely to land Edwin Diaz from the Mets.
Sources echo what @alexspeier reported earlier: #Mets’ Díaz unlikely for #RedSox. Team focused on lesser names in quest for bullpen help.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) July 30, 2019
It can’t be stressed enough, however, that things are fluid with the deadline a little more than 24 hours away. There’s plenty of posturing being done through the media, and it’s certainly possible one of the involved parties leaked this in an attempt to gain leverage. We shall see.
9:50 a.m.: While the external interest might be increasing in Trevor Bauer, a trade doesn’t sound likely — at least not at this point.
Indians are increasingly unlikely to trade Trevor Bauer. Word is, ownership is reluctant to part with a big star with team in position to make playoffs and possibly even win division again.
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) July 30, 2019
9:06 a.m.: The latest notes column from The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal just went live, and here’s what he’s hearing about Cleveland starter Trevor Bauer.
A source with knowledge of the team’s discussions said the team on Monday experienced “a definite uptick in the interest level” in Trevor Bauer. But whether the Indians will trade their ace right-hander in the middle of a pennant race remains to be seen.
8:45 a.m.: The starting pitching market is shaping up to be fascinating … and rather small. With Marcus Stroman off the board, and fringe contenders like Cleveland and San Francisco looking like they’re going to standpat, there’s suddenly a noticeable dearth of available starters. That’s apparently leading the Mets to second-guess trading Noah Syndergaard, which seemingly goes against the idea of supply and demand.
From ESPN’s Jeff Passan: “There is increasing skepticism in some circles that the Mets will deal Syndergaard, especially considering the possibility that he can recoup value over the next two months and be shopped again this winter.”
If we attempt to read between the lines, this certainly has the feel of the Mets trying to give the illusion they’re going to keep Syndergaard for now if they aren’t able to get what they want. Perhaps that is truly the case, but if they can’t get what they want 30 hours before the deadline in a tight pitching market, are they likely to get more in the winter? Deadlines make deals happen, so we’ll see.
8:35 a.m.: We’re heard for about a month now the Yankees are a near-lock to get a starting pitcher before Wednesday’s deadline. Could it be Arizona’s Robbie Ray?
Keep hearing Clint Frazier to Arizona for Ray or Bradley, or multi players_not Garcia-for both
— Peter Gammons (@pgammo) July 30, 2019
8 a.m.: It’s now or never for front offices across Major League Baseball.
Recent rules changes eliminated the league’s waiver trading period, meaning Wednesday’s trade deadline has the potential to be even crazier than usual as teams know they won’t be able to wheel and deal after the traditional non-waiver deadline.
There’s already been some movement ahead of the July 31 deadline, most notably with Toronto All-Star pitcher Marcus Stroman landing in New York … with the Mets, not the Yankees, in a very surprising turn of events. Now, the Yankees and other teams must shift their attention elsewhere in the search for starting pitching, but recent runs from teams like San Francisco and Cleveland might take players like Madison Bumgarner and Trevor Bauer off the table. Then again, the Mets acquiring Stroman might make it even more likely Noah Syndergaard is dealt before the deadline.
There also figures to be a handful of relievers on the move before Wednesday afternoon. The biggest name currently being bandied about in trade rumors is Mets closer Edwin Diaz, who has been tied to the Boston Red Sox among other teams.
Keep it here for all the latest news and rumors ahead of deadline day.