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The 2022 MLB trade deadline is less than a week away and all eyes are on Nationals prodigy Juan Soto. The Cardinals are considered front runnersalthough more than a few clubs have the pieces and motivation to close a deal. Here are the rumors on Wednesday’s trading deadline as we await the latest developments at Soto.
Gorman, Corbin in the Soto trade?
the cardinals, identified by CBS Sports as favorites to land Nationals outfielder Juan Soto has “stepped back” from efforts to secure a deal, according to Jeff Jones Belleville News Democrat.
Jones reports that the Cardinals’ latest offer includes second baseman Nolan Gorman as well as Nationals left-hander Patrick Corbin. CBS Sports reported this last week Corbin should be included in any possible deal to even out the trade and clear the books for the Nationals’ next ownership group. As we explained at the time:
Putting Corbin on Soto is a way for the Nationals to get a better deal, but not in the traditional “the other team will then bring more to their side” sense. Rather, in his last 50 starts, Corbin has been a well-below-replacement-level pitcher, amassing a 5.84 ERA (68 ERA+) and a 2.46 strikeout-to-walk ratio. He also owed another $60 million in the next two seasons. Giving up that exposure would be a win and would even help Libra when viewed from the cold, calculating, dollar-based framework mentioned above.
The 22-year-old Gorman has fought .223/.299/.411 (103 OPS+) in his first 194 plate appearances.
Yankees interested in top veterans as starters
Veteran left-hander Jose Quintana, who is in the midst of a career upswing with the Pirates, is attracting trade interest from a variety of competitors, including the Yankees and White Sox, according to Robert Murray.
Coincidentally, Quintana was a former member of both the Yankees and White Sox organizations. He never played for the New York big league club, but did spend portions of six seasons in the White Sox rotation.
Quintana has started 19 games this season and has a 3.70 ERA (114 ERA+) and a 2.93 strikeout-to-walk ratio in those competitions. He’s a free agent at the end of the year.
The Yankees are also interested in Frankie Montas and Luis Castillo, the two best starters out there. after Jon Heyman. However, no deal is known to be close.
Dodgers looking at Cooper
The Dodgers are interested in Marlins first baseman/outfielder Garrett Cooper, after Jon Heyman. Heyman notes that among other things, the Dodgers could wait and see what happens with Soto before moving on to other potential targets.
For his part, Cooper was highlighted by CBS Sports as one of the top 30 traders of the summer. Here’s what we wrote back then:
It’s unclear if the Marlins will entertain the agile Cooper, but he remains a popular choice due to his rock-solid offensive skills. He hits the ball hard and at an optimized angle; he smokes fastballs and has a league-average puff rate; he has not shown a train breakdown to date; etc. Of course, you didn’t have to know all this to see that he was good with a cane; All you had to do was look at his .292/.370/.472 slash line during the pandemic era. Cooper won’t be a free agent until after next season, but if the Marlins are misjudging their chances — making the playoffs in either year and/or keeping him past that point — then they could at least listen to what other teams are ready to do would be to separate.
Astros on Contreras
The Astros, who have received little production from their backstops this season, are among teams interested in Cubs catcher Willson Contreras, according to ESPN’s Jeff Passan. Contreras, a forthcoming free agent, has hit .258/.373/.470 (136 OPS+) with 14 home runs and 21 extra extra base hits in his first 82 games this season.
The Astros are currently relying on Martín Maldonado and Korey Lee to hold the catcher position. Neither produced much offensively; Ditto for Jason Castro, who doesn’t seem to be recovering quickly from a knee injury.
