The MLB trade deadline is nearly upon us.
As the clock ticks down to the 6 p.m. ET deadline on Thursday, there are a number of storylines to follow as contending teams attempt to beef up their rosters for the stretch run. What follows is an updated look at all the latest news, rumors, and trades before the deadline passes.
Mariners Stun Baseball World With Trade For Eugenio Suarez
One of MLB's biggest trade targets has officially been dealt ahead of the deadline. According to ESPN's Jeff Passan, the Arizona Diamondbacks have traded third baseman Eugenio Suarez to the Seattle Mariners. Suarez, a two-time All-Star is slashing .248/.321/.577 with 36 home runs and 87 RBIs.
The Mariners needed big upgrades at the corners and got them, both from the Diamondbacks. They landed Josh Naylor on July 24, and Suarez the night before the deadline.
Red Sox Acquire RP Steven Matz From Cardinals
The Boston Red Sox are on the board. After dealing with some slight attrition in the bullpen with an injury to Aroldis Chapman, Boston has acquired relief pitcher Steven Matz from the St. Louis Cardinals. The trade was first reported by ESPN's Jeff Passan.
Matz began his career with the New York Mets in 2015 before stints with the Toronto Blue Jays ('21) and, most recently, the Cardinals ('22-25). The 34-year-old is 5-2 this season in 32 appearances with a 3.44 ERA, 47 strikeouts, and two saves.
The Red Sox are sending minor leaguer Blaze Jordan to St. Louis in return.
Ramon Urias Heads to Astros
The Baltimore Orioles seem to be selling despite winning five of their last six, sending Ramon Urias to the Houston Astros according to the New York Post's Jon Heyman.
Urias, 31, is slashing .248/.300/.388 this season with eight home runs and 34 RBIs, while also holding a .984 fielding percentage while committing just three errors.
Reds Land Zack Littell in Deal With Rays
The Cincinnati Reds continued to buy on Wednesday night. They worked a trade to land righty Zack Littell from the Tampa Bay Rays. Littell has been solid this season. In 21 starts, he's 8-8 with a 3.72 ERA, 1.11 WHIP, and 85 strikeouts against 17 walks in 128 1/3 innings. The 29-year-old will be a free agent at the end of the season.
The Reds currently rank 12th as a team in baseball with a 3.85 ERA, and their starters are 10th at 3.86. Adding Littell will help the rotation's depth.
Cubs Bolster Rotation in Trade for Soroka
The Chicago Cubs acquired Michael Soroka from the Washington Nationals Wednesday night in a move to bolster their starting rotation. Soroka, a former All-Star who missed most of three seasons following multiple tears to his right Achilles tendon, has struggled to regain his form over the past few years. This season, he has made 16 starts and is 3-8 with a 4.87 ERA, a 1.13 WHIP, and 87 strikeouts against 24 walks in 81 1/3 innings. On the upside, his expected ERA is 3.32, which means he has gotten pretty unlucky.
With Justin Steele out for the season following Tommy John surgery, the Cubs have needed more depth in their rotation. They may have found it in Soroka.
Padres Pursuing Multiple All-Stars
According to a report from The Athletic's Dennis Lin and Ken Rosenthal, the San Diego Padres are looking to swing big at the deadline and have several big names targeted. The Padres are pursuing outfielders Jarren Duran and Steven Kwan, as well as closer Mason Miller.
The Boston Red Sox have been unwilling to part with Duran so far, and the Cleveland Guardians have let it be known that it would take a haul for them to part with Kwan. The Oakland A's have not been shopping Miller, but given the franchise's situation it would be foolish not to listen.
A.J. Preller is never shy when it comes to big swings at the trade deadline, and this could be yet another year he goes all-in.
Eugenio Suarez Still Being Chased by Multiple Teams
The Athletic's Jon Morosi is reporting multiple teams are still going hard after Arizona Diamondbacks third baseman Eugenio Suarez as the trade deadline approaches. Arguably the most coveted bat on the market, Suarez is still drawing interest from the Chicago Cubs, Seattle Mariners, and Detroit Tigers, among others. The Cubs, in particular, need an upgrade at the position, as entering Wednesday, they had a team OPS of .575 at third base this year.
Suarez will almost certainly move before the trade deadline but where he will go is still a mystery with less than 24 hours to go.
Mets Acquire Ryan Helsley From Cardinals
Just after the Phillies landed Jhoan Duran, the Mets made another move for a reliever. They landed St. Louis Cardinals closer Ryan Helsley in a blockbuster deal. The 2024 NL Reliever of the Year and two-time All-Star is headed for free agency after the season, so the Cardinals did what they could to get something back for him. On the season, Helsley is 3-1 with a 3.00 ERA, a 1.39 WHIP, and 41 strikeouts in 36 innings pitched. He has 21 saves in 26 chances. He is likely to be the setup man for Edwin Diaz.
In exchange for Helsley, the Cardinals will acquire prospects Jesus Baez, Nate Dohm, and Frank Elissalt.
Helsley is the second reliever the Mets have added in the past few hours, as they landed Tyler Rogers from the Giants earlier in the day.
Phillies Trade for Jhoan Duran in Major Upgrade
The Phillies won the race for Jhoan Duran, as they beat out the Dodgers and other suitors in the battle for the best relief arm available at the deadline. Philadelphia's relievers own the 23rd-ranked ERA in baseball (4.33), and they don't have a go-to closer. That problem is now in the past.
In exchange for Duran, the Twins landed the Phillies' No. 4 and No. 6 prospects, catcher Eduardo Tait and righty Mick Abel.
Mariners Beef Up Relief Corps
The Mariners landed lefty reliever Caleb Ferguson from the Pirates on Wednesday. As Pittsburgh continues to sell, Seattle took advantage. The 29-year-old is 2-2 on the season with a 3.74 ERA, 1.08 WHIP, and 34 strikeouts against 14 walks in 43 1/3 innings. Ferguson is having an excellent season as he's allowing very little hard contact. His average exit velocity (83.5), and hard-hit rate (25.2) are among the lowest in baseball.
In return for Ferguson, the Pirates will receive right-hander Jeter Martinez (great early 2000s baseball name). Martinez is a 19-year-old starter currently in A-ball, and is listed as Seattle's No. 13 prospect by MLB Pipeline.
Mets Surrender a Ton in Tyler Rogers Trade
The New York Mets landed right-handed reliever Tyler Rogers from the San Francisco Giants on Wednesday, but it cost them a significant price. They sent righty Jose Butto, righty pitching prospect Blade Tidwell, and outfield prospect Drew Gilbert to land the 34-year-old veteran.
Rogers has been excellent for the Giants this season. In 53 games, he is 4-3 with a 1.80 ERA, a 0.86 WHIP, and 38 strikeouts and only four walks in 50 innings. He has allowed just 10 earned runs this season.
Astros Pursuing Cease
The San Diego Padres are open to moving starting pitcher Dylan Cease, and one team has been hot on his heels. The Houston Astros are chasing Cease and appear increasingly likely to land him. Cease has struggled this season, but he has elite stuff that belies his 3-10 record and 4.79 ERA. There is faith that the impending free agent can turn it around, especially given his xFIP of 3.39.
We'll see if a deal eventually comes together.
Eugenio Suarez Sweepstakes Heating Up
Eugenio Suarez remains the most popular hitter at the deadline, with four teams currently chasing him. The Arizona Diamondbacks are actively shopping the impending free agent and will do what they can to maximize the return. The Seattle Mariners, Chicago Cubs, Detroit Tigers and Philadelphia Phillies are all chasing Suarez hard as we head toward the deadline. It's worth noting, Seattle and Arizona already completed a swap for Josh Naylor.
The 34-year-old third baseman has been one of baseball's best sluggers this season. He's currently slashing .248/.320/.576 with 36 home runs and 87 RBIs. Suarez was hit on the hand by a pitch Monday night but appears to have escaped serious injury.
Jhoan Duran Chased by Two NL Contenders
The Minnesota Twins appear likely to move closer Jhoan Duran before the deadline, and two teams have separated themselves in the chase for his services. According to USA Today's Bob Nightengale, the Los Angeles Dodgers and Philadelphia Phillies are in active talks to land him. To this point, the Phillies have refused to include top pitching prospect Andrew Painter in an offer.
The 27-year-old Duran is 6–4 with a 2.01 ERA, a 1.18 WHIP, and 53 strikeouts in 49 1/3 innings. He has saved 16 games in 18 opportunities and is under team control through 2027.
Reds Land Ke'Bryan Hayes From Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates are in full sell mode, and on Wednesday, they shipped third baseman Ke'Bryan Hayes to the Cincinnati Reds for two prospects. Hayes is one of the best defensive players in baseball and is signed affordably through 2029, with a club option for '30 as part of an eight-year, $70 million deal he agreed to in '22. So far this season, he's slashing .236/.279/.290 with a woeful wRC+ of 57 in 100 games.
The Pirates received shortstop Sammy Stafura, who ranked as the No. 9 prospect in Cincinnati's system, as well as veteran reliever Taylor Rogers.
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This article was originally published on www.si.com as MLB Trade Deadline Updates: Latest Moves and Rumors.
