The biggest trades thus far in Major League Baseball this season came on Tuesday night, the eve of Wednesday’s 4 p.m. ET trade deadline. There are rumors of big fish still on the move, but Wednesday morning was relatively quiet.
There still was movement. The Nationals added a couple of bullpen pieces, the Rays added a slugging-but-struggling first baseman and the Cubs and Astros traded backups.
There might be more to come, but it’s a good idea to catch up on what happened early Wednesday before the frantic final few hours.
With a little more than two hours until the trade deadline, the sense of urgency has started to pick up, according to sources. Multiple teams are hitting the starting-pitching market, with Rangers starter Mike Minor, among others, generating interest.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) July 31, 2019
Nationals bolster bullpen
The most active team early Wednesday was the Washington Nationals. They are leading the NL wild-card race and still chasing the Atlanta Braves (ironically whom they’re playing while the trade deadline drama plays out) in the NL East.
The Nats added a right-hander, Daniel Hudson, from the Blue Jays and a lefty, Roenis Elias, from the Mariners within about an hour of each other early Wednesday afternoon. They gave up minor prospects in both deals.
Hudson has a 3.00 ERA with 48 strikeouts and 23 walks in 45 innings for Toronto this season. Elias has served as the Mariners’ closer for much of the season. He has 14 saves and a 4.40 ERA with 45 strikeouts and 17 walks in 47 innings.
Roenis Elias is indeed headed to the Nationals, sources confirm to ESPN. That’s two moves already for Mike Rizzo to improve a bullpen that needed it.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) July 31, 2019
Rays, Brewers help each other
Tampa Bay and Milwaukee pulled off a classic win-win trade Wednesday morning. They each got rid of an extraneous player while picking up a piece that will help them in their respective playoff hunts.
The Rays traded reliever Jake Faria — injured for much of the year but effective in 10 innings thus far — for first baseman Jesus Aguilar. Aguilar has struggled for much of this season but was an All-Star last year.
Jesús Aguilar is more likely to help Tampa Bay than Milwaukee while Jake Faria is more likely to help Milwaukee than Tampa Bay. That’s how good trades work. https://t.co/1jVxLd3V6P
— Craig Edwards (@craigjedwards) July 31, 2019
A depth trade
The Cubs saved a little money and got a useful piece off the bench when they traded backup catcher Martin Maldonado to the Astros for Tony Kemp.
Maldonado, who actually started the year with the Kansas City Royals, is a deadline acquisition for the Astros for the second straight year. That means he knows the pitching staff and is trusted defensively.
Kemp, meanwhile, can provide some speed off the bench for the Cubs.
The Cubs will get Tony Kemp, who was recently DFA’d by Houston, in the Martín Maldonado deal. No other players/cash considerations are expected to be included in the trade.
— Patrick Mooney (@PJ_Mooney) July 31, 2019
