We are closing on the 2023 MLB trade deadline and it’s a little over 24 hours away with plenty of rumors surrounding MLB. Here are some MLB rumors on the Boston Red Sox, Baltimore Orioles, and Minnesota Twins.
MLB rumors: Minnesota Twins hesitant on potential moves because of 2022?
The Minnesota Twins are in a heated race with the Cleveland Guardians in the American League Central. The only path for both teams to the postseason is as the division winner, but the Twins have been reluctant to make any moves yet, and Bob Nightengale of USA Today can’t blame them.
At last season’s deadline, they traded Spencer Steer and Christian Encarnacion-Strand to the Cincinnati Reds for Tyler Mahle. That deal has not exactly worked out as they were hoping it would and now Minnesota has to be thinking about whether or not trading more prospects for a two-month rental will be worth it in the long-term. With the Texas Rangers and Toronto Blue Jays adding big pieces so far, is it worth it for the Twins to go all-in on a season that seems like the odds will be stacked against them in the wild-card round if they get there?
MLB rumors: Boston Red Sox listening on offers for outfielder Alex Verdugo
The Boston Red Sox have played their way into the Wild Card race in the American League with a 15-7 July, which is going to force the hand of GM Chaim Bloom to buy. Sean McAdam and Chris Cotillo of MassLive reported that the Red Sox are listening to offers for Alex Verdugo, who has struggled lately.
Moving the former Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder would be somewhat of a surprise, but with Jarren Duran and Masataka Yoshida playing well above expectations this season, it would make it easier to move Verdugo. Boston is looking for another starting pitcher and Verdugo would have a better market than Adam Duvall to help get Bloom what his team needs.
MLB Rumors: Baltimore Orioles not willing to gut farm system at deadline
General manager Mike Elias is overseeing the first-place Baltimore Orioles in the American League East and a team that is coming off of taking two out of three over the New York Yankees over the weekend has the second-best record in the league. Their top need at the deadline would be another arm in their starting rotation but don’t expect them to gut their farm system this year according to Nightengale.
“We can’t set the minor-league system on fire just because we are in first place,” Elias said. “It’s our job to balance all that.”
You can make the case that the Orioles are a year ahead of schedule in terms of competing, but there is no guarantee that this opportunity will come around again. If they do anything, a starting pitcher is almost a must if they want to make a deep playoff run.