The Major League Baseball trade deadline is 6 p.m. ET on Monday, Aug. 3 this season, so we’re just about two weeks away. It’s shaping up very nicely for the sellers, since there are so few of them — at least so far. Heading into Sunday, only three teams in the AL are further back than 3 ½ games out of a playoff spot. On the NL side, a whopping four are more than 3 ½ games out.
Yes, we’re past the midpoint of July and 23 teams are still in legitimate contention for a playoff spot. Do the math and that leaves just seven sellers to fuel the trade deadline.
Here are today’s rumors in front of what is shaping up as a monster seller’s market.
The , who are staring up at the Brewers in the NL Central standings, like starting pitcher , per the . Peralta, a free agent after the season, is 5-8 with a 4.66 ERA (90 ERA+) this season, though he finished last season fifth in NL Cy Young voting and the Cubs reportedly believe part of the blame is the Mets’ defense.
On that front, the Cubs rank second in the majors in defensive efficiency and first in fielding run value (by a hefty margin). The Mets rank 22nd in both. There’s also some hope pinned to a reunion of Peralta with Cubs manager Craig Counsell, as the two spent six seasons together in Milwaukee.
The enter Sunday in a virtual tie atop the AL Central and they are in need of rotation help. reports that they sent a special assistant to watch Mets starter out on his rehab assignment (Homes’ scheduled High-A start on Saturday was banged due to bad weather and he threw a private bullpen session instead).
Holmes has been down since May 15 with a broken fibula, but he’s soon to return to the majors. Before the injury, he was 4-4 with a 2.39 ERA (175 ERA+) and 45 strikeouts in 52 ⅔ innings. He’d make a nice veteran addition toward the top of the Sox rotation alongside and .
The , as usual, are one of the surefire sellers this season. They have a few starting pitchers that should be of interest to contenders and both are expected to be available in the trade market, according to the . Those starters are righty José Soriano and southpaw . Both have been inconsistent but shown great flashes.
