The latest MLB rumors include an inevitable fire sale for the White Sox, the Mets trying to spend their way out of trouble and concern over Aroldis Chapman.
MLB rumors: White Sox fire sale coming
The White Sox are kidding themselves if they think they won't be selling at the MLB trade deadline.
Chicago is fourth in an uninspiring AL Central and just 7.5 games out. So the season isn't dead in the water just yet. But the White Sox just aren't good enough to make up that gap and, critically, they're in too good of a position to not hold a fire sale.
As Jon Heyman pointed out on the Mully & Haugh Show on 670 The Score, "They should have a better sale than most because they do have talent and they do have expiring contracts."
Ken Rosenthal echoed that sentiment in The Athletic (subscription required), writing that the White Sox haven't conceded to selling just yet "but that moment should be coming soon."
If they don't sell, Chicago will watch Lucas Giolito, Keynan Middleton and Reynaldo Lopez walk for nothing. With expensive club options for 2024, Lance Lynn and Tim Anderson have also been named as potentially available figures.
The White Sox don't need to completely blow things up. They can build around Luis Robert Jr., Andrew Vaughn, Eloy Jimenez, Dylan Cease and Michael Kopech, among others. The best investment for this season would be to give it up, cash in and set up the future for that core.
MLB rumors: Mets spend again because they can
The advantages of having a spendy owner are obvious. The disadvantages rear their ugly heads if the people spending the money don't do so wisely. So, basically, Steve Cohen got the Mets in the mess they're in right now in 2023 by throwing cash around without ensuring that money would be wisely spent.
The plan to get out of the mess? Just spend more, baby!
Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic (subscription required) detailed how the Met are paying, and will continue to pay, premiums no matter which way they trend at the trade deadline: "The Coehn Mets operate differently form every other club."
For instance, the trade earlier this week that brought Trevor Gott to the Mets resulted in a 90 percent tax on the combined salaries of Gott and Chris Flexen. The result? Gott essentially cost $8.5 million to acquire. His estimated value on the open market is closer to $1.5 million but taking on Flexen's $4 million, plus tax, made the cost much higher.
On the flip side, trading Eduardo Escobar to the Angels involved paying $4.72 million of the infielder's remaining salary to make the deal happen.
But hey, what's the true value of cash or the sting of a luxury tax when your owner has a net worth in the tens of billions?
So when the trade deadline rolls around, expect the Cohen's money to keep on flowing, whether for ins or outs.
MLB rumors: Rangers' warning on Aroldis Chapman
The Rangers made the first big move of MLB trade season with the acquisition of Aroldis Chapman at the close of. But did they jump the gun?
It was a bit strange that the Royals moved Chapman so early instead of waiting to see the market for him develop a bit further as desperation set in for World Series hopefuls.
Peter Gammons revealed why there was such a rush on Twitter this week.
"Many of us were critical of the Royals trading Chapman long before the market got crowded, but one explained reason was that the KC folks were worried his problems holding runners–in the new running landscape–might diminish the interest from contenders," Gammons tweeted.
The data on Chapman is certainly concerning on that front. In 32.1 innings pitched, he's had 37 stolen base opportunities and given up 15 stolen bases. He hasn't caught a runner stealing yet.
To put that in perspective, Chapman ranks third among MLB pitchers in stolen bases given up. The two pitchers ahead of him are starting pitchers with almost twice as many innings pitched.
Are stolen bases the end-all-be-all for a reliever? Certainly not when he's maintaining an ERA of 2.23 but it's something the Royals were apparently worried would tank Chapman's value.