Welcome to Sports Illustrated’s MLB Trade Deadline Live Blog, where Emma Baccellieri and Matt Martell will keep you updated throughout one of the wildest baseball days of the year. All time stamps are ET.
Dale Zanine/USA TODAY Sports
Matt Martell (10:00 a.m.) Hi, everyone! Thanks for joining us. Emma and I will be here all day talking baseball and breaking down all the latest trade deadline deals and rumors. We’ll make predictions, offer some analysis and pretty much just have an ongoing conversation that’s both insightful and entertaining.
Welcome, Emma! Hope you’re still alive after that wild USWNT game.
Emma Baccellieri (10:00 a.m.) Only barely (Alyssa Naeher has some serious ice-in-her veins closer energy).
What are you keeping an eye out for today? There’s obviously Kris Bryant (will the Mets make their move?) but I’m intrigued to see if the Giants and Padres answer the Dodgers’ big splash last night.
MM (10:02 a.m.)Â Penn State legend Alyssa Naeher*
And yes! I think Kris Bryant will be the NL West response. KB makes a ton of sense for the Giants, because of his versatility and they have the financial flexibility to re-sign or extend him. Could they swing a package deal for Zach Davies? That’d make things interesting for sure. Where do you think Bryant ends up?
EB (10:04 a.m.) I still think it might be the Mets — those rumors have obviously been around for quite some time, even if they haven’t been quite as heated in the last few days, but I think it just makes too much sense for them to be able to get that upgrade at third base. Yes, their playoff spot looks fairly secure in the messy NL East (though I wouldn’t entirely count out the Phillies just yet) but if they’re looking to make a deeper run in their first season under Steve Cohen, which it sounds like they might be, I think they need a pick-up like Bryant.
MM (10:11 a.m.) First trade of the day!
Elite pitcher name Shawn Armstrong goes from the Orioles to the Rays for cash, according to multiple reports. This is confusing. He’s got an 8.55 ERA this year. What do the Rays know?
EB (10:14) Saying that feels like it’s setting you up for a jump-cut to him on the mound absolutely dealing in some kind of highly particular role in October, ha. I was intrigued by the Diego Castillo move yesterday—sure, this bullpen is deep enough that they can deal from it, but with some of the injuries they’ve had, it felt surprising to see them move one of their best options for so relatively little?—and I’m guessing there might be more to come than just Armstrong.
MM (10:18 a.m.) Maybe they’re making room for Kimbrel.
Can you imagine?!
EB (10:23 a.m.) Where do you think he’s going? I can see the Red Sox, though it would be fun to get a bit of crosstown action if it’s the White Sox
MM (10:27 a.m.) I think he’s going to the Phillies. This makes too much sense for how bad their bullpen has been. Dave Dombrowski has already acquired Kimbrel once when he was with the Red Sox. They won a World Series together in ’18. I think Kimbrel would make the Phillies the favorite in the NL East.
MM (10:34 a.m.) Speaking of the NL East, what do the Mets do? And are the Braves done? I’ve seen reports that the Braves are still buying despite their struggles this season and Acuña’s injury. They’re only 4 games out.
EB (10:39 a.m.) Yeah, I’ve been curious about those reports! Even with Acuña out, I think they’re still clearly the better team over the Phillies, at least as of right now. (The run differential here is pretty striking: Philly is -23 while Atlanta is +47, the best in the division.) I still don’t think it makes sense for them to go in on rentals. But if they can figure out some pick-ups who would also be under contract for next year (some pitching? Kyle Gibson?) I can see a pathway here.
MM (10:41 a.m.) Gibson would make a lot of sense, because of their infield defense, with Dansby Swanson and Ozzie Albies up the middle. Let him pitch to contact and then roll with it.
Also, I could see Kimbrel going back to Atlanta. That would make the Braves dangerous, especially if they get into the postseason.
MM (10:48 a.m.) Are you concerned at all about Trevor Story? Ken Rosenthal had a report earlier this week about Story’s throwing, and that he could be hurt. He missed time on the IL earlier this year with right-elbow inflammation. Rosenthal said his average velocity on the top-10 percent of his throws this year (78.1 mph) are down from his average over the previous four seasons (85.4 mph). He’s making more errors than ever. I thought Story would be a great fit for the Phillies, which would shore up their dreadful defense, in a deal that included Daniel Bard to help their bullpen. But if Story isn’t healthy, that changes things, because he’s a rental.
EB (10:52 a.m.) It’s baffling to me that the Rockies didn’t trade Story over the winter once they moved Arenado. (Then again, “it’s baffling to me” can start a lot of sentences about the Rockies, so…) That would have made so much sense, and now, they’re looking at a seriously diminished potential return because of his health and his performance this year. But particularly if he’s packaged with Bard (or maybe even Jon Gray?) I think there can still be something serious here. Now that the Yankees are out, I agree that the Phillies would be a great fit.
EB (10:53 a.m.) Wow, deadline-changing deal here, someone everyone had their EYES on
MM (10:54 a.m.) Should I know who Braeden Ogle is?
EB (10:56 a.m.) In all seriousness, I am interested to see how the Phillies approach this, and while adding a Triple-A pitcher from the Pirates with a 6.5 walk rate obviously doesn’t preclude you from making plenty of other moves later in the day… it’s a curious way to start!
And no I had to google lol. He did not make FanGraphs’ top 50 pirates prospects and was listed as an honorable mention.
MM (11:00 a.m.) If the Phillies don’t upgrade their defense, I feel like they should avoid the contact/groundball pitchers Kyle Gibson and Zach Davies. That said, maybe a package deal with the Cubs for Javy Báez and either Davies or Kimbrel would be the way to handle this problem. The Cubs are focusing on quantity over top-tier guys when it comes to prospects. If the Phillies cover the salaries of the players, maybe this could work.
