The latest episode of the MLB Trade Rumors Podcast is now live on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and wherever you get your podcasts! Make sure you subscribe as well! You can also use the player at this link to listen, if you don’t use Spotify or Apple for podcasts.
This week, host Darragh McDonald is joined by Steve Adams of MLB Trade Rumors to discuss…
- The White Sox getting a new owner, at some point in the future (1:10)
- The Red Sox promoting Roman Anthony (13:25)
- Corbin Burnes undergoing Tommy John surgery and where that leaves the Diamondbacks (23:20)
- The Mariners designating Leody Taveras for assignment (34:10)
Plus, we answer your questions, including…
- Do the Mariners need a left-hander in the rotation? (40:45)
- What will the Braves do with the rest of the season and would they trade Chris Sale? (45:30)
- With the Mets seemingly having too many young infielders, who stays and who goes? (53:35)
Check out our past episodes!
- Jarren Duran Rumors, Caglianone And Young Promoted, And Pitching Injuries – listen here
- Bregman Injured, Marcelo Mayer Called Up, And Pirates Talk – listen here
- The Disappointing Orioles, Dalton Rushing, And The Phillies’ Bullpen – listen here
The podcast intro and outro song “So Long” is provided courtesy of the band Showoff. Check out their Facebook page here!
Photo courtesy of Kamil Krzaczynski, Imagn Images
There’s an outside the box question for ya… mets have young infielders…. and marte a lame-duck contract, 36, and, not particularly producing.
Red sox have an outfielder glut, including favorable contracts which has extra value with the Mets in the CBT stratosphere…
Could a swap happen with one of those IF kids to play 2B in Boston, plus some other pieces, for one of the Sox young OFers?
Mets have been checking the most to see if they can get Luis Robert. While that won’t happen with early due diligence lowball offer attempts, it’s foreseeable with smoke they agree on win-win if he gets in an offensive groove. Had his best all around game yesterday-esp’ly big late D play to cap it off.
I don’t know when white Sox fans realize Robert has practically no trade value any more. I don’t think any contenders are willing to risk bringing him on board in hopes of some magical return to former glory.
It’s up to LRJ’s bat this next month to play his way onto a contender. The D at a premium position is fantastic and the fact a club can decline his club option next offseason or one after is a bonus. He’s now starting to see better pitches since lineup improved-that’s a window for any POBO to see how he’d fit in their better lineup be it Mets or whoever. There won’t be a ton of high end options (especially CF), which is why someone will act if he gets hot.
Mets – I agree, contenders would want a player who is healthy and playing well. That hasn’t been Bob for a long, long time.
I also disagree with the notion the Red Sox could get right back into the playoff picture with just one 3-game sweep.
At the time of the recording, they were 6 back in the loss column and chasing 5 teams. Even if let’s say they sweep the Jays in Fenway later this month, they’d still be chasing 5 teams and they still have had the 7th-easiest schedule in MLB thus far. That’s the problem when you’re chasing so many teams, one head-to-head sweep may do absolutely nothing for you.
There would have to be a LOT of things breaking just right for them to get back in it …. and most importantly, they’d have to stop making so many dumb decisions.
Already giving up on Kristian Campbell as the Red Sox long term second baseman? Aside from him the Red Sox have a wealth of middle infield prospects who can potentially fill 2B including SS Marcelo Mayer, 21-year old Mikey Romero at AA along with two 19-year old’s in A-Ball, Franklin Arias and Yoeilin Cespedes.
It seems to me that if and when the Red Sox start dealing from their OF depth they ought to prioritize pitching, both at the MLB level and down on the farm.
The Red Sox middle infield depth is so impressive they had no problems including Chase Meidroth as the 3rd piece out of 4 in their Garrett Crochet swap with the White Sox. Meidroth has been a godsend for the rebuilding White Sox at both 2B and SS. He figures to be the ChiSox long term answer at the keystone along with their core leadoff or #2 hitter. All that said, I’m certain that White Sox GM Chris Getz would have no issue trading him back to the Red Sox straight up for Kristian Campbell. 🙂
Aaron – Dorian Soto is better than all those middle infielders you mentioned.
I agree with you that pitching should be a priority. Going into next year the only dependable starting pitcher they have of course is Fitts. Buehler and Giolito are free agents that I wouldn’t want to re-sign, Kutter has yet to prove himself, Houck is a mess, Bello is a headcase and Crochet’s elbow can blow out at any time.
How about Teel for Campbell?
Kyle Teel has more value than Kristian Campbell as a front line catcher who can hit. I’d just assume the White Sox roll with Teel and Edgar Quero with the latter getting extra reps at DH and perhaps 1B.
Campbell’s ideal position in MLB figures to be 2B or LF. Chase Meidroth profiles best defensively at 2B and not SS for the White Sox. Colson Montgomery will get first crack as the White Sox core SS, perhaps as soon as this season now that he’s got his hitting stroke and confidence back. I believe 19-year old Caleb Bonemer will eventually become the ChiSox regular SS by 2028. If Montgomery pans out offensively, he should transition to 3B.
Aaron – Campbell has been absolutely brutal at 2B. He’s rated the worst in MLB at nearly every defensive metric. Tonight was the second game in a row he was removed for a defensive replacement who isn’t that great defensively (Hamilton).
Cora has absolutely ruined Campbell, there’s a really good chance he gets sent down next week when Abreu returns.
Campbell needs to fix the hole in his swing for the middle-in fastball. But, other pieces like romero/arias are likely a 2028 debut, maybe late 27 if things are *really* pushed.
Campbell was rushed through the minors so quickly, it’s hard to say what you’ve got. But, not all prospects pan out. Some plateau as AAAA guys. Boston has immediate needs for the next 2-3 years on the infield, and, nobody is selling quality controllable SP for a sox Ofer. Just buying a rental with 1 year left doesn’t move the needle, and, the type of back of rotation sp you might get someone to part with isn’t worth it, sox have plenty of back end filler in the org.
GaSox – You are gonna love this! My God this is one of the dumbest trade proposals I’ve ever read …. and I’ve read the chats here!
housethathankbuilt.com/braves-trade-deadline-strat…
Chris Sale
Sale is the most valuable player the team might trade. He’s a true top-of-the-rotation arm, pitching like an ace and under team control for another year.
If for example, Boston called, the Braves should ask for Jarren Duran (Baseball’s pre-2022 # 92 prospect), shortstop Franklin Arias (Boston’s #3 and Baseball’s current #76 prospect), and SS/2B Mickey Romero (Boston’s #11 prospect).
Offer them grissom for sale plus 17m
GaSox – I’m just so happy for the guy, he is once again one of the game’s best pitchers.
Last 7 games, 1.19 ERA and 61 K’s
Last 3 games, 2 ER in 19 innings with 29 K’s
If the Red Sox are smart they offer him $75M/2 years, and I bet he would take it because he truly felt bad about all the time he spent on the IL.
@Fever: I must be missing something here w/your “offer him $75M/2 years” comment about Sale. The Braves have an option for him in 2026 for $18M. Have to trade for him if the RS want him back before 2027.
Jeff – There’s reports it’s a mutual option for next season, which means he could become a free agent and get a much larger contract.
newsweek.com/sports/mlb/red-sox-trade-scenario-wou…
“Sale has a $18 million mutual option for next season”
@Fever: Every other source I googled states that “the Braves hold an $18M club option on Chris Sale for the 2026 season.” Can’t find another source that claims it’s a “mutual option” including Cot’s contracts. Spotrac also shows the Braves having an $18M club option on Sale for 2026. I trust those two over Newsweek—especially that particular writer. He posts some of the most generic and misinformed baseball articles on the internet. Constantly writes clickbait headlines on trades that never have relevant information. Google some of his trade posts sometime. They’re laughable. Most of his articles claim some team wants to trade for “Player X” but never reveals who’s going back in his proposed trades.
Jeff – You’re probably right, I was the victim of bad reporting.
I’m guessing Sale doesn’t get traded even if the Braves do become sellers, as they certainly want to contend next year.
Aaron: Great post Campbell is coming along fine. It looks like he has made adjustments and hitting and walking again. It is hilarious that Fever Pitch Guy would proclaim something about a guy (Dorian Soto) who has just started his career in the Dominican Summer League!
Interesting proposition. Thing is, the Mets don’t currently have as much as one young IFer who produces reliably at the plate, so they’d be selling low on any one of Acuna, Baty, Mauricio, and Vientos.
Would the Red Sox overpay for the one of those four they evaluate the most highly, betting on promise in order to clear their OF glut? They’d have to offer a CFer, since the Mets aren’t moving Soto to DH any time soon (no matter how much he deserves it) and Nimmo is coming around at the plate, is still fielding competently in LF, and has 5 years left on his deal. I suppose the Mets would consider moving Nimmo and his foot issues out of the field sooner rather than later, swapping in a plus pre-arb LFer on the right deal.
It’s also possible teams including the Red Sox would value Baty reasonably highly given how much his fielding has improved at both 3B and 2B and in light of how his 2025 season to date would extrapolate to 4 WAR over 600 PA, but he has two drawbacks despite .that: He has just the one option left, not a lot for a guy who has yet to establish himself, and with his erratic performance to date it’s likely he’ll be the best choice for a team willing to suffer a couple more years of growing pains—so not a contender or a team hoping to contend before the 2027 season..
As for Marte, he’s currently got a 108 OPS+ and what is a respectable OBP in 2025: .343, with the occasional pop. While he should never again play the field, he’s still hitting better than any of the Mets young players, none of whom have an OPS+ above 96, none of whom have much experience DH’ing, and none of whom are guarantees to do more than hit to the tune of an 80 OPS+ for the rest of the year.
The Mets are currently a lock to make the postseason short of a major collapse. Keeping Marte (who brings next to nothing in trade even if the Mets eat his entire contract) helps attenuate the very small risk of collapse, and in the meantime he’s not blocking anyone. With Acuna hitting disastrously since May 4 (.310 OPS since then–not a typo), with Vientos’ injury and decline, with Winker’s return uncertain, with Marte able to hit LHP and RHP equally well over his career, and with Mauricio a fast pinch runner able to play SS, there’s no call to keep Acuna around—but since his upside appears to be ‘decent backup IFer who can play SS,’ is he really a fit with on the Sox?
While all four have better baseball futures than Marte, none have a more productive present, leaving the Mets without any real decision to make unless the Red Sox offer an impressive overpay.
I bet the Mets trade Baty or Mauricio by the deadline.
The White Sox ownership announcement is all about getting a new stadium built. The owner of Chicago Fire just announced he is building a new stadium with his own money on the same plot of land the White Sox want to use for their stadium. He claims shovels hit the ground in the fall of 2025.
Reinsdorf will not open his own wallet for a stadium. Ishbia may be willing to spend his own money now that he is assured he will become owner. There are potential savings to build a new Sox stadium next to the Fire stadium, but they need to act fast.
We need an Alan Embree and Mike Timlin deadline deal…. Who is the equivalent we could acquire.
cd – It depends what year, for instance Timlin was awful in 2008 and kept the Red Sox from getting to the WS.
Obviously when he was sharp lol.
cdr – That would be the 2003 postseason, when Grady Little refused to pull Pedro and use either of them in Game 7 of the ALCS.
I still remember screaming at the tv
Alan Embree of the 4.25era in 2003, 4.13 era in 2004, and 7.65 era in 2005 with Boston? That embree?
Pretty sure the sox already have relievers to put up those middling numbers.
You must not recall when he came over at the trade deadline and was lights out.
This team isn’t currently up for a deep postseason run – even with a reliever or two.
Fundamentals are lacking.
So, trading for a guy who punches above his weight for a couple months but is overall meh… not a good use of prospect capital.
If there’s an upgrade of a quality guy who will be a quality performer for several seasons, that makes sense.
Otherwise save your wad for a stronger team, hopefully fortified by some FA additions and dead weight coming off the books.
I dont want to see them waste the pieces we don’t need long term to maybe fight over a WC then quick exit, then have to give up something that hurts next year.
But, if this team gets back to basics and plays sound baseball fundamentals, turns the ship around, I’d reconsider
I hear the Cubs would part with…??? And all it would cost them is Roman… PCA part 2 for Cubbies but our bullpen would be best in Majors!!! He’s homesick… not use to all this winning with Dodgers and Cubs… plus it would give fans someone to take it out on and let the rookies mature ( something I haven’t done in my life).. 2/3 Yankees 2/3 Rays… keep it going !!!