Some of the latest MLB rumors involving the St. Louis Cardinals, New York Yankees, Chicago Cubs and Texas Rangers.
We start our look around the swirling MLB rumors in Texas where the Rangers now hope they can get Max Scherzer back on track.
MLB rumors: A secret weapon waiting for Max Scherzer with Texas Rangers?
With Friday's blockbuster deal that sent Scherzer from the Big Apple to the Lone Star State, there comes another piece of news that may provide some hope for the three-time Cy Young Award winner to become the true ace for the Rangers.
Waiting for Scherzer to arrive in Texas is pitching coach Mike Maddux, someone with plenty of experience not only with MLB pitchers but with Scherzer especially. During the 2016 and 2017 campaigns, Maddux was the pitching coach for the Washington Nationals, a team with Scherzer as a big part of its rotation.
During those two campaigns, Scherzer was vintage Mad Max, posting a 2.52 ERA/2.77 FIP/0.907 WHIP over 421.1 innings. With an ERA+ of 173 during that stretch, Scherzer was among the most dominating pitchers in MLB.
With Scherzer now in his age-39 season and his numbers up this season in 107.2 innings over 19 starts (4.01 ERA/4.73 FIP/1.189 WHIP), can Maddux once again help unlock the real Mad Max? If so, it would be a huge boost for the Rangers and their chances of advancing deep into the postseason.
MLB rumors: A Cardinals-Yankees trade and reunion in the Bronx?
With the St. Louis Cardinals looking to sell and the New York Yankees looking to boost their rotation, could Jordan Montgomery head back to the Bronx in a trade deadline deal between the two teams?
It was last season when the Yankees sent Montgomery to the Cardinals at the trade deadline in a swap that landed outfielder Harrison Bader in pinstripes. The southpaw has performed well for St. Louis, logging a 3.31 ERA/3.52 FIP/1.191 WHIP in 184.2 innings over 32 starts. However, Montgomery is scheduled to be a free agent next season and has long been rumored to be one of the Cardinals who is moved at the trade deadline as St. Louis retools for 2024.
Pitching is on the front of the mind for the Cardinals and names with both the Seattle Mariners and Yankees have been floated out there as trade targets.
The Cardinals are expected to be very active at the trade deadline, and the Yankees are rumored to be buyers in a tough American League East. Could the two be trade partners? It's something to watch as the trade deadline draws ever closer.
Chicago Cubs rumors: Cody Bellinger no longer available for trade
According to an ESPN report, the Cubs have pivoted their thoughts on Bellinger's availability in a trade, reportedly pulling the former National League MVP from all trade talks. Rumors the star outfielder would be pulled off the market were strong on Saturday.
The move makes sense as the Cubs have won eight straight games heading into Sunday's encounter in St. Louis against the Cardinals. The streak has put Chicago just 3.5 games out of the lead for the National League Central and 3.0 games out of the final Wild Card spot, and selling off Bellinger would be a clear indication that the Cubs don't believe they can make up that ground.
Instead, the Cubs will keep Bellinger through the rest of his one-year, $17.5 million "prove it" deal he signed in the offseason to show teams that he could overcome the offensive struggles that had plagued him since the pandemic-shortened 2020 campaign.
Bellinger entered Sunday slashing .315/.368/.540 with 15 homers and 46 RBI, showing that the change of scenery did indeed do him some good.
While the Cubs have pulled Bellinger from the market, will pitcher Marcus Stroman be kept on the North Side as well? There's no official word yet, but it would make sense if the Cubs are truly pushing for a postseason spot.