The MLB Trade Deadline is fast approaching for this season. August 1 is days away and by this point of the season, buyers and sellers have, for the most part, been established. Yes, there are a few teams that may be in a fugue state in between, the most desperate teams have started dealing. More moves are sure to happen the closer that deadline looms.
One exciting trade has already taken place. The Chicago Cubs have long been World Series favorites for fans and analysts alike, but management has made sure that the team only improves down the stretch. That’s why sending four players to the Yankees for Aroldis Chapman makes sense.
Going to New York are Gleyber Torres, Adam Warren, Billy McKinney and Rashad Crawford. If you haven’t heard of any of these players, you weren’t really supposed to. Three of these players are prospects and Warren has had a fairly ineffective season.
Warren is familiar with New York, having played for the Yanks for three full seasons, his entire MLB career to this season, with the team. The right-hander is working with a 5.75 ERA currently. He’s already appeared in a game for his new team and didn’t allow a run over his inning of duty.
These prospects will determine their value later on, but they were moves worth taking for the Yankees. Torres is climbing up the “Best Prospect” Lists and didn’t have a place in the Cubs future with Addison Russell manning short for Chicago.
McKinney and Crawford both have a long way to the Majors, but they have potential enough to either make New York’s front office excited or envision future trades with these prospects.
This wasn’t the only trade the Cubs made to bolster their bullpen. Chicago traded for Seattle Mariners swingman Mike Montgomery. This one wasn’t as highly talked about, but it should make Chicago that much better.
Montgomery had worked to a 2.34 ERA with Seattle. Over three appearances with Chicago, he hasn’t shown that same form, allowing three runs in under three innings of work. The left-hander will look to rebound the more he plays, so only time will tell how this all plays out.
In return for Montgomery, the Mariners got Dan Vogelbach, a hard-hitting prospect. Vogelbach is limited to either first base or designated hitter, given his large frame, according to MLBTradeRumors. The trade gives Vogelbach a better chance of getting to the Majors, especially considering he’s joining switching to the AL, which uses the DH rule.
In addition to Chicago, the Toronto Blue Jays are vying for a playoff spot. Last season was the yeat of big moves for the Canadian team, but low-risk moves have been made to hopefully upgrade the roster. For example, the team traded Drew Storen to Seattle for Joaquin Benoit.
It was essentially a one-for-one trade, with money also being involved from Toronto to compensate for the difference in the players’ salaries. Neither reliever has lived up to expectations this season, so each team made it hoping to revitalize the players.
The team also took a flyer on Melvin Upton, from San Diego. The Padres agreed to pay all but $5 million of Upton’s remaining contract, which also covers next season. Upton will look to see time in all outfield spots as a fourth outfielder.
Upton is batting .255 this season, but already has 16 homers. This is the most that the outfielder has come up with since his prime with Tampa Bay in 2012. And the .255 average is the higher than his career average of .245.
More trades like these will happen in the coming days. It’ll be exciting to watch how this affects the teams surging towards the post season this year.
