MLB Rumors: Absurd Jackson Holliday trade floated between Orioles-White Sox
Who doesn't love having some fun at the MLB Trade Deadline? Even if it's unlikely, it's always fun to dream about trades that ultimately make sense and would send shockwaves throughout the baseball world. But one analyst's pipe-dream suggestion for the Baltimore Orioles and Chicago White Sox might take the cake for being the most ridiculous trade ever proposes.
Kerry Miller of Bleacher Report propsed a handful of what was branded as "outrageous" trades to shake things up in MLB, but the cake was taken with this proposed trade that would send baseball's top prospect, Jackson Holliday of the Orioles.
On one hand, this move would undoubtedly help the Orioles, in second place in the frenzied AL East, address their biggest weakness with immediate starting pitching help and club control with a Cy Young candidate in Cease until 2025. Moreover, they could still keep the system's infield depth with Lenyn Sosa as well.
The other hand, however, is that Holliday looks like the goods and remains just 18 years old. The No. 1 overall pick from the 2022 MLB Draft — and the son of MLB legend Matt Holliday — has been raking already at just 19 years old in High-A ball this season, slashing .295/.440/.472 over 54 games with five homers, five triples, nine doubles, 33 RBI and 17 stolen bases. He looks like the absolute goods.
Baltimore even considering trading Holliday at this age and with that type of potential, even for obvious immediate help, is truly absurd. As far as outrageous trades go, this is a touch too far and every O's fan — especially with the success of the young players the system has developed to get them to this point in the 2023 season — is scoffing at this notion.
MLB Rumors: Braves trade deadline plans shifting, bullpen the top priority
One thing that has not changed with the Atlanta Braves is that the best team in the National League — by a wide margin — is going to be one of the buyers at the upcoming MLB Trade Deadline. In that light, however, the calculus of how they're going to buy has almost surely been altered pretty starkly.
Early in 2023, it seemed as if the Braves would surely be targeting a middle-of-the-rotation starting pitcher and perhaps an outifielder/designated hitter to supplement Marcell Ozuna and Eddie Rosario in those roles. Then, if it were viable, the bullpen could've used more help. That has all now flipped.
Particularly with Jesse Chavez out, the bullpen is thinner than Brian Snitker or any fan would like. Meanwhile, Ozuna and Rosario have come on extremely strong and more starting pitching options have emerged with Michael Soroka, Kolby Allard and, to a lesser degree, AJ Smith-Shawver. On top of that, Chavez's recovery does not appear to be going smoothly as he's reportedly walking with a cane and is unsure when he'll return.
It's worth noting that the Braves should have a bevy of options on the bullpen market with guys such as Scott Barlow, David Bednar, Jordan Hicks, Kendall Graveman and numerous others all fitting the bill at various prices on the trade market as well given their contract situations.
Regardless, we still don't know exactly what the Braves are gearing up for at the deadline. But reading the tea leaves with injuries and the way the season has played out, expect the bulk of Alex Anthopoulos and the front office's attention to be paid to upgrading the bullpen — though that might not be all.
MLB Rumors: Dakota Hudson could be secret sauce for blockbuster Cardinals trade
All signs still pretty definitively point toward the St. Louis Cardinals opting to be sellers at the trade deadline. Even with some solid play of late, the Redbirds are still 13 games below .500 for the season and are 9.5 games out of first place in the NL Cetnral. Put simply, it's not a great spot to be in.
One of the concerns for the Cardinals now and moving forward, though, is the starting pitching situation. As such, there is at least the potential that the organization could have reservations about trading the likes of Jordan Montgomery or Jack Flaherty, despite both hurlers being set to hit free agency this offseason.
Perhaps a newcomer to the big-league roster could ultimately alleviate those concerns and, as such, help the Cardinals facilitate a big-time trade before Aug. 1, though. That player is Dakota Hudson.
The 28-year-old right-hander was called up as the 27th man for a split-doubleheader against the Yankees this past weekend and, in 2.2 innings of relief work, he was dominant, allowing just one base-runner and not allowing a single run. And as Cardinals insider Derrick Goold noted, he could now be in line to start on Wednesday to fill an open spot in the rotation.
Hudson is no stranger to the big leagues as he started 26 games for the Cardinals last season, posting a 4.45 ERA and 1.45 WHIP on the year. But he struggled in the spring with his control, which ultimately led to him being optioned to Triple-A. After some work and an injury that allowed him to get his health in a good spot, he has started showing extremely positive signs.
If this is something with staying power, though, Hudson could be immensely valuable to St. Louis. He's still under club control until 2025 but, more importantly, that also opens the door for the Cards to feel better about trading Flaherty, Montgomery, or perhaps even another option as they'll be adding an unexpected answer to the starting pitching problem.