With the MLB trade deadline rapidly approaching, it's time to grade trade fits for Tim Anderson, the Chicago Cubs and the Atlanta Braves.
The MLB trade deadline is fast approaching.
The possibility for blockbuster trades is certainly real, especially on the pitching market. Let's explore three trade options, ranging from veteran players to emerging young stars, for three contending playoff teams.
MLB Rumors: Grading trade fits for Tim Anderson, Braves and Cubs
Grading a Yan Gomes to San Diego Padres trade fit
The San Diego Padres need catching help. Badly. And there are no obvious answers on the trade market this year, especially after Sean Murphy was traded in the offseason.
Chicago Cubs catcher Yan Gomes could make sense as an option. At 35, he's a veteran player with extensive playoff experience. He's hitting .280/.304/.458 with a .762 OPS, six home runs and 19 RBI in 30 games this season.
Gomes is only signed through the 2023 season, so he would only be a rental. It would still leave the Padres in need of a long-term catcher. But it would solidify the position for this year and that may be rather enticing for a World Series-or-bust team this season.
Grading the fit: 6/10
Grading a Brent Rooker to Atlanta Braves trade fit
The Atlanta Braves and Oakland A's have an extensive recent trade history, agreeing to mega deals that sent stars Matt Olsen and Sean Murphy to Atlanta.
Considering that the Braves look like clear winners in each deal (by a wide margin, no less), would the A's really be in a hurry to make another trade with Atlanta's president of baseball operation Alex Anthopoulos?
There are obvious fits, as Cody Williams of FanSided pointed out, including Paul Blackburn and Richard Lovelady. But outfielder Brent Rooker is their best and most obvious trade candidate, and fits the Braves very well: he's only 28, signed through 2028, and hitting .261/.367/.509 with an .876 OPS, 11 home runs and 32 RBI.
Rooker would be a strong long-term replacement for Marcell Ozuna in the outfield. Ozuna, of course, has had a strong month — he's hitting .321/.387/.679 with a 1.066 OPS, nine home runs and 20 RBI in his last 20 games. Whether he's able to sustain that is unclear, but it wouldn't hurt the Braves to check in and see what it takes to acquire Rooker.
Grading the fit: 4/10
Grading a Tim Anderson to Los Angeles Dodgers trade fit
After losing Corey Seager and Trea Turner in consecutive offseasons, the Los Angeles Dodgers shortstop is in flux, and an area that the team will surely look to improve before the July 31 trade deadline.
If the Dodgers had it their way, they would acquire Milwaukee Brewers star shortstop Willy Adames — a player they have had interest in acquiring in the past. But the Brewers are unlikely to move Adames in the middle of a pennant race, especially after the fallout from the Josh Hader trade in a similar situation a year ago.
Which has naturally fueled the Tim Anderson-to-Dodgers speculation. But such a pairing feels unlikely, considering his poor defensive metrics and his lack of plate discipline. Besides, with the Dodgers' rotation dealing with a slew of injuries, it's entirely possible the team primarily focuses on acquiring a starting pitcher.
Grading the fit: 2/10