The hot stove is heating up despite the MLB trade deadline still being just over seven weeks away. There are plenty of players already in rumors with teams being linked to them.
MLB Insider Buster Olney discussed the teams he expects to be aggressive, which positions they could target, and where Pete Alonso may land while appearing on the Audacy Original Podcast “Baseball Isn’t Boring” this week.
“The two teams that are playing right now under World Series or bust circumstances are the Yankees and the Phillies,” Olney said of MLB’s two best teams. “I think the Yankees are going to be aggressive, and I can’t tell you how that will manifest but if we get to the All-Star break and Anthony Rizzo has struggled big time, that is a place you might see a move. If Gleyber Torres is not playing better at second base, to me, that potentially is a place you could see a big move.”
Rizzo has struggled this year and things got worse on Sunday night when he left the game after a collision at first base. The Yankees are awaiting testing on Rizzo’s wrist as of Monday afternoon.
While the Yankees’ main focus may be another bat, the Phillies could look to add an arm as well.
“The Phillies, you know Dave Dombrowski, there’s no chance he doesn’t add a primo reliever,” Olney continued. “Mason Miller, right? Somebody like that to give one more arm for that bullpen because that team has a ton of regret coming off last year’s [NLCS].”
It would likely take quite a haul to get the 25-year-old flamethrower from the Athletics, but the Phillies may be willing to pay that price after last year’s meltdown.
Olney could see a few other NL East teams making moves as well.
“I know the Braves, they’re kind of holding their ammunition back and seeing what exactly their biggest need going forward – maybe it’s an outfielder because of Acuna’s injury,” he said. “But there are going to be teams that are going for it.”
The Phillies and Braves are firmly in playoff spots but the Mets are still looking like sellers despite their five-game winning streak. Pete Alonso is set to hit free agency and the Mets could look to move him at the deadline.
“I would bet Pete Alonso’s going to end up with the Cubs or the Mariners,” Olney said. “Because both those teams could use that sort of bat. There’s not a lot of difference-making power available but you could put Pete Alonso No. 6 in anybody’s lineup and it’s going to help.”
Keep an eye on the MLB rumor mill as the weeks go by closer to the trade deadline. There could be several key moves made this trade season.
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