MLB Rumors

This offseason could end up being one of significant change for many teams with the number of high-profile free agents and potential trade candidates. 

The free-agent class did lose one significant player when Mookie Betts decided to commit to the Los Angeles Dodgers by signing a 12-year, $365 million extension in July. 

Even with Betts not hitting the open market, the top of this class is still boasts All-Star-level players at key positions, including catcher, shortstop and starting pitcher. The market is light on impact hitters, but there are two notable outfielders who can change a lineup. 

Looking ahead to this winter, here are the latest rumors and predictions for players flying under the radar for teams to sign. 

   

Marcell Ozuna, OF (2020 Team: Atlanta Braves)

Marcell Ozuna is a free agent for the second consecutive year, but he would seem to be in a much better position to land a multiyear deal this winter. 

After waiting out the market last season, Ozuna accepted a one-year, $18 million deal with the Atlanta Braves in January. He was coming off an inconsistent 2019 with the St. Louis Cardinals, posting a .241/.328/.472 slash line in 130 games. 

In the shortened 2020 season, Ozuna nearly won a Triple Crown in the National League. The 29-year-old led the NL with 18 homers, 56 RBI and 145 total bases. He finished third with a .338 batting average, .431 on-base percentage and .636 slugging percentage. 

If MLB decides to make the universal designated hitter a permanent staple, that could increase Ozuna's value on the open market. His minus-16.1 UZR per 150 games played ranked eighth worst among all outfielders in 2020, per FanGraphs (min. 150 innings). 

Even though there aren't any specific rumors about Ozuna at this point, one potential landing spot could be the Boston Red Sox. 

The Athletic's Peter Gammons reported last month that Boston would like to re-sign Jackie Bradley Jr., but his agent, Scott Boras, could ask for more money than the team wants to pay. 

Gammons posited that George Springer could be on the Red Sox's radar, but Ozuna might be a somewhat cheaper alternative because of his defensive limitations. 

After spending much of the past year cutting salary to get under the luxury-tax line, Red Sox chairman Tom Werner told NESN (via Chris Cotillo of MassLive) the team intends "to be back next year."

If the Red Sox open their wallets in free agency this offseason, adding Ozuna to a lineup that includes Alex Verdugo, Xander Bogaerts and Rafael Devers would be formidable in the always-competitive American League East. 

     

Trevor Rosenthal, RP (2020 Team: San Diego Padres)

Trevor Rosenthal had a fantastic rebound season after posting a 13.50 ERA with 26 walks in 15.1 innings in 2019 between the Washington Nationals and Detroit Tigers. 

Splitting time between the Kansas City Royals and San Diego Padres this year, Rosenthal put up a 1.90 ERA, 0.845 WHIP and 38 strikeouts in 23.2 innings. The 30-year-old is poised to cash in with a nice deal in free agency after taking a minor league deal last offseason. 

That does lead to the obvious question: Where will Rosenthal end up?

While there's no definitive answer at this point, one potential option could come from the National League West. 

San Francisco Giants president of baseball operations Farhan Zaidi told reporters acquiring relievers will be a priority for the organization this winter:

"There's no organizational philosophy for or against a closer. If it works out that way, evolves that way, it makes a lot of sense. But we don't go into this offseason saying that's got to be a priority on our shopping list, to go out and get a closer, because we think it could work if we have the right group of relievers and the right level of depth in the bullpen."

The Giants ranked 25th in MLB this season in FanGraphs WAR from their relievers (minus-0.6). Their 4.24 ERA was a more respectable 12th, but their 8.09 strikeouts per nine innings was 28th. 

Trevor Gott was San Francisco's primary closer in 2020. He was horrendous with a 10.03 ERA and seven homers allowed in 11.2 innings. 

Relief pitching tends to be volatile from year to year, as evidenced by Rosenthal's transformation from 2019 to 2020. 

If the Padres opt to let Rosenthal test the market, the Giants would make a logical fit because of his experience in the ninth inning and swing-and-miss stuff they sorely lacked late in games. 

    

James Paxton, LHP (2020 Team: New York Yankees)

Things couldn't have gone worse for James Paxton in 2020. He began the year undergoing spinal surgery in February that required three to four months before returning to full strength. 

Paxton was with the Yankees to start the season in July but only made five starts before landing on the injured list with a strained flexor tendon. The 31-year-old had a 6.64 ERA when his season officially came to an end on Sept. 16. 

This was hardly the note Paxton wanted to hit before heading into free agency, but that does bode well for teams that might be in the market for a high-reward starting pitcher. 

Speaking to MLB.com's Keegan Matheson, Toronto Blue Jays general manager Ross Atkins said the team could look to pursue a high-impact starter this winter:

"I think we are in a position where we could add to this team with talent that is condensed in one player and a super high impact. We got to the point last year where we felt like the team was competitive enough to move towards winning, and that was a big part of that decision. We're going to continue to think about how we can build upon this group, and hopefully it's both complementary as well as making as making a really high impact."

The Blue Jays' rebuild produced strong results in 2020, as they made the playoffs for the first time in four years. Their future looks strong with Cavan Biggio, Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Bo Bichette, Teoscar Hernandez, Rowdy Tellez and Lourdes Gurriel Jr. leading the offense. 

There are questions about the starting rotation behind Hyun-Jin Ryu. He was Toronto's big free-agent investment last offseason, signing a four-year, $80 million deal. The southpaw was terrific with a 2.69 ERA in 12 starts. 

Unfortunately for Toronto, the rest of its staff looks like a question mark heading into next season. Nate Pearson missed more than one month because of a strained flexor tendon in his right elbow. Tanner Roark and Chase Anderson both had ERAs over 6.00. 

Robbie Ray continued to have issues throwing strikes after being acquired in a trade from the Arizona Diamondbacks. He walked 14 in 20.2 innings for the Blue Jays. Taijuan Walker was a revelation with a 1.37 ERA in six starts, but he's eligible for free agency. 

Assuming the Blue Jays opt to invest in another starter not coming off an injury-plagued 2020—someone like Trevor Bauer would make a lot of sense for them—they can take a chance on a high-reward player like Paxton to solidify the back of their rotation. 

The left-hander has a long injury history—he's never made 30 starts or thrown more than 160.1 innings in a season—but he's got tremendous potential when healthy. The eight-year veteran has averaged 9.9 strikeouts per nine innings in 136 career starts between the Yankees and Seattle Mariners. 

The Blue Jays know their window to compete for playoff spots in the AL is open now. They have to get creative in some ways if they want to challenge the Yankees and Tampa Bay Rays in the AL East. 

There are 16 teams preparing for the start of the 2020 MLB postseason. For everyone else, there's going to be heavy focus on the offseason and what will happen in free agency.

Any concerns about whether teams would choose to spend money after this season with lower revenue because of the shortened season and no ticket sales was put to rest, at least temporarily, when the Los Angeles Dodgers gave Mookie Betts a 12-year extension worth $365 million July 22.

Betts is a unique case because he's arguably the best all-around player in MLB and is only 27. But the point remains that there's money available if teams want to take an aggressive approach on the open market this winter.

One team, in particular, could be ready to make multiple moves to improve coming off a difficult 2020 season.

                           

Red Sox Open to Spending?

Per The Athletic's Peter Gammons, the Boston Red Sox have already started thinking about ideas for this winter.

"They expect [Jarren] Duran somewhere in the lineup next season, but they plan to try to re-sign Jackie Bradley Jr.," Gammons wrote. "Problem is, there may be a lot of daylight between what Scott Boras will ask and where the Red Sox think the market will go post-COVID."

Bradley has seemingly been on the trade market for years, but the Red Sox have never found the right deal for the 30-year-old. He's hitting free agency at an opportune time, as he's on pace to set career highs in batting average (.279) and on-base percentage (.354).

Per FanGraphs, Bradley is tied for third among all center fielders with six defensive runs saved.

Outfield depth is one of the few areas that wasn't a major problem for Boston in 2020. Andrew Benintendi was the biggest disappointment with a .442 OPS in 14 games before a rib injury shut him down for the year.

Alex Verdugo may not turn out to be as good as Betts, but he's been terrific with a .315/.370/.487 slash line in 52 games. Duran owns a .322/.376/.446 slash line in 199 minor league games since 2018.

Bradley's ability as a defender in center, combined with his improved offensive performance this season, could be enough for Boston to bring him back, especially if their confidence in Benintendi is shaken. Duran could handle left-field duties if they want to get his bat in the lineup early in 2021.

Gammons noted the Red Sox "have the money to sign a couple of free-agent pitchers."

Pitching would seem to be a bigger priority for the Red Sox than retaining Bradley. They are the only staff in MLB with a negative FanGraphs wins above replacement (-0.5) this season. Their starters rank 29th in innings pitched and ERA, and they rank last in fielding independent ERA.

Of course, the bad news for Boston is this year's starting pitching market is thin. Trevor Bauer is the closest thing to a No. 1 starter who will be available. That could put more pressure on Chris Sale, who will be returning from Tommy John surgery, to find his old form when he's able to return.

The Red Sox could have $158.2 million in salary commitments next season between their guaranteed contracts and projected arbitration salaries, per Baseball Reference.

Boston chairman Tom Werner recently told NESN (via Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com) that the team isn't planning a "long rebuilding process" and "we spend and we're not a small-market team. We're going to be back next year."

Considering the Red Sox chose to focus their attention this season getting under the luxury tax, it's at least encouraging that a key member of the front office is discussing being a player in free agency.

This isn't the best offseason to go after stars in free agency, though there could be plenty available via trade. However the Red Sox approach this winter, they have to do what it takes to make serious progress after finishing last in the AL East in 2020.

The Boston Red Sox have plummeted from contenders to American League East bottom-dwellers. Then again, that always seemed like a possibility entering the unprecedented 2020 season.

President of baseball operations Chaim Bloom elected to trade Mookie Betts to the Los Angeles Dodgers this past offseason rather than risk him possibly walking in free agency. Bloom also sent David Price to L.A. in that deal, and Boston's rotation was weakened further by the loss of left-handers Chris Sale (Tommy John surgery) and Eduardo Rodriguez (complications from COVID-19).

Boston's rotation has struggled. The Red Sox rank dead last in rotation fWAR, per FanGraphs. The bullpen has not been much better, ranking 26th in fWAR. Additionally, core guys such as Andrew Benintendi (.441 OPS in 14 games) and J.D. Martinez (.682) have been worse for wear.

However, Red Sox center fielder Jackie Bradley Jr. has come on strong at the end of the season, making a strong case for himself in a walk year. Bradley had a .937 OPS in September entering Thursday night's game against the Baltimore Orioles and has also continued to flashed the leather. The former Gold Glover ranks first among outfielders in terms of outs above average (OAA), per Baseball Savant.

Peter Gammons of The Athletic reported the "plan to re-sign" JBJ, though he also noted Bradley's agent, Scott Boras, might demand more than the Red Sox can afford. Thus, Gammons suggested the Red Sox might try to sign Houston Astros center fielder George Springer if they feel Bradley's asking price does not match his value.

Let's take a look at the two players and where they might end up this winter.

              

Jackie Bradley Jr.

Bradley's defensive excellence has been evident since he took over as Boston's full-time center fielder in 2014. The Richmond, Virginia, native also flashed his potential at the dish after posting consecutive seasons with an OPS of at least .832 in 2015 and 2016.

The 30-year-old's defense has remained as good as any outfielder's in the bigs throughout the years. But the offense has left much to be desired.

Bradley failed to post a weighted runs created plus (wRC+) value above 90 for three straight seasons between 2017 and 2019, per FanGraphs, and his strikeout rate began to trend back up. But a strong September means Bradley will finish his 2020 campaign with some positives. Aside from the outstanding defensive metrics, his 110 wRC+ and 109 OPS+ values are his highest since 2016.

Bradley was shopped at the deadline, but Jason Mastrodonato of the Boston Herald reported the Red Sox did not receive any suitable offers. There also seemed to be a disconnect between Bloom's subsequent statements suggesting the team wanted to retain Bradley and what had been communicated to JBJ, per Alex Speier of the Boston Globe.

In spite of possible tensions stirred at the deadline, a reunion seems likely. Bradley offers plus-plus defense, and the Red Sox lack impact prospects who could replace him.

Boston will also likely spend on starting pitching, but Bradley should be their top priority as far as position players are concerned.

     

Prediction: Red Sox re-sign Bradley.

              

George Springer

It is possible the Red Sox make an effort to sign Springer, especially given the uncertainties of the free-agent market because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Under normal circumstances, Springer would likely command a massive contract. The 31-year-old has overcome a slow start to his 2020 with a .979 OPS in September prior to Thursday's game against the Texas Rangers.

This season will mark Springer's sixth year with an OPS of at least .800 or higher, and he has an .850 career OPS. Springer also ranks fifth among outfielders in fWAR between 2016 and 2020, per FanGraphs, and fourth if you exclude Kris Bryant (primarily a third baseman).

Perhaps most importantly for Boston, Springer would be an ideal presence in the lineup given his comfort-level batting leadoff (.864 career OPS), particularly considering Benintendi (.451 OPS) struggled immensely in that spot this year.

However, it seems unlikely the Astros will let Springer walk.

Houston has a number of players hitting free agency, including Michael Brantley, Josh Reddick and Yuli Gurriel. They figure to re-sign at least one impact bat, and Springer has upside as a plus defender while also being younger than the other three names.

Not to mention, Springer has been a core member of an Astros team that has reached the World Series in two of the past three seasons.

       

Prediction: Astros re-sign Springer.

The New York Mets are 15-20 and sitting in fourth place in the National League East, but that didn't stop them from filling the role of buyer at Monday's 4 p.m. ET trade deadline. 

Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reported the Mets acquired third baseman Todd Frazier and catcher Robinson Chirinos from the Texas Rangers on Monday. Frazier notably played for the Mets during the 2018 and 2019 campaigns.

The Rangers provided the full details:

In two separate transactions with the Mets, we’ve acquired two players to be named later in exchange for Robinson Chirinos, Todd Frazier, and cash considerations. pic.twitter.com/IO840DkGCn

— Texas Rangers (@Rangers) August 31, 2020

ESPN's Jeff Passan reported New York also landed relief pitcher Miguel Castro from the Baltimore Orioles.

Frazier is the headliner as a two-time All-Star who is surely a familiar face for the Mets. First baseman Pete Alonso said, "This is news to me," per Tim Healey of Newsday. "But if he does come back, I love Todd. Todd is the man. He's always welcome here in the clubhouse. Never a dull moment."

The third baseman slashed .251/.329/.443 with 21 home runs and 67 RBI last season for the Mets and put up head-turning offensive numbers in the past when he drilled 40 home runs in 2016 for the Chicago White Sox and 35 long balls in 2015 for the Cincinnati Reds.

In 31 games this year, he is slashing .241/.322/.380 with two home runs and seven RBI.

As for Chirinos, he has appeared in 14 games this season and struggled on the way to a .119/.224/.143 slash line, zero home runs and two RBI. Those are far from inspiring numbers, although he was much better last year for the Houston Astros with a .238/.347/.443 slash line, 17 long balls and 58 RBI.

Castro has a 4.02 ERA, 1.40 WHIP and 24 strikeouts in 15.2 innings of relief work this year.

It may seem somewhat surprising to see the Mets so active given their position in the standings, but they are much closer to contender status this season with expanded playoffs of eight teams from each league than they would have been in a typical year.

They are five games behind the Atlanta Braves for first place in the NL East but just 2.5 games behind the Miami Marlins and two games behind the Philadelphia Phillies in the race for second. The second-place team in each division will make the playoffs this year.

They are also just 2.5 games back of the final wild-card spot.

The Cincinnati Reds hoped this would be the year they reasserted themselves as challengers in the National League Central Division. Alas, that hasn't happened.

Although their starting rotation has been effective, the bullpen has been shaky and the Reds lineup has been among the least productive in the NL.

The Reds are 13-17 after sweeping Thursday's doubleheader against the Milwaukee Brewers and are still within striking distance of a playoff spot. But they have to decide whether to buy or sell ahead of Monday's trade deadline, and right-hander Trevor Bauer is the first name to consider.

The 29-year-old has been terrific for Cincinnati this year, going 3-1 with a 1.65 ERA and an NL-best 0.74 WHIP through his first five starts. He will be a free agent at the end of the season, which would make him a savory trade piece as a rental.

Insiders seem split about what the Reds will do with Bauer, per MLB.com's Mark Feinsand. Two executives suggested the team could move him if they struggle prior to the deadline, whereas another stated they would be "surprised" if they traded him.

The Reds believed they were trading for a potential ace when they acquired the Californian from the Cleveland Indians at last year's deadline.

They certainly took paid a large price. The Reds parted ways with top prospect Taylor Trammell as part of the three-team deal, and they were also taking on Bauer's impending arbitration salary.

Cincinnati was 50-56 at the time and 6.5 games back in the NL Central. But the acquisition of Bauer seemingly gave them another front-end starter alongside Sonny Gray and Luis Castillo. That was hardly the case, though, as Bauer posted a 6.39 ERA and gave up 12 homers in 10 starts with the Reds, who limped to a 75-87 finish.

But Bauer has allowed only four home runs in 32.2 innings this year, and he also leads the majors in hits allowed per nine innings (4.1) while leading the NL in strikeouts per nine (13.5).

The outspoken righty has added a ton of spin to his four-seamer, leading to vastly improved results. Opponents are hitting just .115 with a .306 slugging percentage off his fastball after hitting .273 with a .578 slugging percentage last year, per Baseball Savant.

However, Bauer has also had the good fortune of facing lackluster offenses, with two starts against both the Brewers and Detroit Tigers and one against the Kansas City Royals. 

This weekend might be the determinant in Bauer's status going forward. The Reds have a four-game series with the first-place Chicago Cubs, including a doubleheader on Saturday. If they play .500 or above, they might choose to keep him. Otherwise, he could be on the move.

          

Teams Have 'Done Homework' on Carter Kieboom   

The Washington Nationals are in a similar position to the Reds.

They fell to 11-17 after Wednesday's loss to the Philadelphia Phillies and must now choose whether to push for the playoffs or plan for next season. Should they choose to buy, the Nats might have an asset in infield prospect Carter Kieboom. 

Teams have "done homework" on the 22-year-old, according to veteran MLB reporter Robert Murray, who added that Washington might be amenable to dealing him given he cannot seem to get regular at-bats.

The Nationals figured Kieboom, once a top prospect, would be the starting third baseman after Anthony Rendon signed with the Los Angeles Angels last season. The youngster had a respectable .359 OBP and showed he could draw walks, but he also failed to register a single extra-base hit through his first 17 games.

Still, the Georgia native is young, and it seems a number of teams appear fairly keen on his upside. So, the question becomes: How much can they get back for selling him?

Not to mention, Dave Martinez and Co. have to decide whether they are impressed enough with 20-year-old Luis Garcia to possibly plug him up the middle and shift Starlin Castro over to third.

           

Mets to be a 'Surprising Player' at Deadline?   

The New York Mets appear to be sending mixed signals as to how they will approach this year's deadline.

Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reported a number of executives feel they will be very aggressive, citing increased cap flexibility and the impending sale of the team.

However, general manager Brodie Van Wagenen has indicated the opposite in recent days. He said the team will be "very careful" at the deadline, via Anthony DiComo of MLB.com, and also stated he would like to be cautious with the team's future.

Still, the second-year GM noted "rental" players might not be very costly, and that might be all the Mets can afford. They have the 20th-ranked farm system, per MLB.com, and appear unlikely to part with top prospects after sending Jarred Kelenic to the Seattle Mariners in last year's Robinson Cano/Edwin Diaz trade.

At the same time, the Mets desperately need to bolster a rotation that ranks 22nd in ERA, per FanGraphs. Taijuan Walker is no longer on the market, but it is possible the Mets try to acquire San Francisco Giants right-hander Kevin Gausman, who is on an expiring contract and is striking out 12.1 hitters per nine innings.

          

All stats obtained via Baseball Reference unless otherwise noted.

Even in a unique MLB season, there could still be a lot of movement ahead of Monday's trade deadline.

A shortened 60-game season, combined with an expanded 16-team playoff, could prevent teams from making blockbuster trades. There are fewer teams out of contention willing to sell, while the buyers might not want to mortgage the future for little upside.

On the other hand, the Toronto Blue Jays acquired Taijuan Walker in a trade Thursday to show there could still be notable moves over the next few days. Here are some potential trades to look out for ahead of the deadline.

                 

Yankees Seek Pitching Help

Gerrit Cole has mostly lived up to expectations since signing with the New York Yankees during the offseason, but the rest of the pitching staff is filled with question marks, especially with James Paxton on the injured list.

With J.A. Happ also struggling, the Yankees will need more reliable starters in order to compete with the top teams in the American League.

New York is consequently seeking upgrades ahead of Monday's trade deadline, including calling the San Francisco Giants on pitcher Kevin Gausman, according to Andy Martino of SNY. The team has also reportedly showed interest in Cleveland pitcher Mike Clevinger and the Seattle Mariners' Marco Gonzales.

A trade for Gausman could be interesting, especially if they add Tony Watson to the deal. Joel Sherman of the New York Post reported the Yankees could be "more willing to give up prospect inventory if they could obtain a starter and reliever in the same deal."

Gausman has been up and down this season with a 4.65 ERA, but he has 42 strikeouts and just six walks in 31 innings, giving him a 3.13 FIP, per Baseball Reference. It shows he could be headed toward a positive regression in the second half of the season.

Add in Tony Watson and his 0.93 ERA out of the bullpen, and this deal could be perfect for the Yankees.

                  

Dylan Bundy on the Move Again?

The Los Angeles Angels acquired Dylan Bundy in December for four prospects, but he could be flipped for an even better package after his hot start to 2020.

The 27-year-old has a 2.58 ERA through six starts this season, totaling 44 strikeouts in 38.1 innings. His 0.89 WHIP ranks fourth in the American League.

Bob Nightengale of USA Today reported that the Angels have already gotten calls about a trade for Bundy and are "open for business."

Teams could be concerned about a pitcher who has never reached 175 innings pitched in any of his four full seasons in the majors. Nor has he posted an ERA below four. Giving up walks and home runs have been a problem for the starter.

However, he always had excellent stuff and could be finally turning a corner with a new location. A contender could add a high-upside pitcher who has a chance to be a difference-maker in the postseason.

                 

Braves Seeking Kyle Seager to Upgrade 3B

The Atlanta Braves are legitimate contenders to win a World Series title, but for that to happen, they need production from every spot on the field. They haven't gotten that from third base this year.

Austin Riley has gotten the majority of starts but is hitting just .205 this season after producing a .226 average as a rookie last year. His defense has also been below average, totaling minus-2 defensive runs saved in 164 innings, per Fangraphs.

Johan Camargo hasn't been much better during his starts, hitting .178 with a .221 on-base percentage.

While Riley does have a lot of power at the plate, the Braves could use an upgrade at the position while trying to contend for a championship.

"One of the better rumors out there has Kyle Seager heading to the Braves from the Mariners," Eno Sarris of The Athletic reported. 

Seager has been one of the most consistent hitters in the game during his career, hitting more than 20 home runs in each of the past eight years. The 32-year-old has remained productive in 2020, with an .875 OPS that would be a career high over a full season.

The veteran is signed through 2021 with an option for 2022, making this more than just a one-month rental. He could help lengthen the lineup and make the Braves even more dangerous.    

Taxes are due, water is wet, and the New York Yankees are looking for pitching at the trade deadline.

While the Yankees are among several teams hoping to upgrade their rotations, 2020 has been a year of setbacks for the unit. New York is in a familiar place as Monday's deadline nears.

Luis Severino and Tommy Kahnle have both undergone Tommy John surgery. James Paxton recently headed to the injured list, which also includes relievers Zack Britton and Luis Avilan. Aroldis Chapman only made his season debut in mid-August.

As a result, general manager Brian Cashman has some important phone calls to make.

One of those conversations could be with the San Francisco Giants. While the teams just agreed to a trade sending backup catcher Rob Brantly to the Yankees for cash considerations, they might not be finished dealing with each other quite yet.

Andy Martino of SNY noted the Yankees have inquired about right-handed starter Kevin Gausman.

The 29-year-old has endured a bit of a roller coaster over the last few seasons. After an effective half-season with the Atlanta Braves in 2018, he struggled badly to begin 2019 and eventually found himself as a reliever for the Cincinnati Reds.

This year in San Francisco, Gausman has returned to the rotation and pitched well enough to merit trade consideration. While his ERA is 4.65 ERA, he has 42 strikeouts in 31 innings.

He is headed for free agency after the season, so he shouldn't be terribly expensive in a trade.

The Yankees were also interested in Seattle Mariners righty Taijuan Walker, according to Jon Paul Morosi of MLB.com. However, the Toronto Blue Jays acquired Walker on Thursday ahead of their AL East rivals, per Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic.

While some are eyeing starters, the Kansas City Royals and Milwaukee Brewers are bound to receive some calls for their respective closers.

Kansas City isn't far behind in the wild-card race but realistically isn't a contender this season. The Royals are expected to sell at the deadline, and Jon Heyman of MLB Network said they're receiving a lot of interest in Trevor Rosenthal.

One of the hottest names on the trade market so far is Royals reliever Trevor Rosenthal. Several teams have expressed interest, per sources, and many expect him to move by Aug. 31.

— Mark Feinsand (@Feinsand) August 22, 2020

Since joining the Royals on a minor league deal, the 30-year-old has put a disastrous 2019 in the past. He's surrendered only two runs in 13.2 innings, striking out 21 and earning seven saves.

Rosenthal is among the best pitchers most likely to be traded, though he's not necessarily the best one available.

The Brewers are listening to offers on closer Josh Hader, per Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic. However, a trade is considered unlikely because Milwaukee has, as Rosenthal noted a rival executive said, a "bananas price" on the left-hander.

Considering his performance in 2020, that's not surprising. In nine appearances and 9.1 innings, he has struck out 13 batters and allowed zero hits and zero runs while saving seven games.

"Hader, 26, eventually might command a salary beyond the Brewers' comfort level, which is why it makes sense for the team to continue to gauge the market," Rosenthal said.

But that "bananas price" will probably keep Hader in Milwaukee.

           

Follow Bleacher Report writer David Kenyon on Twitter @Kenyon19_BR.

MLB is currently discussing holding the playoffs at "controlled sites," according to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic.

In the current proposal, the American League could have games in Southern California while the National League would have games in Texas, leaving the World Series to be played at a neutral site at the Texas Rangers' new park.

The approach could be similar to the bubbles utilized in the NBA and NHL for their restarts, helping reduce the spread of COVID-19 within the teams involved. With stadiums already devoid of spectators, it shouldn't affect any home-field advantage for top squads.

However, any changes would be subject to approval by owners and the MLBPA.

Evan Drellich of The Athletic first reported the idea of the neutral playoff games earlier this month, helping reduce travel for teams and having more control over the environments.

The Miami Marlins and St. Louis Cardinals each had outbreaks of the coronavirus since the start of the season, causing the postponement of multiple series. The New York Mets were forced to postpone games last weekend due to positive COVID-19 tests.

Neutral sites could help prevent any cancellations that would greatly alter the playoffs.

Jayson Stark of The Athletic noted Aug. 12 Southern California is a top option for any controlled environment due to the fact there are three stadiums—Dodgers Stadium, Angel Stadium and Petco Park—plus quality weather. Texas could use the Rangers' old and new stadiums as well as Minute Maid Park in Houston.

Other options could include East coast venues in New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore or Washington D.C.

The league must make arrangements for an expanded playoff with 16 playoff teams this season, creating more challenges while trying to determine a champion for the 2020 season.

The Milwaukee Brewers find themselves in an odd situation ahead of the 2020 MLB trade deadline at 4 p.m. ET Monday.

They are fighting for a playoff spot in the National League, improving to 13-15 after defeating the Cincinnati Reds on Tuesday. But they also have the weakest farm in baseball, per MLB.com, and currently have a host of players with interesting trade value.

Left-handed starter Brett Anderson is on an expiring contract, and he has also posted a 3.52 ERA in five starts this year, including consecutive starts of at least six innings. Bullpen arms Corbin Burnes and Brent Suter still have years of team control remaining, but they are strikeout pitchers who might have some value on the market.

But perhaps no "available" player holds as much weight as Josh Hader.

The 26-year-old left-hander has continued to establish himself as one of the best relief pitchers in baseball. He hasn't allowed a single hit in 9.1 innings of work, and he is also 7-for-7 in save opportunities after closing Tuesday's game in Cincy. 

Although the Brewers are listening to offers for Hader, one executive told Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic the return ask is a "bananas price." It is not hard to see why this is the case.

Hader is equally effective against right- and left-handed hitters, and his career mark of 15.3 strikeouts per nine innings makes him one of the most dominant bullpen weapons in the game. He can go multiple innings at any point in the game and is limiting opponents to a career .597 OPS in high-leverage situations.

Moreover, this was his first year of arbitration, and he will not be eligible for free agency until 2024. The Brewers have every right to set a high asking price, but they would also do well to keep an open mind.

Hader was eligible to make $4.1 million in his first year of arbitration, per Spotrac. Granted, that salary has been prorated for the 2020 season, but he stands to see a sizable increase in arbitration salaries over the course of the next few years. 

The Brewers are a small-market team. They don't have the same spending capabilities as other contenders, making it difficult to compete for the best free agents each year.

If Milwaukee hopes to remain competitive over the length of Christian Yelich's contract, it needs to begin stacking farm assets. The best way to do this would be to deal Hader, even though he is a crucial player to the current roster.

Needless to say, the Brewers will likely keep the door open for all possibilities in case they can coax another team into an enormous offer for Hader.

          

Yankees Interested in Kevin Gausman   

The New York Yankees' status at the trade deadline is not in question: They will be buyers, and it is increasingly likely they will add to the starting rotation.

Andy Martino of SNY reported the Yankees "called the San Francisco Giants to inquire about right-hander Kevin Gausman." The Giants are still in the playoff chase at 14-17, but they might look to accrue value from guys such as Gausman, who is on an expiring contract.

The 29-year-old is 1-1 with a 4.65 ERA in six appearances (five starts) this season. But his peripherals are very encouraging. He has 42 strikeouts against just six walks in 31.0 innings of work, good enough for a 3.10 fielding independent pitching mark. He also ranks in the 86th percentile in fastball velocity and 80th percentile in whiff percentage, per Baseball Savant. 

New York already entered the season without Luis Severino, and left-hander James Paxton was officially moved to the injured list on Monday. The Yankees could acquire Gausman to solidify the starting group for the home stretch, with the possibility he could be a long reliever in the event they go to a four-man rotation in the playoffs.

Regardless, the Bronx Bombers are angling toward rentals. Jon Morosi of MLB.com also reported they are interested in Seattle Mariners right-hander Taijuan Walker, who will also be a free agent at the end of the season.

           

Blue Jays Considering a Pair of Pirates Right-Handers   

The Toronto Blue Jays are another team looking for upgrades to the rotation.

Morosi reported they are "considering" Pirates right-handers Trevor Williams and Chad Kuhl as they look to possibly acquire controllable starting pitchers ahead of Monday's deadline.

The Blue Jays rotation has taken a big hit because of injuries, with rookie Nate Pearson and right-handers Matt Shoemaker and Trent Thornton all on the IL. This figures to motivate general manager Ross Atkins to be aggressive in the pitching market, particularly with Toronto in the middle of the AL playoff picture.

That might have already been the case, regardless of injury woes. Atkins said last week starting pitching was the priority at the deadline, per Ben Nicholson-Smith of SportsNet.

Williams looks more like the guy he was in 2018, posting a 3.70 ERA through his first five starts. Kuhl has also been solid, with a 2.84 ERA in 19.0 innings.

More importantly for Toronto, both players are under contract through 2022 and would give the Blue Jays some assuredness in terms of the rotation going forward.

           

All stats obtained via Baseball Reference, unless otherwise noted.

The Milwaukee Brewers are reportedly listening to offers for closer Josh Hader, but only at a "bananas price," a rival executive told Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic. 

Milwaukee remains in playoff contention at 12-15 entering Tuesday but has lost four of its last five games.

Meanwhile, Hader has been nearly flawless this season, allowing no runs or hits in 8.1 innings. He has 13 strikeouts with only five walks during this stretch.

This production is a continuation of an impressive young career for the 26-year-old, who has a 2.32 ERA and 15.3 strikeouts per nine innings across four seasons. He earned All-Star selections in each of his two full seasons and even got Cy Young votes in 2018.

Hader is also under team control through 2023, making this a long-term investment for any team that trades for him.

While there is likely hesitation going into the trade deadline about landing a one-month rental, the left-hander can be an elite closer for multiple years.

It's also why Milwaukee has made him available, with his salary set to go up through arbitration over the next three years. He was already set to make $4.1 million in 2020 before the coronavirus pandemic led to a shortened season.

The Brewers can maintain future financial flexibility while retooling the farm system in one trade.