Stock Up, Stock Down: MLB rumors and trade deadline sellers and buyers

The 2023 MLB trade deadline is fast approaching. Time is running out for teams to figure out if they are going to be buyers, sellers, or stand-pat. That question has been answered for some teams, but not all as MLB rumors continue to swirl.

As all teams head into the final weekend of games before the official deadline on August 1, here is the weekly Stock Up, Stock Down, a trade deadline edition.

Stock Up: Los Angeles Angels have become trade deadline buyers

For weeks, the talk around baseball has been about Shohei Ohtani and will the Los Angeles Angels move him at the trade deadline. After numerous rumors, Wednesday night, Sports Illustrated‘s Tom Verducci reported that they have taken their All-Star pitcher and hitter off the market.

In the overall picture, it was hard to see them trading him, but their recent success has reinforced the front office that they will go all-in at the trade deadline to add. They are behind three teams for the final Wild Card spot, but with Mike Trout coming back at some point, anything is possible.

One reason for the Angels deciding to keep Ohtani is to show him that the organization is committed to winning this year and beyond. It still doesn’t mean that he won’t leave in free agency over the winter, but they have no choice at this point to go all-in and make a run.

The Angels acquired pitcher Lucas Giolito and relief pitcher Reynaldo López from the Chicago White Sox Wednesday night in the first of what should be multiple moves before the deadline.

Stock Up: MLB rumors say Boston Red Sox have become trade deadline buyers

There are going to be better choices for American League Manager of the Year, but Alex Cora should get some votes for the job he’s doing with the Boston Red Sox. He has the Red Sox 2.5 games back behind the Toronto Blue Jays for the final Wild Card spot and they’re doing it with a pitching staff that has been devastated by injuries.

Boston has started to make deadline moves as GM Chaim Bloom traded Kiké Hernandez to the Los Angeles Dodgers Tuesday for two prospects, ending what has been a tough season for the utility player. The Red Sox are 6-4 in their last 10 games, but they are reported to be looking for pitching by August 1 after an impressive two-game sweep of the Atlanta Braves this week.

Bloom would love to sell off some pieces and he still can like Adam Duvall, but the thought of moving James Paxton or Justin Turner has been put to rest following the recent streak that moved them out of the American League basement and past the New York Yankees. The Red Sox are scheduled to get Chris Sale, Tanner Houck, and Garrett Whitlock back soon, which would be a major boost to their rotation. Trevor Story is also getting close to making his season debut and sometimes getting four internal players back at the deadline can be like making some moves.

Boston still needs another starting pitcher and a reunion with left-hander Eduardo Rodriguez is a possibility, or one of the available arms from the Chicago White Sox. This season, the Red Sox are buyers instead of sellers, something that was hard to envision just a month ago.

Stock Down: Chicago Cubs should sell at the trade deadline

It may look like the Chicago Cubs are getting back into the National League Wild Card race but, truth be told, they should be sellers at the trade deadline.

They have two players who they can sell very high on — Cody Bellinger and Marcus Stroman. Bellinger bet on himself with a one-year contract and the Cubs can cash in with a deadline move. A left-handed bat that can play all three outfield positions, several teams would pay and maybe overpay for him for the final two months of the season.

Stroman is a top-of-the-rotation addition to a contender and a very interesting reunion with the Toronto Blue Jays is not out of the question. If the Cubs trade Bellinger and Stroman early enough, they could use some of the prospects they get back in return and flip them for MLB players at the deadline as well.

It’s tough for teams to raise the white flag on a season with two months left, but they have to keep an eye on next season. Ohtani staying with the Angels looks like is the route they are going to go and the Red Sox are a team that played their way into the buyer conversation thanks to their recent play. It’s going to be interesting next four days.