Mets Trade Rumors: Darin Ruf Acquired from Giants Prior to Deadline
Aug 2, 2022
LOS ANGELES, CA - JULY 24: Darin Ruf #33 of the San Francisco Giants runs the bases after hitting a two-run home run against starting pitcher Clayton Kershaw #22 of the Los Angeles Dodgers during the fifth inning at Dodger Stadium on July 24, 2022 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)
The New York Mets have added another slugger ahead of MLB's 6 p.m. ET trade deadline, acquiring Darin Ruf from the San Francisco Giants, per Joel Sherman of the New York Post.
In exchange, the Mets are sending JD Davis and pitching prospects Thomas Szapucki, Carson Seymour and Nick Zwack to the Giants.
While Ruf can play both first base and left field, it's more likely he'll see time as New York's designated hitter alongside Daniel Vogelbach. Pete Alonso serves as the team's first baseman, while Mark Canha starts in left field.
When the Mets acquired Vogelbach last month, they knew they needed another bat as the former Pittsburgh Pirate has been particularly bad against lefties, hitting .134/.266/.149 with seven RBI this season.
Ruf, meanwhile, is hitting .252/.364/.523 with nine home runs and 24 RBI against lefties this year. It's reasonable to believe he'll get the start at DH against left-handed pitching, while Vogelbach will get the start against righties.
Vogelbach is hitting .271/.384/.532 with 12 home runs and 27 RBI against right-handers this season.
Ruf has spent the last three seasons of his career in San Francisco after playing for the Philadelphia Phillies for the first five seasons. He had a break in his MLB career from 2017-19, spending three seasons with the Korea Baseball Organization's Samsung Lions.
Davis, meanwhile, has spent the last four seasons of his career with the Mets. This season, he's hitting .238/.324/.359 with four home runs and 21 RBI in 66 games. Before joining the Mets, he spent two seasons with the Houston Astros.
The Mets are first in the NL East with a 65-37 record, 3.5 games ahead of the second-place Atlanta Braves. Adding Ruf to the mix gives the club some much-needed help at the plate entering the final months of the regular season.
Druw Jones, Diamondbacks' Top Draft Pick, to Undergo Surgery on Shoulder Injury
Aug 2, 2022
Arizona Diamondbacks first round MLB draft pick Druw Jones throws out the first pitch prior to a baseball game against the Washington Nationals Saturday, July 23, 2022, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
Arizona Diamondbacks prospect Druw Jones, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2022 MLB draft, will have shoulder surgery on Wednesday.
Diamondbacks farm director Josh Barfield told reporters that Jones will have an arthroscopic posterior labral repair procedure done by Dr. Neal ElAttrache in Los Angeles.
ESPN's Kiley McDaniel reported on July 26 that Jones suffered the injury during his first batting practice with the Diamondbacks after being drafted.
It wasn't clear at that point if Jones would need surgery or how long he might be out of action.
Jones signed his contract with the Diamondbacks three days before he suffered the injury. The 18-year-old received a record $8.185 million signing bonus, per Jon Heyman of MLB Network.
This marks the second consecutive year that Arizona's top draft pick suffered a shoulder injury that required surgery. Jordan Lawlar, the No. 6 selection in 2021, suffered a posterior labrum tear after playing two games in the minors last year.
Corbin Carroll, the No. 16 pick by the Diamondbacks in 2019, also had shoulder surgery in 2021. He has 20 homers and a 1.071 OPS in 73 games across three levels in the minors this season.
Per Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic, Jones' surgery is similar to the one Lawlar had.
There's been no indication that Lawlar is having any lingering effects from the procedure. The 20-year-old is hitting .320/.407/.532 with 29 extra-base hits, 38 RBI and 28 stolen bases in 64 games in the minors.
Expectations are incredibly high for Jones as he prepares to start his professional career. He is the son of five-time MLB All-Star Andruw Jones and has earned high marks for his defensive ability in center field and power potential.
How Juan Soto, Josh Bell Trade to Padres Impacts 2022 World Series Race
Aug 2, 2022
PHILADELPHIA, PA - JULY 07: Washington Nationals right fielder Juan Soto (22) and Washington Nationals first baseman Josh Bell (19) during the Major League Baseball game between the Philadelphia Phillies and the Washington Nationals on July 7, 2022 at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
The National League pennant race has shifted dramatically with the San Diego Padres on the verge of acquiring Juan Soto and Josh Bell from the Washington Nationals.
Per ESPN's Jeff Passan, the Padres will send MacKenzie Gore, Robert Hassell III, C.J. Abrams, James Wood, Jarlin Susana and one other Major League player to the Washington Nationals in exchange for Soto and Bell.
MLB Network's Jon Heyman noted that Eric Hosmer was initially in the deal, but per Mark Feinsand of MLB.com, he did not waive his no-trade clause for Washington. Hosmer wound up going to the Boston Red Sox, per Feinsand.
Passan later reported Luke Voit was the final piece of the trade going to Washington.
Soto was arguably the most coveted player made available prior to the trade deadline in years. The two-time All-Star is only 23 years old, has two additional years of team control left after this season and has a .291/.427/.538 career slash line.
Even in a down year by his lofty standards, Soto still has a .408 on-base percentage and .485 slugging percentage in 2022.
Highest OPS+ through age-23 season (min 1500 PA):
Ted Williams: 190 Ty Cobb: 171 Mike Trout: 169 Stan Musial: 169 Albert Pujols: 165 Juan Soto: 159
While Soto is understandably the main focus of the trade, the Padres potentially being able to swap Bell for Hosmer at first base is not insignificant.
Bell is hitting .301/.384/.493 with 14 homers and 57 RBI in 103 games. Hosmer, by comparison, has a .272/.336/.391 slash line in 90 games.
In a season where offensive numbers are down across the board in Major League Baseball, the Padres are attempting to bash their way to a championship in 2022.
Soto and Bell will join a San Diego lineup that enters Tuesday ranked 15th in MLB with 453 runs scored, 19th in OPS (.692) and 24th in homers (91).
Additionally, Fernando Tatis Jr. faced live pitching for the first time on Monday and could go out on a rehab assignment as soon as Friday if his next hitting session goes well.
Assuming there are no injury setbacks, the Padres are going to replace Hosmer (first base), Ha-Seong Kim (shortstop) and Nomar Mazara (right field) with Bell, Tatis and Soto, respectively.
What would a potential Padres lineup be if they acquired both Juan Soto and Josh Bell? š
That lineup has the potential to score many runs in MLB over the final two months of the regular season. It's also very dangerous in a playoff series, even with the possibility of the New York Mets having Jacob deGrom and Max Scherzer at the top of their rotation.
The Padres don't have a lot of wiggle room on their pitching staff if one of their top arms suffers an injury, especially with Gore going back to Washington. (Gore is currently on the injured list with an elbow injury.)
Joe Musgrove has been their ace with a 2.65 ERA in 18 starts. Yu Darvish isn't overpowering hitters like he has in the past, but he's been solid with a 3.24 ERA and 120 strikeouts in 122.1 innings.
Since getting stretched out for a starting pitcher workload on June 29, Mike Clevinger has been terrific with a 2.89 ERA in 37.1 innings over his last six starts. The right-hander has thrown at least six innings in five of those six games.
The Padres shored up the back end of their bullpen on Monday in a different blockbuster trade when they acquired Josh Hader from the Milwaukee Brewers.
Hader appears to have figured things out after a disastrous two-game stretch in which he allowed nine runs on seven hits in 0.1 innings on July 13 and 15. The lefty has allowed just one run with seven strikeouts in his last four appearances.
There aren't many overpowering options for Melvin to use in the back of his bullpen. Luis Garcia and Steven Wilson are the only regulars with at least 30 appearances averaging more than one strikeout per inning.
Hader is averaging 15.6 strikeouts per nine innings in 34 innings for the Brewers this season.
All of these additions, including Tatis, certainly go a long way to helping San Diego close the gap on the New York Mets, Los Angeles Dodgers and Atlanta Braves in the race to be the best team in the NL.
The Dodgers are still, arguably, the deepest team in MLB. Cody Bellinger is the only regular in the lineup with a below-average OPS+. Tyler Anderson, Julio Urias, Clayton Kershaw and Tony Gonsolin all have ERAs under 3.00.
Walker Buehler, who underwent arthroscopic surgery in June, could return in time for the playoffs. The right-hander could potentially be used as a reliever by virtue of how much time he's missed, but it would give manager Dave Roberts more options to mix and match in a playoff series.
The Mets' chances could hinge on deGrom's ability to stay healthy. He will make his first start in 13 months on Tuesday against the Nationals. The two-time NL Cy Young winner had a 1.08 ERA and 146 strikeouts in 92 innings last season before he was shut down due to injuries.
A healthy deGrom and Scherzer is the best one-two punch in MLB.
San Diego's lineup is strong enough to stand up against any pitcher in the league, but the overall lack of pitching depth could be its Achilles' heel in a postseason series.
Whatever happens by the time we get to October, there's no denying the Padres will be one of the most dangerous teams in a playoff series with Soto and Bell joining the fray.
Dodgers Trade Rumors: Cubs' Ian Happ, David Robertson Eyed After Padres' Soto Deal
Aug 2, 2022
PHILADELPHIA, PA - JULY 23: Ian Happ #8 of the Chicago Cubs in action during a game against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park on July 23, 2022 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Cubs defeated the Phillies 6-2 in 10 innings. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images)
The Los Angeles Dodgers are pivoting to their secondary trade targets after the San Diego Padres lined up a deal for Washington Nationals star Juan Soto.
MLB.com's Mark Feinsand reported the Dodgers "are looking at" the Chicago Cubs' Ian Happ and David Robertson.
This comes after ESPN's Jeff Passan reported the Padres and Nationals agreed to a deal for Soto, which is being held up because of Eric Hosmer's no-trade clause.
The Cubs are third in the National League Central at 41-60 and already sent Scott Effross to the New York Yankees. It stands to reason they'd be open to moving Happ and Robertson, the latter of whom is set to be a free agent in the offseason.
In the case of Happ, it doesn't appear Chicago is in a hurry to re-sign a player who can hit the open market in 2024.
"None of those conversations have happened," he told reporters on July 25 regarding an extension. "Just not at this point."
The 27-year-old was named an All-Star for the first time this season. He's batting a career-high .279 with a .436 slugging percentage and nine home runs through 99 games.
For the Dodgers, Happ would provide outfield depth with Kevin Pillar and Chris Taylor on the injured list. Manager Dave Roberts would also have some flexibility to rest Cody Bellinger, whose struggles at the plate have continued into 2022, or keep Gavin Lux at second base, his primary position.
Robertson, meanwhile, boasts a 2.23 ERA and a 3.51 FIP with 51 strikeouts across 40.1 innings. He's finally beginning to look like his old self after undergoing Tommy John surgery in 2019.
Even though Craig Kimbrel has returned to formāa 1.92 FIP and 13.0 strikeouts per nine innings in 38 appearancesācontenders can never have too many relief options when the playoffs roll around.
Losing Brusdar Graterol to shoulder inflammation heightened the need for the front office to strengthen the bullpen as well.
Padres' Updated 2022 Lineup, Payroll After Reported Juan Soto, Josh Bell Trade
Aug 2, 2022
Washington Nationals' Juan Soto smiles in the dugout after a solo home run during a baseball game against the New York Mets at Nationals Park, Monday, Aug. 1, 2022, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
The San Diego Padres reportedly provided a massive
boost to their World Series chances with a blockbuster deal to
acquire superstar outfielder Juan Soto and first baseman Josh Bell
from the Washington Nationals ahead of Tuesday's MLB trade deadline.
ESPN's Jeff Passan provided details of the agreement, which is still being finalized:
The package going back to Washington for Juan Soto and Josh Bell, sources tell ESPN:
- LHP MacKenzie Gore - OF Robert Hassell III - SS C.J. Abrams - OF James Wood - RHP Jarlin Susana - one more major league player
That's the only holdup right now to the agreed-upon deal.
Jon Morosi of MLB Network had previously reported the final piece was first baseman Eric Hosmer, but Mark Feinsand of MLB.com reported Hosmer declined to waive his no-trade clause. Hosmer, per Feinsand, was ultimately traded to the Boston Red Sox.
Per Spotrac, San Diego now has a payroll of $237.4 million following the deals.
Here's what the Padres' lineup could
look like following the trade:
Soto was the one franchise-altering
hitter available leading up to the 6 p.m. ET deadline, and Bell was among the
best rental players on the trade market. The Padres got them both in
one deal.
The club's lineup will become even more
dynamic once shortstop Fernando Tatis Jr. returns from wrist
surgery. He could head out on a rehab assignment as early as this weekend.
"Felt really good," Tatis
told reporters after facing live pitching Monday. "I
felt nothing, and I felt like I put my best swing out there."
Let's take a look at what San Diego is
adding based on 2022 numbers:
Soto: .246/.408/.485 slash line, 21 HR, 6 SB in 101 games
Bell: .301/.384/.493 slash line, 14 HR in 103 games
Soto's .894 OPS is actually on pace to
mark a career low despite still ranking 10th among all qualified MLB
hitters, and there's a strong chance he'll bounce back closer to his
.966 mark across five years in Washington with more support behind
him in the lineup.
Players of his caliber rarely come
available, but the Nats were left with little choice after he
declined a 15-year, $440 million extension offer in mid-July, per Ken
Rosenthal of The Athletic.
Soto is under club control through 2024
via arbitration. But Washington was unlikely to contend during that period, and trading him now maximized the return.
Meanwhile, the Padres' championship
window is now firmly open, and they can make three serious runs at a World
Series title before the two-time All-Star potentially heads to the
free-agent market ahead of the 2025 season.
It's the second straight campaign that Washington made a monster trade right before the deadline. Last year,
it sent Max Scherzer and Trea Turner to the Los Angeles Dodgers for a
package of prospects led by Josiah Gray and Keibert Ruiz.
So the Nats have jump-started their
rebuilding process in a significant way by dismantling the former
core, and they're trending toward a high pick in the 2023 draft with
the worst record in baseball at 35-69.
While Washington hopes the process is
going to yield a contending team a few years down the line, the focus
coming out of the deadline will be San Diego, which pushed its chips
to the center of the table to create perhaps MLB's most fearsome
lineup.
Facing Tatis, Soto and Machado will be quite the first-inning assignment for any starting pitcher come playoff time.
Of course, the Padres must first lock
down their postseason berth. They currently hold the second wild-card
slot in the National League, three games ahead of the St. Louis
Cardinals, the first team out.
MLB Twitter Bashes Mike Rizzo, Nationals for Trade Package for Juan Soto, Josh Bell
Aug 2, 2022
WASHINGTON, DC - AUGUST 1: Washington Nationals right fielder Juan Soto (22) was all smiles after he hit a solo homer off of New York Mets starting pitcher Max Scherzer (21) in the fourth inning at Nationals Park. Photo by Jonathan Newton/The Washington Post via Getty Images)
The San Diego Padres pulled it off.
ESPN's Jeff Passan reported the Padres are acquiring Juan Soto and Josh Bell from the Washington Nationals.
The package going back to Washington for Juan Soto and Josh Bell, sources tell ESPN:
- LHP MacKenzie Gore - OF Robert Hassell III - SS C.J. Abrams - OF James Wood - RHP Jarlin Susana - one more major league player
That's the only holdup right now to the agreed-upon deal.
Joel Sherman and Jon Heyman of the New York Post reported Eric Hosmer will be heading to Washington as well.
Depending on whether they re-sign Soto, who's due to be a free agent in 2025, the Pads might have two of MLB's brightest talents for the foreseeable future as he joins Fernando Tatis Jr. Manny Machado is performing at an MVP-type level as well.
San Diego's lineup once Tatis returns is going to be fearsome.
Dodgers: Betts, Turner, Freeman.
Padres: Soto, Tatis Jr., Machado.
If the bars are already open wherever you watch the Giants, go for it, man.
On the other side, the reaction is understandably far different.
Getting a player of equal value to Soto is almost impossible in any scenario. The fact he's under team control for two more years and still only 23 adds to the feeling that Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo whiffed.
An absolutely pathetic return for the best player in baseball. And oh yeah, have Josh Bell too! Goodnight.
Mike Rizzo was true to his word in not diluting the trade by attaching a big contract. I'm waiting to find out what the reason he diluted the deal was, though.
MacKenzie Gore and C.J. Abrams were highly touted prospects prior to making their MLB debuts. Robert Hassell III is the No. 1 player in San Diego's farm system in the eyes of MLB.com, and James Wood follows closely behind at No. 3.
Rizzo might wind up having the last laugh because it will be a few years before the full return for Washington becomes clear.
Still, fans are right to question whether continuing to employ a generational talent who's yet to hit his prime was still a better outcome than banking on an incoming crop of young players to guide the organization forward.
MLB Rumors: 'Growing Sense' Juan Soto, Josh Bell Are Traded to Padres
Aug 2, 2022
WASHINGTON, DC - JULY 31: Juan Soto #22 of the Washington Nationals bats during the game between the St. Louis Cardinals and the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park on Sunday, July 31, 2022 in Washington, District of Columbia. (Photo by Rob Tringali/MLB Photos via Getty Images)
With hours to go before the 6 p.m. ET trade deadline, the San Diego Padres appear to be the front-runner in the Juan Soto sweepstakes.
Per Barry Svrluga of the Washington Post, there is a "growing sense" around the league that the Padres will land the 23-year-old All-Star and perhaps get Josh Bell in the same package from the Washington Nationals.
Was a late night for the Nationalsā front office, as expected, and I have also heard the field is narrowing in the Juan Soto sweepstakes. https://t.co/wLATpIU6oX
Jon Heyman of the New York Post and MLB Network noted the Padres are "being aggressive" in their pursuit of Soto and Bell.
The Padres have already made one significant move that shows they are all-in trying to win in 2022. They acquired All-Star closer Josh Hader from the Milwaukee Brewers in exchange for Taylor Rogers, Dinelson Lamet and prospects Robert Gasser and Esteury Ruiz on Monday.
Per Jim Bowden of CBS Sports HQ, the Padres' offer to Washington for Soto and Bell includes C.J. Abrams, Robert Hassell III, Adrian Morejon and "at least" two other players.
Abrams, San Diego's top prospect coming into this season, is off to a slow start in his first exposure to big-league pitching. The 21-year-old is hitting .232/.285/.320 in 46 games this season.
Hassell is the No. 21 overall prospect in baseball, per MLB.com. The 20-year-old was the No. 8 overall pick in the 2020 draft and has an .846 OPS in 75 games at High-A Ft. Wayne this season.
Morejon, 23, is working his way back from Tommy John surgery in April 2021. The left-hander has a 6.75 ERA in six relief appearances for the Padres this season.
There have been conflicting reports about who is potentially in the lead for Soto at this point in trade talks.
USA Today's Bob Nightengale reported Monday the Los Angeles Dodgers have been "much more aggressive" recently with their offers to the Nationals.
The St. Louis Cardinals were also mentioned by Nightengale as a strong suitor for Soto.
On a recent episode of ESPN Daily, Jeff Passan noted one unnamed team executive called Washington's asking price for Soto "completely asinine and ridiculous."
That was on July 26 and perhaps things have changed over the course of seven days, but there's no reason for Washington not to seek the biggest possible return.
Soto has established himself as one of the best hitters in Major League Baseball. He is also incredibly valuable by virtue of having two additional years of team control beyond this season before he can become a free agent.
San Diego pursuing Bell is an added wrinkle to the negotiations. The 29-year-old is a first baseman who is only signed through this season. He's having the best season of his career with a .307/.384/.493 slash line with 14 homers in 103 games.
The Padres were unsuccessful in their attempt to deal Eric Hosmer during the offseason.
The Athletic's Dennis Lin, Ken Rosenthal and Andy McCullough reported in April a trade concept was discussed that would have sent Hosmer and Chris Paddack to the New York Mets for Dominic Smith.
The deal wound up not happening, but it is an indication that San Diego's front office has been trying to upgrade the first-base position for some time.
Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union-Tribune recently said on XTRA 1360 (h/t Ben Fadden of Gaslamp Ball) that Hosmer has been told he won't be traded.
Soto is the main focus with time winding down for contenders to make their final bid to upgrade their roster for the stretch run. The two-time All-Star is hitting .246/.408/.485 with 21 homers and 46 RBI in 101 games this season.
The Padres (58-46) currently trail the Dodgers by 12 games in the NL West but have a two-game lead over the Philadelphia Phillies for the second wild-card spot.
How Padres' Pursuit of Juan Soto Is Impacted by Reported Josh Hader Trade
Aug 1, 2022
PHILADELPHIA, PA - JULY 07: Washington Nationals right fielder Juan Soto (22) smiles at home plate in the 1st inning during the Major League Baseball game between the Philadelphia Phillies and the Washington Nationals on July 7, 2022 at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
The San Diego Padres have already made the biggest deal on the penultimate day before the MLB trade deadline expires at 6 p.m. ET Tuesday, and they still might have enough left over to reel in the biggest fish on the market.
ESPN's Jeff Passan reported Monday that the Padres are acquiring Josh Hader from the Milwaukee Brewers for Taylor Rogers, Robert Gasser, Esteury Ruiz and Dinelson Lamet.
Passan explained how the cost to get Hader may allow San Diego to continue pursuing Washington Nationals star Juan Soto:
That said: The Padres didnāt give up any of the main prospects theyāve been talking about in myriad other deals. C.J. Abrams, Robert Hassell III, James Wood and Jackson Merrill all remain, as does MacKenzie Gore. Could the Padres really pull off a Juan Soto-Josh Hader double?
From the Nationals' perspective, Rogers likely wasn't a prized asset in a hypothetical Soto dealāif he was discussed at all in those conversations. The left-handed closer turns 32 in December and is due to be a free agent in the offseason. He wasn't going to help a last-place team for what could only amount to half a season.
Lamet has one more year of team control in 2023, but he's struggling mightily on the mound in his first full season as a reliever. The right-hander has a 9.49 ERA in 12.1 innings. As with Rogers, it's difficult to envision a scenario in which the Nationals insisted on getting Lamet as part of any package for Soto.
Gasser and Ruiz, meanwhile, sit seventh and 28th, respectively, in MLB.com's ranking of the Padres' top prospects. Neither is the crown jewel of San Diego's farm system.
So the Padres add Hader without giving up any of their top six prospects and only one from their top 20. Still plenty left in the tank for a Juan Soto deal.
The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal reported Monday that the Los Angeles Dodgers have reached out to Washington about a deal, while Passan laid out how the St. Louis Cardinals could put an attractive offer together.
And even for Padres general manager A.J. Preller, who arguably loves a blockbuster deal more than any other GM in MLB, the price it will take to get Soto is so high it will require a lot of deliberation.
Maybe you call Washington's bluff in the hope of either giving up less now or restarting negotiations in the winter, when the Nationals will have a little less leverage.
If Soto ultimately stays with the Nats or winds up on a different team, then it won't be because of the Hader trade. Preller deftly added an elite closer while maintaining the flexibility for another headline-grabbing swap.
MLB Trade Rumors: Red Sox, Giants Unlikely to Be āPure Sellersā at Deadline
Aug 1, 2022
BOSTON, MA - JULY 10: J.D. Martinez #28 of the Boston Red Sox hits a two-run home run in the fifth inning against the New York Yankees at Fenway Park on July 10, 2022 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Kathryn Riley/Getty Images)
The Boston Red Sox and San Francisco Giants have fallen out of playoff contention in recent weeks, but neither is expected to be "pure sellers" before Tuesday's trade deadline, according to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic.
They are each "reluctant to concede" on the 2022 season and want to bounce back quickly in 2023, per Rosenthal.
If the teams do make any trades, it will likely be players who will soon be free agents. Boston could move catcher Christian Vazquez and designated hitter J.D. Martinez, while San Francisco has pitcher Carlos Rodon and outfielder Joc Pederson.
Both teams are still in the playoff hunt, entering Monday within four games of the final wild-card spot in their respective leagues. However, the recent slides have been enough to lower expectations.
The Giants lost their first seven games after the All-Star break, while the Red Sox are 3-7 in the second half of the season.
The talent is still there to contend, even if the turnaround doesn't come until next season. San Francisco won 107 games last year before losing in the division series, and Boston reached the ALCS. It's enough for both sides to hold onto their long-term pieces and hope for more success going forward.
Red Sox Chief Baseball Officer Chaim Bloom recently said the team doesn't plan to have any discussions about shortstop Xander Bogaerts or third baseman Rafael Devers. The Giants will also likely hold onto controllable players such as Logan Webb and Austin Slater.
However, there could still be quality options available.
Martinez is set to become a free agent this offseason, and the 34-year-old remains productive with a .288/.354/.462 slash line. He earned his fifth-career All-Star selection this year and could strengthen any lineup. Vazquez could also help a lot of teams as a catcher who hits .282. The veteran has also played first base this year and even lined up at second and third base over the past couple of seasons.
Pederson could be the best trade piece from the Giants, although he is currently on the seven-day injured list with a concussion. The two-time All-Star still has 17 home runs in 87 games this year.
Rodon has a player option for 2023 worth $22.5 million, but he seems likely to hit the open market after another strong season with a 3.00 ERA and 158 strikeouts in 123 innings. The Giants could get a good return in a trade after signing Rodon in the offseason.
Shohei Ohtani Trade Rumors: Padres Have 'Made a Run' at Angels Star
Aug 1, 2022
ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA - JULY 31: Shohei Ohtani #17 of the Los Angeles Angels runs to first after a hitting a single in the fifth inning against the Texas Rangers at Angel Stadium of Anaheim on July 31, 2022 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Katharine Lotze/Getty Images)
The San Diego Padres' aggressive strategy ahead of Tuesday's trade deadline reportedly included making offers for Shohei Ohtani.
Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reported the Padres "made a run" at the Los Angeles Angels star but no deal is expected. The Angels are fully expected to retain Ohtani past the deadline despite the two-way superstar's looming free agency after the 2023 season.
It's likely as much a business decision as a baseball one for why the Angels have refused to entertain offers for Ohtani. He's not only arguably the best player in baseball, but he's also wildly popular on the international stage, particularly in his native Japan. While the brilliance of Ohtani and Mike Trout has not led to wins for the Angels, there's money to be made in having the two biggest names in the sport spearheading your organization.
That said, there is reason for concern in the organization. Ohtani was noncommittal when asked about his future with the franchise when discussing the situation last week.
"Regardless of where I'm playing, I want to give it my all, try to win the ballgame that's right in front of me," Ohtani told reporters last week. "I'm with the Angels right now. And I'm very thankful for what they've done. I really love the team. I love my teammates. Right now I'm an Angel, and that's all I can really focus on at this point."
Ohtani originally chose the Angels over a swath of other teams when he made his decision to come stateside ahead of the 2018 season. He's found incredible individual success, winning the 2021 AL MVP and making the AL All-Star team as a hitter and pitcher each of the last two seasons, but team success has not followed.
The Angels are a near-lock to miss the playoffs for the eighth straight season, entering Monday at 43-59. Trading Ohtani would bring back the type of transformational haul that might turn around the team's lagging farm system, but there is no one-for-one replacement for Ohtani's generational talent.
