Friday's deadline is approaching quickly, and the rumors are abundant
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MLB trade rumors: Dodgers trying to land Max Scherzer; Yankees out on Trevor Story after landing Rizzo
Friday's deadline is approaching quickly, and the rumors are abundant
https://www.cbssports.com/writers/dayn-perry/
By
Dayn Perry
&
R.J. Anderson
1 hr ago4 min read
USATSI
The MLB trade deadline for 2021 arrives on Friday afternoon, and at this late hour the trade rumors are flowing like pristine river water and or untreated sewage. Let's have a look, shall we?
As for what's already happened,
our deadline trade tracker is here to help. Now for Thursday's scuttlebutt.
Dodgers close to blockbuster for Scherzer
Max Scherzer
WAS • SP • 31
ERA2.83
WHIP.89
IP105
BB25
K142
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The
Washington Nationals and Padres
were supposedly nearing an agreement on a trade that would have sent send right-handed starter
Max Scherzer to San Diego. That deal never got done, however, and now it appears Scherzer could be heading to the Dodgers -- and bringing shortstop Trea Turner with him,
per ESPN's Jeff Passan.
Scherzer, 37 years old as of Tuesday, missed a recent scheduled start because of triceps discomfort he developed while taking batting practice. In 19 outings this season entering Thursday, he amassed a 2.76 ERA (135 ERA+) and a 5.25 strikeout-to-walk ratio. He just appeared in his eighth career All-Star Game and has won three Cy Young Awards, including most recently in 2017. Scherzer laid to rest those triceps concerns with a strong start against the Phillies on Thursday.
Turner, 28, is currently out after testing positive for COVID-19. He's hit .322/.369/.521 (146 OPS+) with 18 home runs and 21 steals (on 24 tries) this season. Turner won't qualify for free agency until after next season. Corey Seager, the Dodgers' incumbent shortstop, is currently out with a fractured hand.
Yankees out on Story after landing Rizzo
According to Jon Heyman of MLB Network, the Yankees would be open to moving first baseman Luke Voit as a means of creating additional budget space. Voit, who is currently on the injured list with an inflamed knee, was owed $4.7 million on the season, suggesting the Yankees wouldn't be saving much money in a trade. Nevertheless, New York seems to be doing its best to accomplish two feats: adding talent without exceeding the luxury-tax line.
With a
trade for
Anthony Rizzo on Thursday night that included the Cubs paying off the rest of his salary, the Yankees now appear to be out on Trevor Story,
per MLB Network's Jon Heyman. It stands to reason that Voit could still be available, however.
Mets may be close to major addition
The Mets are trying to hang on to first place in the balanced but unspectacular NL East. If not for an inordinate run of injuries all season, New York might have a more comfortable lead over the
Phillies and
Braves. Since better health may be beyond their immediate control, the Mets may look to make some notable additions before Friday arrives. Speaking of which, Kiley McDaniel of ESPN reports that something big may be in the works:
The Mets have been linked to an array of deadline candidates:
Kris Bryant of the
Cubs,
Trevor Story of the
Rockies, and
Jose Berrios of the
Twins, among them. Other targets may include
Javier Baez and
Craig Kimbrel of the Cubs. The rotation figures to get healthier in the near- to mid-term, which may mean Bryant or Story is the most likely target for the Queenslanders. Either would make a great deal of sense as the Mets deal with the uncertainty surrounding
Francisco Lindor's oblique injury and a general lack of depth in the lineup. That said, Berrios remains of interest, although the price may be increasing now that Scherzer appears to be off the market: