MLB Rumors: Cubs' Nick Madrigal showcase reeks of desperation
The Chicago Cubs may be trying to showcase Nick Madrigal ahead of the MLB trade deadline in a move that feels more desperate than shrewd.
According to The Athletic's Patrick Mooney (subscription required), one reason the Cubs recently called up Madrigal from Triple-A Iowa may be that the club wants him to flex his muscles. The trade deadline is coming up in a month and a half, and the Cubs may be thinking one step ahead as they prepare to shop the underachieving slugger this season.
This feels like Nick Madrigal's last chance in Chicago, or a good opportunity to showcase himself for another team.
Madrigal once showed enough at Oregon State that the White Sox made him the No. 4 pick in the 2018 draft. Think of this as another audition.
Yet Madrigal's glaring struggles in his second year on the Cubs have been already laid out on the table for all to see.
Madrigal was demoted in late May after a cold start to the season in which he experienced a slump on defense, slugging percentage, and never got consistent at-bats. Then, down in Triple-A, Madrigal slashed .488/.580/.854 with six doubles, three triples, and a home run in 11 games.
Is Chicago about to see the return of the "Nicky two strikes" who posted a .745 OPS and .774 OPS in his first two seasons with the White Sox?
Maybe, maybe not.
Given Madrigal's injury history and inconsistencies, this may very well be his last outing in Chicago.
MLB Rumors: Mets-Reds trade refuses to go away
Could the Mets actually keep it in the family and go after Cincinnati Reds closer Alexis Diaz?
NY Post's Jon Heyman believes Alexis Diaz remains firmly on New York's radar. Other MLB pundits are a little more skeptical since no one knows for sure whether the Reds will sell or not in 2023.
The New York Mets have been in dire need of bullpen help since Edwin Diaz's injury, and adding his brother, Alexis, makes a lot of sense. Alexis Diaz has flourished in his first year as the club's full-time closer with a 1.65 ERA, and over in New York, the Mets' bullpen stands out as one of their most pressing issues this season.
From a pragmatic standpoint, the Mets may not be willing to give up that much, though. Cincinnati is reportedly looking for "young pitching" and would most likely want to pry some of New York's top prospects away.
We'll see whether this rumor continues to persist closer to the trade deadline.
MLB Rumors: Bettors made a boatload of money during A's win streak
Inside the mind of a sports fan:
Can the Denver Nuggets win the NBA championship? Hm, yeah, they've got a chance. I'll put some money on it.
Can the Las Vegas Knights win the Stanley Cup? I don't see why not, the odds look good to me.
Can the Oakland Athletics win seven games in a row? Absolutely frigging not. Nice try, DraftKings.
Well, the few people who still have faith in the A's and bet on them to win their past seven games are raking in the dough. Exactly $156,655.12 worth if they carried over their winnings onto Oakland's moneyline for every game in this streak.
On Tuesday night, the A's extended their improbable winning streak to seven games with a 2-1 comeback win against the Tampa Bay Rays. Oakland — yes, Oakland — now owns the longest active winning streak in baseball, a streak made even more impressive by the fact that all their wins have come against teams above .500.
Oakland's seven-game winning streak is tied for the longest by a team to enter with a sub-.200 win percentage, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.
On top of all that, the A's recent triumphs have lit a fiery spark into their fanbase, and at Tuesday's game, some fans rallied to keep the team in Oakland with plentiful "Sell the team" and "F–k John Fisher" signs. Fisher probably won't sell the team, but bettors can still cash in on that win streak. It's a good — if not chaotic — time to be an A's fan.