Latest news with #Josh Naylor
Yahoo
8 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
MLB trade deadline: Eugenio Suárez, Mitch Keller, Merrill Kelly among prized players who could move
PHOENIX — The Arizona Diamondbacks got the trade deadline party started when they dealt 2024 All-Star Josh Naylor to the Seattle Mariners for two pitching prospects. That probably won't be the last time the D-backs make news before the July 31 deadline. Arizona has had a disappointing season with a 51-57 record and now appears to be one of the most active sellers on the MLB market, dangling third baseman Eugenio Suárez and starting pitchers Zac Gallen and Merrill Kelly. The potential buyers include teams like the New York Yankees, New York Mets, Detroit Tigers, Philadelphia Phillies, Chicago Cubs and Los Angeles Dodgers, who are all trying to beef up their rosters in hopes of a deep playoff run. The market is heating up quickly: The Yankees acquired third baseman Ryan McMahon from the Rockies, while the Orioles traded left-handed reliever Gregory Soto to the Mets and right-hander Seranthony Dominguez to the Blue Jays. The Royals are among the teams who look like they've decided to keep possible trade chips. Right-hander Seth Lugo was expected to be a prized addition at the deadline, but Kansas City decided to extend the veteran on a two-year, $46 million deal that goes until 2027. The D-backs have been one of the most intriguing teams in baseball over the past few weeks because management has had to make a tough decision whether to buy or sell. Arizona had a 50-50 record after sweeping the St. Louis Cardinals following the All-Star break but were then swept by the Houston Astros, lost two of three to the Pittsburgh Pirates and two more to the Tigers. Naylor's already gone and he'll help a Seattle lineup that could use a little more punch. Suárez is having one of the best seasons of his career, slugging 36 homers over 104 games, and arguably is the best bat on the market. Here's a look at some of the top players who could be available as teams try to upgrade for the stretch run: Eugenio Suárez, 3B, Arizona Diamondbacks Suarez is just an average defensive third baseman these days, but that's not why teams want to acquire him. He's got the kind of bat that can carry a team for weeks at a time, major pop from the right side of the plate. He has 312 career homers, is well-liked in the locker room and has been productive in limited postseason at-bats with a .300 average. Mitch Keller, SP, Pittsburgh Pirates The 29-year-old Keller has been overshadowed in the Pirates' rotation thanks to the emergence of young star Paul Skenes, but the right-hander has been a reliable starter for the past four seasons and was an All-Star in 2023. The one catch is it'll take a sizable haul for the Pirates to make a deal: He's under contract through 2028 as part of a relatively reasonable five-year, $77 million deal. Zac Gallen, SP, Arizona Diamondbacks Gallen is having the worst full season of his career with a 7-12 record and 5.60 ERA but could still be an attractive add for a team that needs a starter. The 29-year-old right-hander has been one of the top pitchers in the National League over the past five years, finishing in the top 10 of the Cy Young Award voting in 2020, 2022 and 2023. His stuff is still good and he's had a handful of dominant starts this season. Merrill Kelly, SP, Arizona Diamondbacks The 36-year-old righty quietly has been one of the most consistent pitchers in baseball with a 9-6 record and 3.22 ERA. He was also excellent during the D-backs' postseason run in 2023 with a 3-1 record, 2.25 ERA and 28 strikeouts over 24 innings. Kelly doesn't have an overpowering fastball but has a five-pitch mix that has consistently delivered results. Sandy Alcantara, SP, Miami Marlins The 29-year-old Alcantara isn't the same pitcher he was when he won the 2022 NL Cy Young Award, but the right-hander still has quite a bit of upside. He's allowed just one unearned run over 12 innings in his last two starts, which might help his value. His rotation partner Edward Cabrera — another right-hander — also could garner attention with a 3.35 ERA over 18 starts. Ryan O'Hearn, 1B/DH, Baltimore Orioles The 31-year-old is having a career year with a .284 average, .375 on-base percentage and 12 homers, helping him earn All-Star honors for the first time in his career. His left-handed bat would be useful in a contender's lineup.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
MLB trade deadline: Live updates, news, transactions, rumors as Royals reportedly extend Seth Lugo, Yankees add Rosario, McMahon
The 2025 MLB trade deadline is just around the corner, and some teams are already making major moves. The Arizona Diamondbacks unofficially kicked things off last week by trading first baseman Josh Naylor to the Seattle Mariners, and several teams added their hats to the ring over the weekend. The Yankees made two acquisitions in Ryan McMahon and Ahmed Rosario, while the Mets traded for Gregory Soto. The action should continue in the coming days as MLB's contenders scramble to add talent with the playoffs two months away. There aren't any superstars expected to be on the move in this deadline, but every contender has a hole to fill. No team is running away from the field in the standings, which means some of teams will likely need to do something to stand out. The deadline officially hits on Thursday at 6 p.m. ET. After that, the only way teams can add a player to their roster is calling up minor leaguers or signing free agents, and any player who isn't in the organization by the end of August is ineligible for the postseason. Until then, here's everything you should know about what teams are up to: Yahoo Sports' top 26 players of the MLB trade deadline Each contender's biggest need, including the Los Angeles Dodgers' bullpen All 30 MLB teams classified, from all-in buyers to all-out sellers Six trades Yahoo Sports wants to see MLB Pipeline's list of top 100 prospects Follow along with Yahoo Sports for live updates, highlights and more from the 2025 MLB trade deadline:
Forbes
22-07-2025
- Sport
- Forbes
A Different Perspective On Trade Deadline Moves For Arizona Diamondbacks
PHOENIX, ARIZONA - JULY 20: Eugenio Suarez #28 of the Arizona Diamondbacks celebrates after hitting ... More a three run home run against the St. Louis Cardinals during the first inning at Chase Field on July 20, 2025 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by) The Arizona Diamondbacks have a record of 50-51 at the start of play July 22. The Dbacks likely are chasing at least four or more teams for the final Wild Card spot in the National League. As a result of the current standings, the Diamondbacks find themselves with monumental decisions to make before, or at the Major League Baseball trade deadline, July 30, at 6PM EST. The Diamondbacks probably have the most sought after players in this year's trade market. Generally speaking, MLB teams look to get a return from players on expiring contracts. Media outlets consistently believe the Dbacks will trade most, or even all of their impactful players on expiring contracts. This old scout disagrees. More on that later. The Dbacks have four consequential players in the final year before they reach free agency. Those players include: Eugenio Suarez-3B-Age 34-$15M current salary 36 home runs, 86 RBIs, 2025 All Star Josh Naylor-1B-Age 28-$10.9M 11 homers, 58 RBIs Merrill Kelly-RHP-Age 36-$7M 9-5, 3.32 ERA, 21 starts Zac Gallen-RHP-Age 29-$13.5M 7-11, 5.58 ERA, 21 starts Without question, If made available, each of those players can fetch prospects that may add tremendous depth and length to the Dbacks organization. Or, the Dbacks could trade for veteran players. There could be several contending suitors in hot pursuit of each of the four. For example: ATLANTA, GEORGIA - JULY 15: Eugenio Suárez #28 of the Arizona Diamondbacks attends the 2025 MLB ... More All-Star Game red carpet at Truist Park on July 15, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by) Eugenio Suarez Yankees, Cubs, Mariners, Red Sox, Brewers Each team above might pay dearly for a game-changing power threat like Suarez. He is the hottest hitter in baseball, having hit two home runs in consecutive games, and has six multi-home run games. PHOENIX, ARIZONA - JULY 20: Josh Naylor #22 of the Arizona Diamondbacks gets ready in the batters ... More box against the St. Louis Cardinals at Chase Field on July 20, 2025 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by) Josh Naylor Red Sox, Yankees, Mariners. Naylor works tremendously hard at his craft. He takes extra batting practice every day. He constantly works on improving his fielding. An aggressive hitter, Naylor can get extremely hot, and carry a team with drives to the gap or bombs over the fence. Each of the three teams above would be a great fit for Josh Naylor. Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Merrill Kelly throws against the Miami Marlins during the ... More first inning of a baseball game Friday, June 27, 2025, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Merrill Kelly Yankees, Cubs, Red Sox, Astros, Brewers, Blue Jays A very inexpensive (by comparison to others) and very capable, dependable starting pitcher, Kelly has an assortment of pitches in his repertoire that keep hitters off balance. When Kelly gets in a groove, he not only gives his team a chance to win, but he goes deeply into games, helping save the bullpen. A constant cramping problem from his past seems to have been resolved. CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - JUNE 25: Zac Gallen #23 of the Arizona Diamondbacks pitches during the fourth ... More inning against the Chicago White Sox at Rate Field on June 25, 2025 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by) Zac Gallen Yankees, Red Sox, Brewers, Cubs, Astros, Blue Jays Gallen is puzzling. He can be very good. He can be very meh! Gallen's inconsistency can give a manager heartburn. No longer an ace in this old scout's view, he's still an option in a contender's starting rotation. When Gallen nibbles at the corners, he loses command and starts getting his pitch count too high. He begins to walk hitters. Or yield home runs. The return for Gallen might not be as high as fans believe. Which Player(s) Do The Dbacks Trade? Several factors have to be considered. -The Dbacks have played this year with an unprecedented amount of injuries. It is likely many of those injured players could be back at some point next season. - The Dbacks have just received a tremendous boost from the Arizona Legislature that allows them to spend tax dollars received from team generated revenue for the renovation of Chase Field. In essence, money they would have to spend on renovations, can be used for other needs-such as payroll. - If the Dbacks deplete their roster of fan favorites like Suarez and Naylor, the fan base could react by not buying tickets, merchandise, and concessions. That cuts the amount of revenue the Dbacks receive from the tax legislation. - If they trade their best players, where do they find replacements for 2026, and beyond? Yes, they will likely get prospects in return. But prospects are prospects. Unproven. Untested. The difference between Triple-A and Major League Baseball is as wide as the Grand Canyon. -The $22.5M salary for pitcher Jordan Montgomery is coming off the books. This Old Scout's Prediction: The Dbacks need to field a competitive, exciting team to earn sales tax revenue from ticket sales, merchandise, and concessions. They have been plagued by injuries, which could be a non-issue next season. If they keep their team in place, they could clearly move up in the standings. The Dbacks have an exciting team, with a terrific manager in Torey Lovullo. This writer's prediction? The Dbacks will trade only Zac Gallen. The return may be shockingly low. The Dbacks offense needs Suarez and Naylor. The Dbacks pitching staff needs Merrill Kelly. The Dbacks can look for another starter. Possibly one comes back in a Gallen trade.
