MLB Rumors: Diamondbacks not going to be 'reckless' at trade deadline
Among the many surprises of the 2023 season, the Arizona Diamondbacks have emerged as playoff heavyweights. Their roster pales in comparison to other star-studded ones, yet they have still somehow managed to stay atop the NL West keeping up with the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Heading into August, the D'Backs are most certainly buyers. There are, however, two types of buyers: the ones who trade all their gold and go all in, and the ones who make only minor moves and keep trotting along a conservative path.
According to recent sources, Arizona doesn't plan to be "ultra-aggressive" or "reckless." The club will be open to trade negotiations with the caveat that every move they make will be a well-thought-out one.
Diamondbacks general manager Mike Hazen said:
"We're going to be willing to make trades, but there's a difference between being aggressive and being reckless. I don't think it serves the organization short- or long-term to be reckless. I do think it serves the organization to be aggressive."
In terms of roster needs, Arizona will likely scour the league for back-end relief and maybe a veteran starter; the Diamondbacks are anxiously waiting for Merrill Kelly to get back to full health, but in the meantime, acquiring more pitching help can't hurt.
The D'Backs have seen their offense slow down a bit in the last two weeks and may opt for in-house fixes for their hitting issues, allocating the most resources toward fighting other buyers for reliable pitchers.
MLB Rumors: Red Sox could pursue reunion with reliever Joe Kelly
Seeing teams reunite with former players is one of the most popular storylines of the MLB trade deadline, and for the Boston Red Sox, that player could be righty reliever Joe Kelly.
So far this summer, the Red Sox have been connected to Jose Iglesias, Denyi Reyes, and a few other former prospects and players.
Current White Sox arm Joe Kelly is the latest ex-Red Sox member to potentially get traded. Now, Chicago may not be ready to admit they will be sellers at the deadline, but they will be — that's what The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal predicts for the next few weeks, anyway.
When the White Sox decide to start gutting their roster, Joe Kelly stands out as an intriguing free agent despite his recent injury.
Kelly played for Boston for five years and had an average 4.33 ERA during that span. He's not the most talented arm the Red Sox could acquire; however, his price may be more affordable due to his elbow injury (he went on the injured list on Thursday), and he would theoretically fit right back in at Fenway Park.
MLB Rumors: Reds could improve bullpen with Scott Barlow
If the Cincinnati Reds are looking for an affordable upgrade in the bullpen, they may have to look no further than Royals' Scott Barlow.
The right-handed reliever, who remains under team-control for one more season, has a contract that's very easy to swallow, and his best pitching days aren't too far behind him.
In his last two seasons, Barlow recorded an ERA of 2.42 in 2021 and 2.18 in 2022. That number has jumped up to an unsettling 4.09 this season, yet the upside is clearly there.
Blog Red Machine's Zach Pressnell recently wrote of the pros of the Reds acquiring Barlow:
Adding another high-leverage reliever like Barlow to bolster the back end of the bullpen would take a lot of pressure off the shoulders of Lucas Sims and Alexis Diaz; both of whom have been overused throughout the first half of the 2023 season.
Having defied all expectations, the Reds are playoff contenders this year. They, like nearly every other MLB buyer, will go into the trade deadline looking for ways to boost their bullpen, and Royals' Barlow represents one of the more budget-friendly closer options.