NL West Trade Deadline Recap
With the deadline in the rearview mirror, we’ll look back at each NL West team’s trade activity over the past month.
Arizona Diamondbacks
- Acquired cash considerations from Twins for INF Ildemaro Vargas
- Acquired LHP Travis Bergen from Blue Jays for LHP Robbie Ray
- Acquired a player to be named later from Cubs for LHP Andrew Chafin
- Acquired LHP Caleb Smith, RHP Humberto Mejia and a player to be named later (reportedly LHP Julio Frias) from Marlins for OF Starling Marté
- Acquired INF Josh VanMeter and OF Stuart Fairchild from Reds for RHP Archie Bradley
Colorado Rockies
- Acquired RHP Chad Smith from Marlins for RHP Jesús Tinoco
- Acquired RHP Mychal Givens from Orioles for IF Tyler Nevin, IF Terrin Vavra and a player to be named later
- Acquired OF Kevin Pillar from Red Sox for a player to be named later and international bonus pool space
Los Angeles Dodgers
- Acquired two players to be named later from Blue Jays for RHP Ross Stripling
San Diego Padres
- Acquired 1B Yonder Alonso from Braves for cash considerations
- Acquired cash considerations from Mariners for RHP Jimmy Yacabonis
- Acquired RHP Trevor Rosenthal from Royals for OF Edward Olivares and a player to be named later
- Acquired 1B Mitch Moreland from Red Sox for IF Hudson Potts and OF Jeisson Rosario
- Acquired C Jason Castro from Angels for RHP Gerardo Reyes
- Acquired C Austin Nola, RHP Austin Adams and RHP Dan Altavilla from Mariners for OF Taylor Trammell, INF Ty France, C Luis Torrens and RHP Andres Muñoz
- Acquired RHP Mike Clevinger and OF Greg Allen from Indians for OF Josh Naylor, RHP Cal Quantrill, C Austin Hedges, INF Gabriel Arias, LHP Joey Cantillo, and INF Owen Miller
- Acquired RHP Taylor Williams from Mariners for a player to be named later (reportedly RHP Matt Brash)
San Francisco Giants
- Acquired RHP Jordan Humphreys from Mets for OF Billy Hamilton
- Acquired OF Luis Basabe from White Sox for cash considerations
- Acquired INF Daniel Robertson from Rays for cash considerations
- Acquired cash considerations from Yankees for C Rob Brantly
- Acquired LHP Anthony Banda from Rays for cash considerations
NL Central Trade Deadline Recap
With the deadline in the rearview mirror, we’ll look back at each NL Central team’s trade activity over the past month.
Chicago Cubs
- Acquired 1B/DH José Martínez from Rays for two players to be named later or cash considerations
- Acquired LHP Andrew Chafin from Diamondbacks for a player to be named later
- Acquired LHP Josh Osich from Red Sox for a player to be named later
- Acquired OF Cameron Maybin from Tigers for INF Zack Short
Cincinnati Reds
- Acquired a player to be named later from Astros for LHP Brooks Raley
- Acquired OF Mark Payton from Athletics for cash considerations
- Acquired RHP Riley O’Brien from Rays for LHP Cody Reed
- Acquired OF Brian Goodwin from Angels for LHP Packy Naughton and a player to be named later or cash considerations
- Acquired RHP Archie Bradley from Diamondbacks for INF Josh VanMeter and OF Stuart Fairchild
Milwaukee Brewers
- Acquired three players to be named later (reportedly RHP Brandon Ramey, RHP Israel Puello and RHP Juan Geraldo) from Phillies for RHP David Phelps
Pittsburgh Pirates
- Acquired RHP Tyler Bashlor from Mets for cash considerations
- Acquired LHP Austin Davis from Phillies for a player to be named later and cash considerations
- Acquired international bonus pool space from White Sox for OF Jarrod Dyson
St. Louis Cardinals
- None
NL East Trade Deadline Recap
With the deadline in the rearview mirror, we’ll look back at each NL East team’s trade activity over the past month.
Atlanta Braves
- Acquired cash considerations from Padres for 1B Yonder Alonso
- Acquired LHP Tommy Milone from Orioles for two players to be named later
Miami Marlins
- Acquired RHP James Hoyt from Indians for cash considerations
- Acquired RHP Jesús Tinoco from Rockies for RHP Chad Smith
- Acquired a player to be named later (reportedly OF Griffin Conine) from Blue Jays for INF/OF Jonathan Villar
- Acquired OF Starling Marte from Diamondbacks for LHP Caleb Smith, RHP Humberto Mejia and a player to be named later (reportedly LHP Julio Frias)
New York Mets
- Acquired cash considerations from Pirates for RHP Tyler Bashlor
- Acquired OF Billy Hamilton from Giants for RHP Jordan Humphreys
- Acquired RHP Ariel Jurado from Rangers for a player to be named later and cash considerations
- Acquired RHP Miguel Castro from Orioles for LHP Kevin Smith and a player to be named later or cash considerations
- Acquired C Robinson Chirinos from Rangers for a player to be named later
- Acquired INF Todd Frazier from Rangers for a player to be named later
Philadelphia Phillies
- Acquired a player to be named later from Rays for RHP Edgar García
- Acquired RHP David Hale from Yankees for RHP Addison Russ
- Acquired RHP Heath Hembree and RHP Brandon Workman from Red Sox for RHP Nick Pivetta and RHP Connor Seabold
- Acquired a player to be named later and cash considerations from Pirates for LHP Austin Davis
- Acquired RHP David Phelps from Brewers for three players to be named later (reportedly RHP Brandon Ramey, RHP Israel Puello and RHP Juan Geraldo)
Washington Nationals
- None
AL West Trade Deadline Recap
With the deadline in the rearview mirror, we’ll look back at each AL West team’s trade activity over the past month.
Houston Astros
- Acquired LHP Brooks Raley from Reds for a player to be named later
Los Angeles Angels
- Acquired INF Franklin Barreto from Athletics for INF Tommy La Stella
- Acquired RHP Gerardo Reyes from Padres for C Jason Castro
- Acquired LHP Packy Naughton and a player to be named later or cash considerations from Reds for OF Brian Goodwin
Oakland Athletics
- Acquired cash considerations from Reds for OF Mark Payton
- Acquired INF Tommy La Stella from Angels for INF Franklin Barreto
- Acquired LHP Mike Minor from Rangers for OF Marcus Smith, INF Dustin Harris and international bonus pool space
Seattle Mariners
- Acquired RHP Jimmy Yacabonis from Padres for cash considerations
- Acquired cash considerations from Blue Jays for 1B/DH Dan Vogelbach
- Acquired a player to be named later from Blue Jays for RHP Taijuan Walker
- Acquired OF Taylor Trammell, INF Ty France, C Luis Torrens and RHP Andres Muñoz from Padres for C Austin Nola, RHP Austin Adams and RHP Dan Altavilla
- Acquired a player to be named later (reportedly RHP Matt Brash) from Padres for RHP Taylor Williams
Texas Rangers
- Acquired a player to be named later and cash considerations from Mets for RHP Ariel Jurado
- Acquired OF Marcus Smith, INF Dustin Harris and international bonus pool space from Athletics for LHP Mike Minor
- Acquired a player to be named later from Mets for C Robinson Chirinos
- Acquired a player to be named later from Mets for INF Todd Frazier
AL Central Trade Deadline Recap
With the deadline in the rearview mirror, we’ll look back at each AL Central team’s trade activity over the past month.
Chicago White Sox
- Acquired cash considerations from Giants for OF Luis Basabe
- Acquired OF Jarrod Dyson from Pirates for international bonus pool space
Cleveland Indians
- Acquired cash considerations from Marlins for RHP James Hoyt
- Acquired OF Josh Naylor, RHP Cal Quantrill, C Austin Hedges, INF Gabriel Arias, LHP Joey Cantillo, and INF Owen Miller from Padres for RHP Mike Clevinger and OF Greg Allen
Detroit Tigers
- Acquired INF Zack Short from Cubs for OF Cameron Maybin
Kansas City Royals
- Acquired INF Lucius Fox from Rays for OF Brett Phillips
- Acquired OF Edward Olivares and a player to be named later from Padres for RHP Trevor Rosenthal
Minnesota Twins
- Acquired INF Ildemaro Vargas from Diamondbacks for cash considerations
AL East Trade Deadline Recap
With the deadline in the rearview mirror, we’ll look back at each AL East team’s trade activity over the past month.
Baltimore Orioles
- Acquired two players to be named later from Braves for LHP Tommy Milone
- Acquired IF Tyler Nevin, IF Terrin Vavra and a player to be named later from Rockies for RHP Mychal Givens
- Acquired LHP Kevin Smith and a player to be named later or cash from Mets for RHP Miguel Castro
Boston Red Sox
- Acquired RHP Nick Pivetta and RHP Connor Seabold from Phillies for RHP Heath Hembree and RHP Brandon Workman
- Acquired IF Hudson Potts and OF Jeisson Rosario from Padres for 1B Mitch Moreland
- Acquired a player to be named later from Cubs for LHP Josh Osich
- Acquired a player to be named later and international bonus pool space from Rockies for OF Kevin Pillar
New York Yankees
- Acquired RHP Addison Russ from Phillies for RHP David Hale
- Acquired C Rob Brantly from Giants for cash considerations
Tampa Bay Rays
- Acquired RHP Edgar García from Phillies for a player to be named later
- Acquired cash considerations from Giants for INF Daniel Robertson
- Acquired OF Brett Phillips from Royals for INF Lucius Fox
- Acquired LHP Cody Reed from Reds for RHP Riley O’Brien
- Acquired two players to be named later or cash considerations from Cubs for 1B/DH José Martínez
- Acquired cash considerations from Giants for LHP Anthony Banda
Toronto Blue Jays
- Acquired 1B/DH Dan Vogelbach from Mariners for cash considerations
- Acquired RHP Taijuan Walker from Mariners for a player to be named later
- Acquired LHP Robbie Ray from Diamondbacks for LHP Travis Bergen
- Acquired INF/OF Jonathan Villar from Marlins for a player to be named later (reportedly OF Griffin Conine)
- Acquired RHP Ross Stripling from Dodgers for two players to be named later
Rangers Anticipate Payroll Cut This Offseason
The 12-21 Rangers shipped off a few pieces today, but they didn’t find an offer to their liking on Lance Lynn or Joey Gallo. Given comments made by general manager Jon Daniels, though, it seems probable they’ll revisit talks on those players this offseason.
“We were open to the idea of acquiring younger players that fit more long-term,” said Daniels, who admitted that 2022 and beyond is “probably the more likely window for us” (via Jeff Wilson of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram). Adding to the challenge of competing in 2021, it seems, are forthcoming payroll cuts.
“I’m not certain what the overall budget will be. It will be down from where it was this year, but I’m not sure exactly where,” Daniels said, per Wilson. As the GM pointed out, that’ll likely be true of a lot of teams in the wake of massive revenue losses arising out of the pandemic. Patching all the team’s holes this offseason while navigating budget cuts may be an impossible task.
Lynn is due $8MM in 2021, his final year of team control. Gallo, who’ll command an arbitration raise on this year’s $4.4MM salary, is controlled through 2022. Texas obviously wasn’t willing to give either player away for underwhelming returns merely to cut costs. Still, Daniels’ acknowledgement the team doesn’t seem to be a piece or two away from contention figures to lead to future speculation on those shorter-term assets.
Elsewhere on the roster, Shin-Soo Choo’s $21MM contract comes off the books at the end of the year, and they seem likely to decline Corey Kluber’s $18MM option. Texas’ other high-priced players, though, figure to be difficult to move. Elvis Andrus and Rougned Odor haven’t performed well recently and are ticketed for lofty salaries ($14.25MM and $12.33MM, respectively). Likewise, Kyle Gibson and Jordan Lyles have underwhelmed in their first seasons in Arlington.
The Rangers entered this season with an anticipated payroll of around $153MM, per Cot’s Contracts. They have only $63MM on the books for 2021 before arbitration, although beyond Gallo and José Leclerc, there don’t figure to be huge raises. That leaves room for some additions, but not to Texas’ established levels of spending.
Player Pool Additions: 8/31/20
Today’s player pool news:
- The Rays are adding shortstop prospect Greg Jones to their 60-man player pool, per Juan Toribio of MLB.com (Twitter link). The club’s first-rounder out of UNC-Wilmington in 2019, he’s now the #12 prospect in a stellar Tampa farm system, according to Baseball America. The switch-hitting speedster didn’t advance past the short-season New York-Penn League in his first pro action, so he’s surely not on the radar for an MLB call in 2020. Rather, he’ll get an opportunity for additional instruction in front of Rays’ player development staff.
Minor MLB Transactions: 8/31/20
A round-up of some smaller moves with the trade deadline in the rearview mirror:
- The Mariners announced they’ve transferred left-hander Nestor Cortes to the 45-day injured list with a left elbow impingement. He’d been placed on the 10-day IL August 15. The former Yankee long reliever was bombed in his five appearances for Seattle this season, surrendering 14 runs (13 earned) on six home runs with eight strikeouts and six walks in 7.2 innings. The move clears a space on Seattle’s 40-man roster.
- The Angels announced they’ve selected the contract of catcher José Briceño. The 27-year-old saw action in 46 games for Los Angeles back in 2018, hitting .239/.299/.385 in 128 plate appearances. Briceño will step into the #2 catching role behind Anthony Bemboom. The Angels traded starting backstop Jason Castro to the Padres yesterday.
- The Brewers have selected the contract of right-hander Justin Topa, the team announced. The 29-year-old will be making his MLB debut whenever he first gets into a game. Milwaukee signed Topa out of independent ball after the 2018 season, and he went on to put up a 2.63 ERA in 24 innings in Double-A in 2019. He’ll step into the bullpen void left by today’s trade of David Phelps to the Phillies.
- The Red Sox announced they have selected the contracts of three players: infielder Yairo Muñoz, left-hander Mike Kickham and right-hander Robinson Leyer. Muñoz, 25, signed with Boston on a minor-league deal after a bizarre end to his time with the Cardinals. Kickham, 31, hasn’t pitched in the majors since tossing 30.1 innings with the 2013-14 Giants. Leyer, 27, has yet to make his major league debut. He has a 4.01 ERA in parts of five Double-A seasons.
AL Injury Notes: Twins, Jays, Kennedy, Hernandez, Odor
Some notes on prominent injury situations around the American League:
- Twins’ manager Rocco Baldelli provided encouraging updates on a trio of injured players, via Do-Hyoung Park of MLB.com (Twitter links). Star third baseman Josh Donaldson and center fielder Byron Buxton are seemingly nearing their returns, with each scheduled to play in an intrasquad game at the team’s alternate training site this afternoon. Right-hander Cody Stashak is evidently a bit further behind, but he’s lining up for a bullpen session soon, Park reports. If all goes well, he could be back on the active roster shortly thereafter.
- Blue Jays’ closer Ken Giles will throw a live batting practice session tomorrow, reports Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet (Twitter link). An impending free agent, Giles has been limited to two appearances this season by a forearm strain. Fellow right-handed reliever Jordan Romano, who looked on his way to breaking through as one of the game’s top strikeout artists before going down with a strained finger, has not yet progressed to throwing, Nicholson-Smith adds. The Toronto organization hopes he’ll be able to return this year, though.
- Royals’ reliever Ian Kennedy is headed to the 10-day injured list with a left calf strain, the club announced. He’ll have an MRI tomorrow, reports Jeffrey Flanagan of MLB.com (Twitter link). So continues a nightmarish season for the 35-year-old, who has allowed 17 runs (14 earned) in 14 innings. 2020 is the final year of Kennedy’s five-year, $70MM contract.
- The Red Sox are sending reliever Darwinzon Hernández to the 10-day injured list with a sprained AC joint, via Alex Speier of the Boston Globe (Twitter link). The hard-throwing southpaw missed the first three weeks of the season after testing positive for COVID-19, limiting him to three appearances. They’ve been more of the same for Hernández, who continues to rack up otherworldly strikeout totals while issuing an alarming number of walks.
- Rougned Odor is headed to the Rangers’ 10-day injured list with an eye infection, per Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News (Twitter link). In his stead, shortstop Elvis Andrus is returning from an IL stint of his own. The Rangers discussed an Odor deal with the Red Sox earlier today, but the underperforming second baseman will instead remain in Arlington.