Trade Deadline Day is upon us.
The Yankees and A's continue to engage in talks regarding Sonny Gray, who is scheduled to pitch tonight for Oakland.
After talks reportedly stalled between the clubs Sunday, several reports speculate a deal will get done. The Yankees remain the favorite to land Gray, though the Braves are hanging around in the mix as well, according to MLB.com's Mark Feinsand. The Cubs, according to MLB Network Insider Jon Heyman, checked in on Gray, but didn't have the pieces to complete a deal.
Gray was scheduled to pitch Sunday, but he was scratched after trade talks intensified. But the Yankees and A's reportedly reached an impasse over the weekend leading up to today's 4 p.m. ET non-waiver Trade Deadline.
New York reportedly will not part with its top two prospects, shortstop Gleyber Torres and outfielder Clint Frazier, who is currently with the big league club. But according to Heyman on Saturday, the A's have eased off their demand for one of those two players, increasing the likelihood that a deal could get done.
Per Heyman's report, several teams have inquired about Gray, with the Dodgers and Astros among contenders with the prospects to make such a trade happen. But the Dodgers, according to Heyman, might value Yu Darvish higher than Gray -- although Clayton Kershaw's back injury might alter their plans -- and the Astros are also looking at Orioles closer Zach Britton, who could command a high price.
In his six starts over the last month, Gray has been at the top of his game, with a 1.37 ERA and 36 strikeouts in 39 1/3 innings in those outings going back to June 25.
Orioles closer Zach Britton is the top reliever available on the trade market, and the likelihood of Baltimore dealing him prior to today's 4 p.m. ET non-waiver Trade Deadline is growing.
An unnamed evaluator told ESPN's Buster Olney, "I'd be shocked if [Britton] doesn't move." According to Olney, the O's "have been purposefully leaning toward" moving the dominant left-hander.
Parts of the Dodgers' organization also seem to be focusing in on acquiring "a wipe out left-handed reliever," per Olney. Britton, who has converted 57 straight saves (the second-longest streak in Major League history behind Eric Gagne's 84 from 2002-04), certainly fits that bill.
Paul Hoynes of Cleveland.com also reports the Indians are in on the chase to acquire Britton. Per Hoynes, Cleveland is "pushing hard" to obtain Britton to pair him with left-hander Andrew Miller since the club lost lefty Boone Logan to injury earlier in July.
The Indians, per MLB Network insider Ken Rosenthal, were trying to get righty Addison Reed from the Mets before he was dealt to Boston. Now, Cleveland is upping the ante, looking to pry Britton from Baltimore.
Britton, who is making $11.4 million this season and will be a free agent following the 2018 season, has a 3.32 ERA and eight saves in 19 innings for the Orioles this year. The 29-year-old missed more than two months with forearm issues and has allowed six earned runs in 10 frames (5.40 ERA) since returning.
The Marlins are in active discussions regarding a trade involving right-handed starter Dan Straily, but no agreement is yet close, a source told MLB.com's Jon Paul Morosi on Monday.
According to MLB.com's Joe Frisaro, Miami's asking price to move Straily seems to be high, and the club has no urgency to move the 28-year-old veteran. But things could change as the Deadline approaches.
Straily pitched the Marlins' series finale against the Reds on Sunday and threw six innings of two-run ball. Straily, who is arbitration-eligible after this season and not scheduled to become a free agent until after 2020, has a 3.79 ERA in 22 starts for Miami this season, with 111 strikeouts in 123 1/3 innings.
MLB Network insider Jon Heyman reported on Monday that teams have said the Marlins want to be "overwhelmed" by a prospective Straily offer, and a trade isn't particularly likely.
According to Frisaro, scouts from six teams were in attendance for Sunday's game, although it was unclear if all were there to watch Straily.
Market heating up for Twins' Kintzler
With Justin Wilson moving from the Tigers to the Cubs and Addison Reed on the verge of being dealt by the Mets to the Red Sox, the Twins' Brandon Kintzler could be the next relief domino to fall.
A source told MLB.com's Jon Paul Morosi the Nationals are showing interest in acquiring Minnesota's closer.
ESPN's Jerry Crasnick reports that Minnesota has "fielded a lot of calls on Kintzler" over the past day, and he appears to now be the hottest commodity in the market for relievers. MLB.com's Mark Feinsand also reports increased interest in the 32-year-old righty around the league.
The Twins already parted with veteran starting pitcher Jaime Garcia, having dealt him only a few days after acquiring him from Atlanta, and it's possible Kintzler could be next in line.
A first-time All-Star this year, his eighth in the Majors, Kintzler has racked up 28 saves in 32 opportunities while posting a 2.78 ERA in 45 1/3 innings.
Kintzler should provide a contending club with a solid late-inning option, and he would likely cost less than the Padres' Brad Hand or the Orioles' Zach Britton and Brad Brach. Kintzler will be a free agent after this season.
Asking price for Hand remains steep
Brad Hand is one of the best relievers left on the market, and the Padres appear to know it.
Executives from two teams told MLB.com's Mark Feinsand on Monday that the Padres' asking price for their left-handed relief ace continues to be very high and will not drop as other relievers are moved.
According to a report from MLB Network Insider Joel Sherman on Monday, the Padres have told teams interested in Hand that they will either get their asking price or keep the 27-year-old and re-open talks in the off - season -- similar to the A's approach to trade negotiations for Sonny Gray.
Hand, a first-time All-Star in 2017, his second year with the Padres, is under team control and not scheduled to become a free agent until after the '19 season. He will be arbitration-eligible after this year.
Hand has a 2.00 ERA in 49 relief appearances this season, including six saves. He's struck out 70 batters in 54 innings.
The Indians appear poised to make at least one high-impact move prior to today's Trade Deadline, as the defending American League champions eye another late October run.
MLB Network Insider Ken Rosenthal reports the club is still targeting Rangers starter Yu Darvish, despite the Indians being included in the righty's no-trade clause. The team is also reportedly making a run at Orioles closer Zach Britton, according to Paul Hoynes of the Cleveland Plain Dealer.
The Indians were in on Mets reliever Addison Reed, according to Rosenthal, until Reed was reportedly dealt to the Red Sox for three prospects on Monday morning.
Now the Tribe's focus will reportedly shift to Britton as the club looks to add to a bullpen that already leads baseball in relief ERA (2.78).
Darvish would help anyone, and the market is understandably competitive for him despite what's been a down year by his standards. The Indians are one of 10 teams Darvish can block a trade to, complicating matters from Cleveland's end.
Darvish is a free agent after this season, while Britton is arbitration-eligible this offseason and a free agent after next season.
The Astros are showing interest in Cardinals right-hander Lance Lynn, according to MLB.com's Jon Paul Morosi.
Houston has been linked in trade rumors to several starting pitchers, looking to slot in another hurler behind ace Dallas Keuchel and Lance McCullers Jr.
The 30-year-old Lynn missed the 2016 season due to Tommy John surgery, but has been effective in his return. So far this season, he has posted a 3.21 ERA and 1.10 WHIP in 21 starts for St. Louis. His 8.0 K/9 rate is in line with his norm throughout his career.
The Cardinals entered play on Saturday 3 1/2 games behind the Cubs in the NL Central, with a record of 51-52. Lynn is a free agent at the end of the season.
Several big-name relievers remain on the market, led by left-hander Brad Hand, and Zach Britton. But with their Wild Card hopes beginning to slip, the Angels could be dealing some of their trade prospects. Those include a trio of bullpen arms -- Bud Norris, David Hernandez and Yusmeiro Petit -- all of whom are drawing interest from other clubs, according to MLB.com's Mark Feinsand.
All three 32-year-old veterans are on expiring contracts that the Angels are open to moving. Each has excelled for a Los Angeles bullpen that entered Saturday ranked ninth in the Majors with a 3.86 ERA.
Norris has served as the Angels' primary ninth-inning reliever for much of the season. He has a 3.12 ERA with 15 saves through 42 appearances.
Petit has a 2.70 ERA through 36 games serving in a long relief role. Hernandez, meanwhile, has posted a 2.29 ERA in 37 games since he was acquired by L.A. for cash in a trade with the Braves.
Nats, Padres talking
The Nationals and Padres have reportedly engaged in trade discussions regarding San Diego reliever Brad Hand, MLB Network's Jon Paul Morosi reported Saturday afternoon.
Washington already made one move to bolster its bullpen, acquiring relievers Sean Doolittle and Ryan Madson from the A's last week. They also dealt for infielder/outfielder Howie Kendrick on Friday.
The Nationals are rumored to still be seeking a true closer. Hand, who owns a 2.00 ERA through 54 innings, could fill that need for a team whose 5.17 bullpen ERA ranks last in the National League.
MLB.com's Mark Feinsand reported earlier Saturday that several teams are showing interest in Hand, but no deals are close. Washington has also been linked to the Orioles' Zach Britton.
The Astros and Dodgers are among the "most serious suitors" for Orioles closer Zach Britton, sources told MLB.com's Jon Paul Morosi on Saturday.
Morosi adds the Dodgers are also in the mix, as also reported by MLB Network insider Ken Rosenthal earlier in the day.
Rosenthal lists the Rangers' Yu Darvish, the Athletics' Sonny Gray and Britton (in no particular order) as the Dodgers top trade targets and notes the club's interest in the three depends on the prices set by their respective clubs.
Britton would give both the Astros and Dodgers, already with the best records in their respective leagues by a wide margin, another wipe out arm in the back of their bullpens.
Britton, a left-hander, would also give both clubs options in the eighth and ninth inning. The Astros could pair Britton with flame-throwing righty Ken Giles and the Dodgers with lights-out closer Kenley Jansen.
The Tigers are not going to trade veteran right-hander Justin Verlander "barring a miracle," sources told MLB Network insider Jon Heyman. The main holdup that will likely keep the former Most Valuable Player in Detroit is his contract, which pays him $28 million per season through 2019, according to Heyman.
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