As baseball resumes its first full week of action since the All-Star break, rumors have begun to swirl about players who could potentially be on the move before the August 1st trade deadline.
Whether it be teams adding a player they consider the missing piece to a championship run or a squad simply looking for a spark to make the playoffs, you can all but guarantee there will be several marquee names wearing new uniforms by the end of the month.
According to MLB Network, these four MLBbros are some of the top candidates to be traded by the deadline.
Marcus Stroman
Despite his constant reiterations of wanting to sign an extension with the Chicago Cubs, Marcus will more than likely be moved before the August first trade deadline. With the year Stroman is having, barring some drastic change in the Ohtani market he is the best starting pitcher available.
Stroman is 10-6 with a 2.88 ERA and 101 strikeouts in 118.2 innings pitched this year. His 1.09 is 12th amongst pitchers and he still has the most quality starts in baseball. According to reports the Toronto Blue Jays have checked in with the Cubs already about bringing Stro back to The North for their playoff push, and Dusty Baker’s Houston Astros have shown interest as well.
Jack Flaherty
The St. Louis Cardinals have been abysmal this season and have gone from attempting to defend their division crown to what seems like a full rebuild. Team mainstays like Nolan Arenado and Paul Dejong could be gone, and now starting pitcher Jack Flaherty could possibly be moving on as well.
He has battled injury the past few years, but over his last 7 starts Jack has been strong for the Cardinals, going 4-1 with a 3.54 ERA over 40.2 IP. The Tampa Bay Rays have shown interest in Flaherty, a move that would not only help their injury riddled rotation but also provide mentorship for their young star Taj Bradley.
Tim Anderson
The Chicago White Sox have been one of the most disappointing teams in baseball, and to many, Anderson has been the most disappointing player in baseball this season. A combination of off the field issues he has been open with combined with lingering lower leg injuries (he’s had a combination of 10 knee, groin, and hamstring injuries since 2020) have left him a shell of the player poised to take the White Sox back to prominence.
Once considered by many as the best contact hitter in baseball, Anderson is slashing .227/.226/.200 over his last 7 games and hasn’t hit a home run in a calendar year. The White Sox are attempting to trade him when his perceived value is at its lowest, but that could create the perfect scenario for TA and his next home.
Andrew McCutchen
The consummate vet, who wouldn’t want someone like Cutch on their ball club as you attempt to make that final playoff push. Hitting .267 with 10 homers, 28 RBI and an .801 OPS, as the Pirates have begun to spiral teams have called to check the availability of the 15-year veteran.
Andrew has said his focus is on stopping the Pirates skid, so it will be interesting to see if the organization would part ways with him again after seemingly welcoming him home for the final time.
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