MLB trade rumors: It’s deadline day, which means it’s time to expect the unexpected

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• After months of rumors, hypothetical proposals, and panicking among fan bases, the big day is finally here: It’s trade deadline day 2019. With MLB cutting down to one hard deadline day this season after years of teams being able to make waiver deals in August, our Andersen Pickard says this year’s deadline will be more action-packed than ever before.
• Two members of the MLB Meme Team were moved in the same blockbuster deal on Tuesday night, with Trevor Bauer going to the Reds and Yasiel Puig heading to the Indians as part of a three-way deal with the Padres that also sent Franmil Reyes, Logan Allen, and prospects Scott Moss and Victor Nova to Cleveland, with prospect Taylor Trammell heading to San Diego. In an all-too-appropriate twist of fate, Bauer’s final act with the Indians was rage-throwing a ball over the center-field fence, while Puig’s finale with the Reds featured him getting ejected after inserting himself into a massive brawl with the Pirates.
• The Braves made a surprisingly bold deal in order to upgrade their bullpen, trading pitching prospect and former No. 14 overall pick Kolby Allard to the Rangers for Chris Martin, a 33-year-old right-hander who is having a fantastic 2019 season but is experiencing his first real major-league success this year and is a free agent at season’s end.
• The Cubs made another veteran addition to their bullpen, acquiring righty David Phelps from the Blue Jays in exchange for Double-A pitching prospect Thomas Hatch. This addition follows last month’s signing of Craig Kimbrel and last week’s acquisition of Derek Holland as moves aimed at solidifying Chicago’s relief corps and increasing their overall pitching depth.
• These 15 players (including Martin, who was dealt to the Braves hours after this article was published) are under-the-radar candidates to be moved before the final buzzer sounds on today’s trade deadline.
• The Mets continued their wheeling and dealing as they sent Jason Vargas to the Phillies for a minor league catcher. The Mets are purportedly trying to dictate the trade market in such a way as to end up better in the short and long-term by the end of this trading barrage, but their method so far seems to be more akin to the economic philosophy of the underpants gnomes from South Park (“do all the trades -> ???? -> PROFIT”) than anything else, but we will have to wait and see how it all plays out.
• The Nationals got some rough news Monday as they found out that Max Scherzer is headed to the injured list with an upper-back injury. Given that Scherzer is one of the best pitchers on planet Earth and the Nationals are trying to claw their way back into the NL East race, the timing of Scherzer’s injury is definitely less than ideal.
• When rumors swirled that Marcus Stroman might be heading to New York, the dial was leaning more toward Yankee pinstripes and less toward whatever it is this ancient curse that has engulfed Citi Field is. After giving up two of their best pitching prospects, the Mets have acquired Marcus Stroman from the Blue Jays. Please contain your screaming to indoor noise levels.
• Speaking of the Blue Jays making moves, Toronto has traded Eric Sogard to the Rays.
• Last week was not full of great news when it came to injury reports. First, it was announced that Blake Snell was going to have to have surgery on his elbow to remove a loose body which will keep him out until at least September. Then, the Rangers got their own bad news as Joey Gallo is now having to go under the knife due to a broken hamate bone.
• The Dodgers and Astros made a minor trade as Houston sent Tyler White to the Dodgers in exchange for minor league pitcher Andre Scrubb.
• All good things must come to an end. While this ending was abrupt, it couldn’t have been completely unexpected as Troy Tulowitzki announced his retirement from baseball. He had barely played this season and had not been very good, but it is still sad to see a guy who was among the top players at his position for a while walk off into the sunset.
• Oakland is adding extra bulk to its bullpen, acquiring Jake Diekman from the Kansas City Royals. The 32-year old southpaw will add to the late-inning arsenal that already was Blake Treinen, Liam Hendriks, and Lou Trivino.
• It is that time of the year where rumors spread like wildfires about potential trade deadline deals. To keep track of all of the chaos that surrounds this time of year, we’ve put together a deadline rumor tracker for all of you to enjoy. Never be late to the rumor mill again.
• These five teams who are in hot playoff pursuit will be very busy as the trade deadline approaches. Ten points to whoever can name them without looking at this article (but you should probably still look at the article anyway).
• For this season, MLB adopted changes which got rid of the second, more restrictive trade period that allowed players that cleared waivers to be traded during the month of August, giving the league one singular trade deadline. Read up on the potential pitfalls of that approach.
• Kirby Yates is one of the more interesting names on the trade market, mainly because it isn’t clear that the Padres would or even should trade him. Our own Andersen Pickard took a look at Yates’ status in the trade market as well as the track record for relievers dealt at the trade deadline last season.