Categories: Rumors

Deadline Rumors: Mets trade Verlander back to Astros

Justin Verlander is heading back to the Astros. (Ken Murray/Icon Sportswire)

The Latest Phillies Trade Deadline Rumors

Tuesday, Aug. 1 at 2:45 p.m. Et: Mets trade Justin Verlander to Astros

The Mets’ sale continues. New York is trading starter Justin Verlander back to the Houston Astros, according to Bob Nightengale of USA Today.

With Verlander owed $43.3 million next year with a $35 million vesting option for 2025, the financials of the deal figure to be complicated. The Mets are reportedly getting back two minor leaguers, including outfielder Drew Gilbert.

— Destiny Lugardo

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Tuesday, Aug. 1 at 1:57 p.m. ET: Phillies inquired on veteran outfielder Harrison Bader

According to Joel Sherman of The New York Post, the Phillies “inquired” on Bader, an impending free agent for the Yankees. However, Sherman noted that “there seemed limited traction,” so there’s no evidence the 29-year-old is someone the Phillies are likely to land before the 6 p.m. ET trade deadline.

Also, while the Yankees are in last place in the crowded AL East, they still have a 55-51 record. They’re within 3 1/2 games of the final Wild Card spot in the junior circuit. There’s no reason to think that general manager Brian Cashman is going to punt on the rest of the season.

Bader — acquired last summer from the St. Louis Cardinals — has a .700 OPS, five defensive runs saved and seven outs above average for the Yankees this season. He’s primarily been a center fielder in his career, but has experience at both corner outfield spots. Perhaps file away this interest in Bader for the offseason. — Tim Kelly

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Tuesday, Aug. 1 at 12:51 p.m. ET: Braves acquire former Phillie Brad Hand

The Atlanta Braves are reportedly acquiring former Philadelphia Phillies reliever Brad Hand from the Colorado Rockies, per FanSided‘s Robert Murray:

Hand, who has a 4.54 ERA with Colorado this season, is on his seventh team since the beginning of the 2020 season. — Destiny Lugardo

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Monday, July 31 at 9:45 p.m. ET: And Teoscar goes to…

According to MLB.com‘s Jon Morosi, the Phillies are among “at least a half dozen teams” interested in Mariners slugging outfielder Teoscar Hernández.

The Toronto Blue Jays — Hernández’s previous employer — and the San Francisco Giants are also known suitors, with Morosi saying that “a trade is increasingly likely.”

While Hernández has had a relatively down year in his first season with the Mariners, the two-time Silver Slugger Award winner would probably represent the best shot that the Phillies have to make up for a sizable portion of the offensive production they lost when Rhys Hoskins tore his left ACL late in Spring Training. — Tim Kelly

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Monday, July 31 at 6:00 p.m. ET: Another potential Phillies target comes off the board

The New York Mets are trading outfielder/first baseman Mark Canha to the Milwaukee Brewers, per Will Sammon of The Athletic. Canha — who has a .770 career OPS — was a name some thought could be a fit for the Phillies as a right-handed hitting option to play left field and first base.

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Monday, July 31 at 2:19 p.m. ET: Mariners willing to listen on potential Phillies target Teoscar Hernández

According to Bob Nightengale of USA Today, the Mariners “are listening on several of their veterans,” including slugging outfielder Teoscar Hernández. We’ve previously outlined why Hernandez would be a good fit for the Phillies.

It’s unclear how motivated the 54-51 Mariners are to move Hernández given that they are still only 4 1/2 games out of the final Wild Card spot in the American League. But Hernández can become a free agent after the season, and Seattle president of baseball operations Jerry DiPoto loves to make trades, sometimes to a fault. — Tim Kelly

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Monday, July 31 at 10:53 a.m. ET: Phillies among 10 teams shopping for starting pitching

The Phillies are in the market for “rotation depth,” but they’re not alone. Jon Morosi had this to say about the amount of buyers looking for starting pitching in the trade market:

Since adding starting rotation is a priority but not a need, the Phillies are likely to wait until the final hours before the deadline to pull off a potential deal. Prices are usually high until teams are up against the deadline. Matt Gelb of The Athletic hinted at this strategy in his latest story:

The Phillies have signaled to other teams they are content to wait until prices drop because, although there might be players they like more than others, they are not desperate.

Matt Gelb on the Phillies’ trade deadline strategy.

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Sunday, July 30 at 8:58 p.m. ET: Los Angeles Angels acquire outfielder Randal Grichuk and C.J. Cron

Mark Feinsand of MLB.com reports that the Angels are acquiring right-handed hitting outfielder Randal Grichuk and first baseman C.J. Cron from the Colorado Rockies. Pitching prospects, right-handed pitcher Jake Madden and left-handed pitcher Mason Albright, go back to Colorado in the deal:

The Phillies are still looking for a right-handed hitting outfielder: — Destiny Lugardo

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Sunday, July 30 at 12:27 p.m. ET: Chicago Cubs not trading Bellinger

According to ESPN’s Jesse Rogers, the Cubs are keeping Cody Bellinger:

The Cubs’ turnaround on the field has led to a change in strategy off it as opposing teams have been told outfielder and free-agent-to-be Cody Bellinger will not be traded, according to sources familiar with the situation.

Jesse Rogers on Cody Bellinger.

The Cubs, winners of eight-in-a-row, will instead look for bullpen help as they make a run for a playoff spot via the wild card or the NL Central. They are three games out of the last wild card spot and 3.5 games out of the division.

Bellinger, who is scheduled to become a free agent after this season, would have been a great get for the Phillies. The left-handed hitter has a 1.055 OPS against lefties and plays all three outfield spots as well as first base.

The news surrounding Bellinger presumably means that starter Marcus Stroman, who has an opt out after this season, is also off the market. —Destiny Lugardo

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Saturday, July 29 at 8:40 p.m. ET: Division-rival New York Mets trade Max Scherzer

Less than 24 hours after he publicly expressed his discontent with the Mets trading away closer David Robertson, Max Scherzer is on the move again.

Jon Heyman of The New York Post and Jeff Passan of ESPN were among those to confirm that Scherzer has indeed waived his no-trade clause and accepted a deal to the Texas Rangers.

This obviously isn’t directly related to the Phillies, but still is relevant because it’s a future Hall of Famer who is leaving not only the division, but the National League altogether.

Meanwhile, the Mets are set to acquire Ronald Acuña Jr.’s younger brother, Luisangel Acuña — a 21-year-old middle infielder who had been the No. 3 prospect in Texas’ farm system.

Ironically, Scherzer will be replacing his former Mets teammate Jacob deGrom, who is out for the season — and possibly 2024 as well — after he had Tommy John surgery in June. — Tim Kelly

Friday, July 28 at 3:38 p.m. ET: Phillies interested in St. Louis Cardinals lefty Jordan Montgomery

Jeff Jones of The Belleville News-Democrat reports that the Phillies have scouted LHP Jordan Montgomery.

Presumably, the pitching prospects at the upper levels of the minors that Jones is referring to are righties Mick Abel and Griff McGarry, ranked as the No. 2 and No. 3 prospects in the system by Phillies Nation. It’s unclear if the Phillies would be willing to trade either Abel or McGarry for a rental, which Montgomery would be since he can become a free agent this upcoming offseason.

Montgomery — who has a 3.37 ERA and 3.59 FIP in 20 starts this season — is slated to start for the Cardinals tonight against Cubs. — Tim Kelly

Update: Montgomery was traded to the Rangers on Sunday.

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Thursday, July 27 at 11:38 p.m. ET: Marlins acquire David Robertson from Mets.

Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reports that David Robertson is being traded to the Miami Marlins.

The Mets are reportedly getting two lower level minor league position players from the Marlins. The Phillies traded highly regarded pitching prospect Ben Brown to the Cubs for Robertson at the 2022 deadline. He posted a 2.70 ERA in 11 appearances for the Phillies in the regular season last year and saved Game 1 of the World Series. He has a 2.05 ERA this season for the Mets. — Destiny Lugardo

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Thursday, July 27 at 7:50 p.m. ET: Phillies interested in Adam Duvall.

On the “Baseball Insiders” podcast, MLB insider Robert Murray had an interesting note on the Phillies’ interest in Red Sox outfielder Adam Duvall at the 27-minute mark:

The Red Sox, they are trying to maintain being competitive this year while also having an eye towards next year, which is why I think they end up moving free-agents-to-be. An Adam Duvall type makes a whole lot of sense. Maybe they can upgrade a different part of their roster for this year and next year in a potential trade to do so. I know there’s quite a bit of interest in Duvall, by the way. I think he’s got a good chance of being traded. One team I’ve heard there is the Phillies that likes him a lot, but they are far from alone there.

MLB insider Robert Murray on Phillies interest in Duvall

Duvall, who will turn 35 in September, is slashing .259/.327/.524 with eight home runs and 28 RBIs in 2023 for Boston. He missed two months from April to June with a left wrist fracture. He has a .645 OPS since coming back from injury.

He’s another right-handed hitting outfielder that could be a fit for the Phillies. If the Red Sox are looking for help this year or next year, maybe the Phillies, and this is just a suggestion, could dangle one of their middle relievers in trade talks. — Destiny Lugardo

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