The Montas market focused on three groups
According to MLB.com, the market for righty Frankie Montas is centered on the Blue Jays, Twins and Yankees. Now that Luis Castillo is a Marine, Montas is the best starter available at the deadline. He has shown no ill effects from the shoulder issue that sidelined him earlier this month and will remain under team control as a player eligible for arbitration in 2023. The Twins need a starter more than the Blue Jays and Yankees, though all three teams could use another arm. The Reds received two top prospects and two secondary pieces in the Castillo trade, creating the market for Montas, who offers the same team control. The A’s are selling and cutting payroll. It’s a matter of when the Montas deal will happen, not if.
The Phillies are looking for a starter
The Phillies are in the market for a starting pitcher, especially one who can start a postseason game, The Athletic reports. They join Angels righty Noah Syndergaard and Reds righty Tyler Mahle, as well as Pirates lefty Jose Quintana. The Phillies are said to prefer a pitcher under control after 2022. That goes for Mahle, but not Syndergaard or Quintana. It’s rent. Philadelphia is at the top of the rotation with Zack Wheeler and Aaron Nola. However, Zach Eflin has been dealing with a nagging knee injury and the team will have to keep an eye on Ranger Suárez’s workload. President of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski is never shy about trade prospects. If he wants a starter, it’s like getting a starter before Tuesday’s deadline.
Giants open for sale
The struggling Giants are open to being traded and are willing to discuss just about anyone on their roster besides Logan Webb, the New York Post reports. Outfielder Joc Pederson, who is currently on the concussion list, and lefty Carlos Rodón are the club’s two top trades. No doubt teams will come for Mike Yastrzemski and Austin Slater as well.
Rodón’s potential availability would give another high-end starter in a trade market that has already seen Luis Castillo dealt to the Mariners. The veteran left-hander can opt out of his contract after the season, so he’s likely to go on loan, but he’s also a difference-maker who can dominate even big lineups on his best days. The southpaw could land San Francisco a really nice prospect package.
The Brewers, Padres and Rays are among the teams interested in Yankees outfielder Joey Gallo, USA Today reports. All three clubs had interest in Gallo at the last trade deadline when he was traded to New York. Gallo has struggled mightily with the Yankees, and the recent addition of Andrew Benintendi makes it certain that he will play elsewhere after Tuesday’s trade deadline.
Those three clubs interested in Gallo all need offense, particularly in the outfield, and that includes Tampa even after the Diamondbacks acquired David Peralta on Saturday. The Yankees can’t expect much more than salary relief and/or a marginal prospect for Gallo at this point, and at least some teams seem willing to roll the dice on the 38-homer bat three times.
The Cardinals have been in trade talks with the Astros for right-hander Jake Odorici, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. St. Louis also considered Nathan Eovaldi to the Red Sox and Noah Syndergaard to the Angels, though it is unknown if they have had trade discussions for the two impending free agents. Clearly, the Cardinals want — and need — rotation help.
Houston is one of the few contenders with enough rotation depth to trade a starter. They currently have six starters (Odorizzi, Cristian Javier, Luis Garcia, José Urquidy, Framber Valdez, Justin Verlander), plus Lance McCullers Jr. he is nearing a return from his flexor injury. The Astros figure more than anything else to look for a center fielder at the trade deadline.
