MLB trade deadline rumors tracker: Cardinals open to trading players

The 2023 MLB trade deadline is Aug. 1, but there’s already plenty of buzz across the league.

Here are the latest MLB trade rumors.

JULY 12

Cardinals open for business

St. Louis president John Mozeliak said that the team is “going to trade people” before the deadline. The Cards are 38-52 as of July 13, leaving them in last place in the NL Central and 13th in the league. They’re seen as an attractive trade partner given the likes of perennial All-Star Nolan Arenado and struggling ace Jack Flaherty on their roster.

JULY 5

Angels not open to moving Shohei Ohtani

While the Angels have recently been dealt injury blows affecting Ohtani, Mike Trout and Anthony Rendon, it would be “an upset” if they traded the two-way superstar as the team still wants to try to re-sign him in free agency this offseason, The Athletic reported. Ohtani entered the Angels’ July 5 matchup against the San Diego Padres with an MLB-high 31 home runs, 68 RBIs and 11 stolen bases, while sporting a .300/.387/.658 batting line. As a pitcher, he owns 3.32 ERA, 1.10 WHIP and 132 strikeouts across 100.1 innings (17 starts). 

Ohtani is widely expected to command the richest contract in MLB history when he hits free agency this winter.

JULY 3

Brewers seek ‘opportunistic’ deadline, won’t trade top players

Even though the Brewers are atop the NL Central, there have been some questions about their possible trade deadline approach — as they acted as both a buyer and seller in 2022 when they were in the thick of the playoff race. Brewers general manager Matt Arnold said that his team is hoping to find moves to win this season. “Look, we want to be competitive here in 2023,” Arnold said, via MLB.com. “We will be opportunistic to try and improve this team where we can, responsibly, I think we have a lot of good players here.”

After Milwaukee traded All-Star reliever Josh Hader at the deadline last season, Arnold shot down any ideas that they would trade Willy Adames or Corbin Burnes. “We’re not looking to move any of those guys,” Arnold said. “They’re huge parts of our team right now. Those are guys we believe will help us this year and help us with our goal of trying to win a World Series here in Milwaukee.”

‘Slim’ chance Mets trade Pete Alonso

The Mets could be open to being sellers at the trade deadline after a disappointing first half of the season, but one player that doesn’t seem likely to move is Alonso. “The chances of the Mets moving him appear exceedingly slim,” FOX Sports MLB insider Ken Rosenthal wrote in The Athletic.

JULY 1

Cubs not extending Marcus Stroman?

Chicago doesn’t feel “inclined” to extend right-handed starting pitcher Stroman before the deadline, The Athletic reported. Stroman — who’s in the midst of arguably the best season of his MLB career, highlighted by sporting a 2.96 ERA as of July 13 — is in the second season of a three-year, $71 million deal and has a player option for the 2024 season. 

If the Cubs sell, Stroman could be a prime trade candidate.

JUNE 30

Chas McCormick on the move?

The New York Yankees have expressed interest in acquiring McCormick from Houston, The Athletic reported. McCormick, 28, is under team control through 2026 and would give the Yankees outfield depth with an injured Aaron Judge.

JUNE 27

Max Scherzer open to waiving no-trade clause?

Scherzer could be a surprising trade deadline candidate for the New York Mets, which have struggled mightily this season. He was signed in December 2021 to lead the Mets’ rotation into perennial playoff contention and is currently in the second year of a three-year, $130 million contract with a full no-trade clause. However, he could be open to waiving his no-trade clause to facilitate a deal if the Mets do not improve, according to MLB.com. The 38-year-old right-hander has missed some time due to neck spasms and a suspension in April for violating MLB’s grip-enhancing substances rule.

Pirates‘ Andrew McCutchen, Royals‘ Salvador Perez likely to stay put

McCutchen and Perez are both beloved among their respective fan bases. McCutchen, the 2013 NL MVP with the Pirates had an emotional return to the franchise he started his MLB career with and reportedly hopes to retire in Pittsburgh. Perez, a seven-time All-Star, has spent his entire 13-year MLB career with the Royals and was a crucial part of their 2015 World Series championship team. However, both the Pirates and Royals are currently well out of contention even in weak NL and AL Central races, respectively, and both veterans might get a better-than-anticipated price in what is anticipated to be a weak trade market.

JUNE 7

Rangers targeting bullpen

The Rangers will likely try to fortify their bullpen before the trade deadline, FOX Sports’ Rosenthal told “Flippin’ Bats” host Ben Verlander. “They’ve invested a ton of money the last two years in their club,” Rosenthal said. “They want to see this through. They want to max out, and the bullpen right now is their biggest hole.”

The Rangers may also look for starting pitching help after the news that their ace starting pitcher Jacob deGrom will undergo Tommy John surgery and miss the remainder of the year and most of 2024.

White Sox, Angels likely to stand pat, try to contend

The Angels and the White Sox both had designs on contending in 2023, but so far the season has not been going to plan. FOX Sports’ Rosenthal claims that’s because both teams put so many resources into trying to content this season, and it’s unlikely they’ll pivot from that approach and be open to trading their veteran stars before the deadline. That include the Angels’ Shohei Ohtani, despite Rosenthal’s belief that there is “no chance” Ohtani will re-sign with the Angels in free agency this coming offseason.

JUNE 6

Royals moving Scott Barlow?

Kansas City could move their reliever, The Athletic reported. Barlow, who owns a 4.09 ERA as of July 13, is under team control through 2024.

JUNE 4

Giants buying?

Giants president Farhan Zaidi told MLB Network Radio that the team will be “aggressive” in upgrading its roster.

JUNE 1

Could Shane Bieber be dealt?

Three general managers told ESPN that they suspect the Cleveland Guardians will trade their ace Bieber, a Cy Young Award winner and two-time All-Star. This thinking comes from the franchise’s track record of trading and then developing starting pitchers. (They’ve traded Trevor Bauer, Corey Kluber, Mike Clevinger and Carlos Carrasco and since developed Bieber, Triston McKenzie, Aaron Civale, Cal Quantrill and Logan Allen, among other pitchers.)

Lucas Giolito trade expected?

The Chicago White Sox are expected to trade Giolito, ESPN reported. The right-hander, who owns a 3.45 ERA on the season as of July 13, has been up and down over the last two seasons after three consecutive high-caliber seasons from 2019-2021. Giolito is a free agent after this season.

Jonathan India staying put?

The Cincinnati Reds are “in no hurry” to move India, their primary second baseman for the better part of the last three seasons, ESPN reported. Trade interest and speculation comes against the backdrop of the Reds having several blue-chip infield prospects; Matt McLain and now Elly De La Cruz have reached the big leagues, with Christian Encarnacion-Strand, Noelvi Marte, Cam Collier and Edwin Arroyo making their way through Cincinnati’s minor-league system.