It’s deadline day! Here are the biggest storylines:
Garrett Crochet
The demand for starting pitching is so intense that the Chicago White Sox might get their price for Crochet even with all the concerns about his availability for the postseason. Crochet reportedly will not pitch in October unless a team that acquires him gives him a contract extension. But the way his innings total is mounting in his first professional season as a starter, he might not be available anyway.
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The San Diego Padres, Los Angeles Dodgers, Atlanta Braves, Philadelphia Phillies, Boston Red Sox and Baltimore Orioles have shown various levels of interest in Crochet, according to sources familiar with the White Sox’s discussions. If a trade is completed, Crochet and his new organization can figure out a plan for how to use him the rest of the season – and in his remaining two years under club control.
Jack Flaherty
Flaherty’s ERA is 2.95. Yusei Kikuchi’s is 4.75. So one would think Detroit Tigers general manager Scott Harris can reasonably expect more for his rental than the impressive package the Toronto Blue Jays landed from the Houston Astros for Kikuchi: right-hander Jake Bloss, outfielder Joey Loperfido and infielder Will Wagner.
Teams might tell Harris, “Sorry, we’re not going to do something stupid just because the Astros seemingly overpaid.” But again, the laws of supply and demand might take over. The New York Yankees, Dodgers and Padres are among the teams believed to be on Flaherty. The Orioles and Red Sox would prefer a controllable starter but also could be in the mix.
The game of musical chairs with starting pitching
At least eight teams — the Yankees, Orioles, Red Sox, Cleveland Guardians and Minnesota Twins in the AL; New York Mets, Dodgers and Padres in the NL — are still looking for starters, many of them urgently.
After Crochet and Flaherty, and assuming the Tigers hold Tarik Skubal and the San Francisco Giants hold Blake Snell, the most attractive starter available might be the Chicago Cubs’ Jameson Taillon.
Jameson Taillon could attract significant trade interest. (Sam Greene / The Enquirer / USA Today)
Among the others also in play: The Yankees’ Nestor Cortes Jr.; Tampa Bay Rays’ Zack Littell; Miami Marlins’ Trevor Rogers; Los Angeles Angels’ Tyler Anderson, Griffin Canning and Reid Detmers; and Colorado Rockies’ Austin Gomber, Cal Quantrill and Ryan Fentner.
The big question: Will the price the Astros paid for Kikuchi compel a team to exploit the market with a starter who is not thought to be available? Or will the desire of sellers to extract the same type of package the Blue Jays did for Kikuchi stall the market?
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The AL East
No one should be surprised if the Orioles, Yankees and Red Sox all make multiple deals.
The Orioles are “wide open” in their search for another starter, according to a source briefed on their plans, and also want to add a right-handed hitting outfielder and reliever, preferably left-handed. They might even be a potential fit for Snell if the Giants are willing to move him.
Unlike some other contenders, Baltimore is not near or above the luxury-tax threshold – and Snell would be a massive addition to a team’s luxury-tax payroll. The problem is, the Giants surely would want more for Snell, who is back to Cy Young form than the Blue Jays got for Kikuchi. And Snell, too, is a rental.
The Yankees badly need to add swing-and-miss to the bullpen and also are in the market for a starter and another bat, possibly a right-handed platoon partner for Ben Rice at first base. The Red Sox also are targeting relievers and could use a right-handed hitting middle infielder and possibly a starter as well.
Teams looking for bats
The Guardians on Monday acquired Lane Thomas from the Washington Nationals. The Braves filled their need Monday night by adding designated hitter Jorge Soler from the Giants, along with reliever Luke Jackson.
The Texas Rangers, Pittsburgh Pirates, Yankees and Red Sox are among the clubs that still want to add offense. Might the limited supply enable the Rays to get a big package for first baseman Yandy Díaz, and persuade the Angels to trade infielder Luis Rengifo and outfielder Taylor Ward?
The White Sox are not expected to move center fielder Luis Robert Jr., believing they might receive more substantial offers in the offseason. Robert was 4-for-39 since the All-Star break before going 3-for-4 on Monday night.
Teams looking for relievers
Pick a contender, any contender, really. The Yankees, Orioles, Red Sox, Mets, Arizona Diamondbacks, St. Louis Cardinals and Padres are among the most active clubs seeking bullpen help. Some quality relievers are still available, starting with Marlins closer Tanner Scott, a potential free agent.
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Nationals closer Kyle Finnegan also could move — the Nats already have traded two other players with an additional year of club control, Thomas and right-handed reliever Hunter Harvey. Among the other relievers in play are the Angels’ Luis Garcia, White Sox’s John Brebbia, Rays’ Pete Fairbanks and Colin Poche, Oakland Athletics’ Lucas Erceg and Scott Alexander and the Cincinnati Reds’ Nick Martinez and Sam Moll.
Oh, and don’t forget the Marlins. They could trade as many as six players Tuesday, according to sources familiar with their discussions: Scott, Rogers and outfielder Bryan De La Cruz, plus right-handed relievers Huascar Brazobán, Anthony Bender and Declan Cronin.
Pedro Grifol
Managerial dismissals are not part of the deadline calculus, but the continued White Sox selloff, combined with their 15-game losing streak, could prompt general manager Chris Getz to make a change sooner rather than later.
Pedro Grifol watches as his team goes on to lose their 15th straight game on Monday night. (Erin Hooley / Associated Press)
As I wrote in June, “The test of Getz’s patience will come later in the season when the White Sox are ready to promote some of their top prospects. At that point, Getz will need to decide: Can top young players such as shortstop Colson Montgomery, catcher Edgar Quero and right-hander Drew Thorpe thrive in the environment Grifol has created? Or might the entire team benefit from a change, right then and there?”
A shocking deal out of nowhere
We’ve already seen a few. The Cubs’ acquisition of Isaac Paredes. The three-way deal between the Cardinals, Dodgers and White Sox. The Braves’ reunion with Soler and reliever Luke Jackson, two members of their 2021 World Series championship club.
Surely more surprises await. Happy deadline day, everyone.
(Top photo of Jack Flaherty: Gregory Shamus / Getty Images)
Ken Rosenthal is the senior baseball writer for The Athletic who has spent nearly 35 years covering the major leagues. In addition, Ken is a broadcaster and regular contributor to Fox Sports' MLB telecasts. He's also won Emmy Awards in 2015 and 2016 for his TV reporting. Follow Ken on Twitter @Ken_Rosenthal
