Catch up on a frantic MLB Trade Deadline Eve, plus Ohtani's status

New York Times

5 days ago

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We got some answers yesterday: The Reds, Red Sox and *sigh* I guess the Angels are buyers. The Cardinals and Giants are sellers. Eugenio Suárez is a Mariner. Jhoan Duran? Phillies.
The deadline isn't until 6 p.m. ET today, but it was a wild Deadline Eve, with more than a dozen trades involving big-league players. I'm Levi Weaver, here with Ken Rosenthal — welcome to The Windup!
By the time you read this, check your texts: It's possible you've been traded. Here's a list of all the deals that went down Wednesday:
Other trades: The Yankees picked up Austin Slater from the White Sox, the Tigers are the latest destination for Rafael Montero and Tyler Kinley is going from the Rockies to the Braves.
Get the latest: Our live blog is being updated constantly, and if you need a one-stop repository for trade reports, grades and analysis, here ya go!
Barring a dramatic shift today, the 47-62 Pirates are likely to keep right-hander Mitch Keller, according to major-league sources briefed on their discussions.
A trade of Keller represents perhaps the Pirates' best chance to acquire impact offensive talent. But The Athletic reported last Friday that the Pirates were torn on moving Keller, who is in the second year of a five-year, $77 million contract.
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An executive from a team interested in Keller, granted anonymity for his candor, said his team has not 'even bothered' continuing its pursuit of the pitcher, citing the Pirates' reluctance to seriously engage.
There are multiple reasons the Pirates might balk at trading Keller, 29. The difficulty of replacing his performance could be one. The lack of quality offers from teams that perceive him as nothing more than a mid-rotation starter might be another.
Moving Keller would clear his salaries of $16.5 million, $18 million and $20 million the next three seasons. But the Pirates also could seek to fill their offensive void by moving right-hander Bailey Falter, 28, or Braxton Ashcraft, 25, and others.
None of the Pirates on expiring contracts — outfielder Tommy Pham, infielder Isiah Kiner-Falefa and left-hander Andrew Heaney — are likely to bring back hitters who would bolster the 2026 roster. Closer David Bednar and setup man Dennis Santana, both of whom are under club control for an additional season, carry greater value, but perhaps not enough to land a difference-maker.
More Rosenthal: A.J. Preller hasn't struck yet, but the Padres are still pursuing a fascinating trio of names: Steven Kwan, Jarren Duran and Mason Miller. Miller, for what it's worth, was 'unavailable' for a save situation last night.
One interesting rumor that has surfaced in recent days: the 62-47 Astros have interest in bringing back SS Carlos Correa from the Twins. Sentimental? Sure. But big-picture, it doesn't seem like a logical move for the Astros.
First of all, Correa is signed to superstar money, but between injuries and just-plain struggling, he has thus far failed to produce at a superstar level in Minnesota, alternating good and bad years.
Correa is signed through 2028 (at least; there are team options) with just under $100 million owed over the next three-plus seasons.
There's space on the active roster for him, thanks to injuries to SS Jeremy Peña (who is expected to start a rehab assignment on Friday) and 3B Isaac Paredes. But unless the Twins were willing to eat a lot of Correa's contract (spoiler: they're not), Correa would put the Astros over the luxury tax threshold for a second season.
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If they're up for that, why wouldn't they bring in a player whose immediate impact and contract situations more closely align with their situation?
Other rumors and implications:
The last time Shohei Ohtani left the mound with a trainer, it was August 23, 2023. Facing the Reds as a member of the Angels, Ohtani walked Spencer Steer in the second inning, then got Joey Votto to pop out before leaving the game. He didn't pitch again until June 16 of this year.
Last night, again facing the Reds, Ohtani threw six consecutive balls in the fourth inning, including two wild pitches. In the middle of yet another Steer at-bat, manager Dave Roberts came to the mound, accompanied by a trainer.
Ohtani left the mound with a 2-0 count, and the baseball world held its collective breath. There was a bit of an exhale when he came out to take his next at-bat, remaining in the game as the designated hitter. During the sixth inning, the team announced that Ohtani had left the game with 'cramps.'
That was a welcome diagnosis, since the Dodgers have already suffered a slew of pitching injuries, with 11 pitchers on the IL — including starters Blake Snell, Roki Sasaki, Tony Gonsolin, River Ryan and Gavin Stone — along with swing guys like Michael Grove and the aptly-named Kyle Hurt.
We'll see if they add more pitching before the deadline, and we'll keep you posted on if this will impact Ohtani's ability to continue to pitch.
More catastrophe averted: It's not 'good news' that Ronald Acuña Jr. is injured, but given what was feared — an injury to his Achilles tendon — it is at least 'much less bad' news that it's 'only' a Grade 1 strain in his lower calf.
It was curious that the Cubs called up Moisés Ballesteros, rather than Owen Caissie. But Ballesteros had a big hit in the Cubs' 10-3 win over the Brewers. Now they can turn their attention to the deadline.
In light of Bryce Harper's recent verbal altercation with Rob Manfred, Max Scherzer says he's looking forward to the commissioner's visit to the Blue Jays clubhouse. He just wants to ask some questions!
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Conor O'Neill spoke to Billy Beane about Moneyball, sports' data revolution, and his role as a Trojan horse.
On the pods: On Rates and Barrels, the crew discusses deadline trends and the heating-up Cincinnati Reds.
Most-clicked in our last newsletter: The awesome interactive graphic showing how often each team has traded with every other team.
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