MLB Trade Deadline day rumors involving Yankees, Padres, and more

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It’s deadline day. Here’s the latest rumors about the trades that could go down across MLB.

Welcome to Major League Baseball’s deadline day.

Teams have until 6 p.m. Eastern today to finalize trades for players on 40-man rosters, ahead of the late-season run to the playoffs. While there are still hours remaining, two of the major names on the market were moved on Wednesday night. The Philadelphia Phillies swung a deal with the Minnesota Twins for hard-throwing reliever Jhoan Duran, while the Seattle Mariners added third baseman Eugenio Suárez from the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Still, expect more moves today. Here are the latest rumors.

San Diego Padres looking for OF help

The Padres are just three games back of the Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League West, after the Dodgers limped to a 10-14 record in July, their first losing month since last July, according to SB Nation Dodgers insider Eric Stephen. They also sit in the third Wild Card spot in the NL.

But the Padres need help for their offense, particularly in the outfield. According to The Athletic, two names on their radar are Jarren Duran of the Boston Red Sox and Luis Robert Jr. of the Chicago White Sox.

While the Red Sox looked like sellers just a month ago, a hot streak before the All-Star Game pulled them back into contention. At the moment, Boston is just five games back in the American League East while sitting in the second Wild Card spot.

Still, with a glut of young outfielders in the system, Duran has been attached to trade rumors for weeks.

As for Robert, while the White Sox are seeking a “top prospect” for him in a trade, as of yet the Padres have called Chicago’s bluff on that request.

Will that change today given San Diego’s needs in the outfield?

Padres and Astros discussing Dylan Cease

As for who the Padres might move in a deal, keep an eye on right-hander Dylan Cease. While Cease is 3-10 this year with an ERA of 4.79 — numbers that do not exactly scream “must acquire” ahead of the deadline — his SO/9 of 11.6 is tops in MLB.

According to Mark Feinsand of MLB.com, the Astros have made Cease, who is a pending free agent, their top target ahead of the deadline. Moving the right-hander would make it easier for the Padres to swing a deal for offensive help, given their financial position.

Willi Castro a target for multiple teams

Trading Jhoan Duran is not the only move the Minnesota Twins are expected to make ahead of the deadline.

According to numerous reports, utility player Willi Castro is also likely to be moved today. Castro has slashed .247/.338/.411 this season, along with 15 doubles, a pair of triples, ten homers, 27 RBI, and nine stolen bases.

He’s done this while seeing time at left field, second base, right field, third base, and shortstop. He’s even made an appearance on the bump this year.

As far as teams that could be looking to acquire Castro, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports that the Mariners and the Astros are “among the teams” interested.

What are the Yankees going to do?

As the New York Yankees look to catch the Toronto Blue Jays atop the AL East, do not expect them to be quiet today. The Bronx Bombers have already added a trio of bats to help their offense, trading for Ryan McMahon, Amed Rosario, and Austin Slater in recent days, but a few more moves are likely.

Expect the Yankees to target pitching help. According to Feinsand, they are “still looking to add a reliever or two and possibly a starter – preferably a controllable one.”

Any time pitching is discussed, focus turns to the Pittsburgh Pirates and starter Mitch Keller, as well as closer David Bednar. Jack Curry of the YES Network believes the Yankees are “interested” in Bendar:

Athletics closer Mason Miller is another relief pitcher to watch; more on him in a moment.

As far as starting pitching, Jon Morosi of the MLB Network points to the Marlins and the Diamondbacks as potential trade partners for New York:

Alcántara is a fascinating name, as he works his way back from Tommy John surgery. While his season got off to a rocky beginning, he saved his best two outings for his final two starts before the Deadline. He went seven innings while allowing just four hits and an unearned run against the Padres on July 23, and then on Tuesday night, he went five scoreless innings against the Cardinals.

He is also under team control through the 2027 season, making him more than a rental.

Mason Miller is another pitcher to watch

Anytime a player is held out of a game near the Trade Deadline, it draws attention.

That was the case on Wednesday night when Athletics manager Mark Kotsay turned to Jack Perkins, and not Miller, in a save situation against the Mariners.

After the game, Kotsay indicated that Miller was not available and that it was not “injury related:”

The closer has not pitched since Saturday, and this latest move has many believing that he is likely going to be traded in the coming hours. The Yankees have been listed as one potential team, with the Padres as another.

But there is an intriguing twist to the interest from San Diego.

They might move him to the starting rotation.

Miller started six games for the A’s back in 2023, and according to The Athletic, the Padres’ pursuit of outfield help might mean parting with starting pitcher Dylan Cease — as discussed above — as well as potentially closer Robert Suarez.

If they indeed move Cease, acquiring Miller and sliding him into a starting spot could help plug that hole in the rotation. Of course, if they move Suarez, it would create a hole at the back end of their bullpen, one that Miller could fill.

Toronto interested in Phil Maton

The Toronto Blue Jays are another team looking to add bullpen help in what is becoming a very hot relief pitcher market.

According to Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, that could lead the Blue Jays to make a deal with the St. Louis Cardinals for relief pitcher Phil Maton. St. Louis already moved closer Ryan Helsley, sending him to the New York Mets. Now, Goold reports that the Blue Jays have discussed Maton with the Cardinals.

Maton is quietly putting together one of his best seasons in the big leagues. He’s posted an ERA of just 2.35 this year, with a WHIP of 1.122 and a SO/9 of 11.3, all while holding hitters to a batting average against of just .206. He’s also struck out 30.4% of the batters he has faced and has a WAR of 1.2 this season.

He is not a power arm, as he relies mostly on a curve, a cutter, a sweeper, and a sinker, most of which are at or below league-average velocity. But the break and movement on his pitches certainly stand out, particularly the break on his curve.