MLB Rumors: Yankees could target Royals C Salvador Perez trade to replace Trevino
In yet another back-breaking blow for the New York Yankees, catcher Jose Trevino was ruled out for the season this past week, leaving the club who is tied for last place in the AL East with the rival Red Sox potentially needing to make a trade deadline move to replace their backstop.
There are obviously options that wouldn't break the bank for the Yankees out there. A guy like Yan Gomes of the Chicago Cubs comes to mind, a rental who has proven to be a veteran platoon at the catcher position and could come to New York for a relatively modest price on the trade market.
But the Yankees could also, at least in theory, take a big swing at the trade deadline if they wanted to by going after a guy they're getting a first-hand look at during the weekend season, Royals All-Star catcher Salvador Perez.
Earlier in July, reports indicated that Perez, the longtime Royal and stalwart of the position who has a no-trade clause in his contract, could waive that provision for the chance to chase another World Series ring with a contender.
The Yankees may not actually qualify for that given the current state of affairs, to be sure. But once Aaron Judge returns and, at least hopefully, reignites some semblance of an offense for the Pinstripes, then they could start to climb back up the standings.
What will be the most important question for Brian Cashman to answer for the Yankees, though, will be whether or not such a substantial move would be worth it given the club's other needs to address as the deadline if they buy. Where things land on that aspect will ultimately determine whether or not Perez is a viable trade target for New York or not.
MLB Rumors: Cardinals could trade Willson Contreras in fire sale
Even amid a bit of a hot streak for the St. Louis Cardinals, the read of the room about their trade deadline plans remains the same. The phrase "too little, too late" undoubtedly comes to mind. Despite winning seven of their last 10, the Cards are still 11 games under .500 and as many games back in the NL Central race with the Brewers and Reds staying hot.
As such, the expected outcome of the Cardinals selling off short-term rentals in trades with guys like Jack Flaherty, Jordan Montgomery, Jordan Hicks, Dylan Carlson, and Paul DeJong, among some potential others, remains the same. But one MLB insider reported that a surprising name could also be on the move out of St. Louis: catcher Willson Contreras.
Bob Nightengale of USA Today reported on Sunday that the Cardinals would consider trading Contreras, considering him "on the block" as the deadline approaches.
The Cardinals inked the former rival with the Cubs to a five-year, $87.5 million deal this past offseason as their prize in free agency. That move, however, has turned out disastrously. Including being benched as the team's catcher earlier in the year, Contreras was awful in May and June with 47 strikeouts compared to just 31 hits with an OPS in the low .600s. He's improved of late, though, which could be exactly why St. Louis is trying to strike now.
Various teams around the league are looking for an upgrade at catcher with teams like the Yankees, Astros, and several other buyers being in that position market. If Contreras is indeed available with the club control left for four seasons after 2023 — even at that salary — his upside could net St. Louis a substantial haul in return.
MLB Rumors: Proposed Braves trade package for Shohei Ohtani
Last week, former GM Jim Bowden of The Athletic (subscription required) named the 10 contenders who could and probably should make a play for a Shohei Ohtani trade with the Los Angeles Angels. Of the 10 contenders, he ranked the Atlanta Braves No. 6.
But it's no secret that the one hindrance to Alex Anthopoulos making big moves at the trade deadline for the Braves is that the orgnaization has one of the lowest-ranked farm systems in baseball in 2023, no doubt a construct of the prospects given up to acquire both Matt Olson and Sean Murphy.
So that begs the question of what the Braves trade package to offer the Angels for Ohtani would actually look like.
Zachary D. Rymer of Bleacher Report offered his thoughts on a possible Braves trade for Ohtani, opining that Atlanta would offer AJ Smith-Shawver, Vaughn Grissom, JR Ritchie, Owen Murphy and Spencer Schwellenbach. For those keeping track at home, that is Atlanta's Top 3 prospects, Grissom, who would be on that list if not for his accrued time in MLB already, and the No. 6 prospect in Scwellenbach.
Unfortunately, as Rymer even admits, that's probably not enough to get the Angels to budge. Reports have indicated LA is eyeing multiple Top 100 prospects, which is something the Braves can't offer at all.
Perhaps offering more young, controllable major-league talent could up the ante, as suggested by Chase Irle of SportsTalkATL. His proposal included Murphy, Grissom, Bryce Elder and Kyle Wright, the latter two being two proven major-league starters. But again, is that enough for Ohtani? Probably not, right?
All told, while adding Ohtani to arguably the best in baseball would be incredible to watch, the Braves simply don't have the ammo to make it all that feasible — if the Angels even trade the two-way superstar at all.
