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Here we are, arriving at that magical time of the season: the Major League Baseball trade deadline.
For baseball junkies, this is one of the most exciting times of the year – the day teams on the fence have to decide whether they’re in or out if they want to contend for one of this season’s coveted playoff spots.
USA TODAY Sports will provide all the latest news, rumors, analysis and more in the frenzied run-up to the deadline. Follow along.
When is the MLB trade deadline 2023?
The MLB trade deadline this year is 6 p.m. ET on Tuesday, Aug. 1. All deals have to be finalized and submitted to the commissioner’s office by then.
FOLLOW THE MONEY: MLB player salaries and payrolls for every major league team
MLB trade deadline tracker
USA TODAY Sports has been on top of all the deals that have gone down so far this season, providing details and analysis of what each trade means. Check it out.
Cardinals may not yet be done dealing
The Cardinals, no matter how much the fan base may scream, or their players complain, are still open for business and trading away assets that don’t figure to be around next season.
They sent left-hander Jordan Montgomery to the Los Angeles Angels and closer Jordan Hicks to the Toronto Blue Jays on Sunday night, and there may be more deals in the works.
Starter Jack Flaherty, eligible for free agency in November, could be gone. Closer Jordan Hicks and perhaps injured reliever Ryan Helsley. Infielders Tommy Edman and Paul DeJong could be gone too. And outfielders Dylan Carlson and Tyler O’Neill better not send out their laundry, either.
They will keep infield cornerstones Paul Goldschmidt and Nolan Arenado, and outfielders Jordan Walker and Lars Nootbaar, try to build around them this winter, and hope that they are back to the Cardinal Way in 2024. — Bob Nightengale
MLB pitchers at the trade deadline: Who could be on the move?
You’ve got Marcus Stroman and Kyle Hendricks from the Cubs, Mike Clevinger from the White Sox, Jack Flaherty in St. Louis, perhaps Justin Verlander and Jose Quintana in New York, Eduardo Rodriguez and Michael Lorenzen in Detroit, Paul Blackburn of the Oakland A’s, and maybe Josh Hader and Blake Snell in San Diego.
Former Guardians Cy Young winner Shane Bieber, who was supposed to be on the block for offensive help, now is staying put, sidelined until sometime in August with elbow inflammation.
The best of the starters may be Snell, who’s pitched to a 0.73 ERA over his last 13 starts but has battled control issues recently. Stroman may be the second-best, but he has yielded a 7.99 ERA in five outings this month.
Hader, the five-time All-Star closer, is easily the best reliever available. — Bob Nightengale
Will the Orioles go all-in at trade deadline?
Baltimore GM Mike Elias didn’t launch this massive rebuild, tearing down the organization to its bare studs, to suddenly reverse course, and trade prized prospects for rentals. The Orioles know their time has arrived, but just like the Astros did with Elias as their assistant GM under Jeff Luhnow, they are looking to build a franchise with sustained success.
They will not only be good this year, but perhaps will be haunting the Yankees and Red Sox for the next decade. — Bob Nightengale
Angels put Shohei Ohtani trade rumors to rest
Just in case anyone believed the zany and reckless rumors that the Los Angeles Angels were remotely considering trading Shohei Ohtani, they put it all to rest with several major trade acquisitions over the past week in an attempt to reach the postseason for the first time since 2014.
Last Wednesday, the Angels acquired starter Lucas Giolito and reliever Reynaldo Lopez from the Chicago White Sox for minor-league catcher Edgar Quero and pitcher Ky Bush, their No. 2 and No. 3 prospects. (Giolito took the loss in his Angels debut on Friday.)
Then on Sunday, they brought back two of their former first-round draft picks in a deal with the Colorado Rockies.
First baseman C.J. Cron (17th overall, 2011 draft) and outfielder Randal Grichuk (24th overall, 2009) were acquired from the Rockies for minor league pitchers Mason Albright and Jake Madden.
Cron played his first four major league seasons in Anaheim, while the Angels traded Grichuk to the St. Louis Cardinals before he ever made his MLB debut.
Rangers, Blue Jays bolster pitching staffs on Sunday
It has been more than 20 years since the St. Louis Cardinals have been sellers at the trade deadline, and as much as they may dread it, they sure are taking full advantage of being a bullseye in a seller’s market.
The Cardinals traded closer Jordan Hicks to the Toronto Blue Jays and starter Jordan Montgomery and reliever Chris Stratton to the Texas Rangers on Sunday and came away with a slew of prized prospects.
In Texas, Montgomery joins the prize of the trade deadline so far, three-time Cy Young award winner Max Scherzer, as the Rangers look to maintain their lead in the AL West division.
Toronto was in need of a big arm at the back of the bullpen after All-Star closer Jordan Romano had to go on the injured list Sunday with lower back inflammation.
MLB standings
Going into the new week, your division leaders looked like this. Here are the complete standings.
- AL East: Baltimore Orioles (+1.5 games)
- AL Central: Minnesota Twins (+0.5)
- AL West: Texas Rangers (+1)
- NL East: Atlanta Braves (+11.5)
- NL Central: Cincinnati Reds (+0.5)
- NL West: Los Angeles Dodgers (+2)
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