This year’s trade deadline is Monday, Aug. 3, which means it is only two weeks and two days away. Now that the amateur draft is in the rear-view mirror, front offices have shifted their focus to the deadline.
Expect the trades to start soon. Until then, here are Saturday’s deadline rumors
Reds are open for business
With the NL’s worst record since May 1, the Reds are now open for business, reports The Athletic. They’re focused on trading their rentals and are open to adding major league players, not just prospects. Cincinnati has four notable rentals: Nathaniel Lowe, Brady Singer, Tyler Stephenson, and Eugenio Suárez. Singer likely has the most trade value
The Reds have fallen to 44-52 on the season and their minus-55 run differential is fourth-worst in the NL. They’re seven games behind the third wild card spot with six teams ahead of them. Even with Lowe having a nice year and Elly De La Cruz performing like a star, the Reds have scored the seventh fewest runs in baseball. They need offensive talent more than anything
Yankees have shown interest in Goodman
Hunter GoodmanCOL • C • #15
BA0.251
R59
HR27
RBI51
SB5
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The Yankees have shown interest in Rockies All-Star catcher Hunter Goodman in the past, reports ESPN. The two teams have not spoken recently, however. New York’s catchers have been simply dreadful this season. They rank 29th in batting average (.175) and on-base percentage (.250), 30th in slugging percentage (.269), and 26th with 0.2 WAR.
Goodman, 26, leads all catchers with 27 home runs this season, and he’s been better on the road (18 HR and .964 OPS) than at Coors Field (9 HR and .729 OPS). On the downside, he does not rate well defensively and has one of the highest strikeout rates in baseball. Still, Goodman would be a huge upgrade for the Yankees, and he’ll remain under team control through 2029
Braves focused on adding offense
Despite all their pitching injuries, the Braves are currently focused on adding offense the Braves are hitting .231/.298/.378 since June 1. Ronald Acuña Jr. could return from his hamstring strain at some point during the team’s current homestand. Even then, there is still room to add a bat, particularly at shortstop or DH
The Braves are currently without Martín Pérez (forearm), Spencer Schwellenbach (elbow bone spur surgery), AJ Smith-Shawver (Tommy John surgery), Spencer Strider (elbow inflammation), and Robert Suarez (elbow inflammation). All are expected back in the coming weeks. Atlanta has pitching reinforcements coming. Other than Acuña, that isn’t true on offense
Nationals getting calls about García
Luis GarcíaWAS • 1B • #2
BA0.284
R45
HR20
RBI68
SB4
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Multiple teams have asked the Nationals about slugging first baseman Luis García Jr., reports The Athletic. García, 26, shifted from second base to first base this season, and he’s hit 15 of his 20 home runs in his last 33 games. He is a left-handed hitter who has been heavily platooned, plus he’s not great defensively. That said, García’s extra year of control is meaningful
The Diamondbacks and Padres stand out as clubs in the postseason race (both are currently on the outside looking in) that need an upgrade at first base. García’s extra year of control means that, even if they don’t reach the postseason this year, it would still be a worthwhile move for Arizona or San Diego because he could help in 2027. (Those two teams are just my speculation.)
