Now that the All-Star break and the draft are over, the July 31 MLB trade deadline is approaching quickly. Each day leading up to the deadline brings a fresh supply of rumors. With that said, here’s some of the latest news around the league.
Latest MLB Trade Deadline Rumors and News
Yankees and Red Sox Are Watching Diamondbacks Closely
One of the biggest questions as we approach July 31 is whether or not the Arizona Diamondbacks will sell at the deadline. If they do decide to cut bait on the disappointing 2025 season, then they have quite a few alluring trade targets. The Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees both have designs on a D-back or three.
These rivals are both looking for a starting pitcher and have sent scouts to watch Diamondbacks starters Zac Gallen and Merrill Kelly in Phoenix, with the Yankees also keeping a close eye on third baseman Eugenio Suárez.
Gallen has endured uncharacteristic struggles this season, but deadline buyers might see his strong track record and count on a rebound. Kelly has enjoyed a standout 2025 to this point, and his appeal is rather obvious. Suárez as a third baseman potentially fills a role for quite a few contenders, and he’s been one of the most potent power hitters in baseball this season. Suárez enters Monday with 35 home runs and 85 RBIs.
Braves Are Now Likely to Sell
The Atlanta Braves were expected to contend for the NL East title this season, but instead, they’re currently in fourth place and on pace for over 90 losses. A few weeks ago, Braves General Manager Alex Anthopoulos stated that the team would not sell, but they just have not been able to stop the bleeding since. As such, they’re poised to trade away select veterans over the next several days, but a full reset probably isn’t happening, at least for now.
Atlanta is expected to listen to trade offers for catcher Sean Murphy, second baseman Ozzie Albies, and centerfielder Michael Harris, but not until this winter, unless the Braves are blown away by an offer. However, they are letting teams know that DH Marcell Ozuna, closer Raisel Iglesias, and reliever Pierce Johnson are all available. With that said, Ozuna has 10-and-5 rights and can veto any trade.
Ozuna has shown some signs of decline in his age-34 season, but has also been playing through a hip injury for the majority of the season. Johnson should have plenty of interest, and Iglesias has had his struggles, but he has a strong track record as well. The situation for Iglesias could be similar to Gallen, where a team will likely grab him and count on a rebound. By the sound of it though, this winter could potentially bring much bigger changes to the Braves franchise.
Phillies Sign Robertson
The Philadelphia Phillies, who have been searching for relief pitching help throughout the season, have agreed to sign veteran reliever David Robertson. It’s a deal for the rest of the season for $16 million, prorated for just the remainder of the Phillies’ games, or roughly $6 million.
The 40-year-old Robertson has been without a team all season and last pitched in the majors Sept. 29 of last season, but recently held a private bullpen session for interested teams. He will now pitch in his 17th MLB season. In 68 outings for the Texas Rangers last season, Robertson had a 3.00 ERA, 1.11 WHIP, and 99 strikeouts in 72 innings.
The Phillies likely aren’t done looking for bullpen help, as they entered Sunday ranked 23rd in the majors with a 4.36 relief pitching ERA. In addition to that, keep in mind that lefty José Alvarado is ineligible for the playoffs due to his PED suspension that started May 18.
Rangers Do Not Plan to Sell
Similar to the Braves, the Rangers have been disappointing. The Rangers haven’t bounced back to their 2023 championship form as some expected, and that could mean a soft pivot of sorts at the deadline, with emphasis on soft.
If the Rangers do decide to trade away talent, however, they could make some measured moves. Jacob deGrom and Nathan Eovaldi are not considered to be available at this moment. Adolis GarcÃa, on the other hand, could be.
Texas is still very much in the hunt for one of the AL wild-card spots, so it seems extremely unlikely that the Rangers will let go of valuable contributors like deGrom and Eovaldi. GarcÃa has a stronger chance of getting traded, but it will have to be an offer that Texas feels they can’t pass up.
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