Trade rumors: Padres, Angels starters, Dodgers' plans, Yanks vs. Rays

The calendar reads July 20, which means we’re exactly two weeks away from the Aug. 3 Trade Deadline.

Here are some of the latest topics swirling in the rumor mill, including the Padres considering all options, the Angels' plans for their top starters, how injuries might impact the Dodgers’ Deadline strategy and more.

Padres 'have not ruled out anything' as potential sellers

The Padres avoid a sweep against the Royals with a 19-2 win on Sunday, but they are still just 20-32 over their past 52 games and entered Monday behind five other teams in the race for the third NL Wild Card spot at 49-50 (albeit while sitting only 2 1/2 games from a playoff spot).

The Friars could consider selling at the Trade Deadline if they don't turn things around soon, and according to the San Diego Union-Tribune, they "have not ruled out anything" when it comes to potentially dealing closer Mason Miller, fellow high-leverage reliever Adrian Morejon or starter Michael King.

One option reportedly being discussed is the idea of attaching Miller to Xander Bogaerts as a way to shed the latter's undesirable contract. Bogaerts, who owns a .645 OPS this season and will turn 34 in October, has more than seven years left on the 11-year, $280 million deal he signed with the Padres after the 2022 campaign. Bogaerts would also need to waive his no-trade clause to make a trade possible.

Angels expected to make Detmers and Soriano available

Although the Angels haven't made the playoffs since 2014, owner Arte Moreno typically has resisted big Trade Deadline sales, even when it might have benefited the organization in the long run. This year, though, the club at least appears open to the idea of moving some of its more valuable trade chips.

According to MLB Network insider Jon Heyman (New York Post subscription required), the Angels are expected to make starters Reid Detmers and José Soriano available.

Detmers and Soriano are both controllable through 2028, so the Halos aren't going to be in a rush to deal them. But the two may never be more valuable on the trade market than they are this year.

The Red Sox are unlikely to sell now that they've won 13 straight, and the Tigers and Twins could also end up holding onto their coveted starters if they remain in the mix for a playoff spot as we move closer to the Deadline.

As a result, the options for buyers looking to add a starter who can potentially start in the playoffs could be limited, giving the Angels a chance to capitalize if interim GM John Mozeliak can convince Moreno that trading Detmers and Soriano is the right move.

Injuries won't change Dodgers' Deadline plans

Although the Dodgers are keeping Shohei Ohtani out of the rotation indefinitely as he deals with a left knee issue and will be without catcher Will Smith for at least another month due to a neck injury, they aren't expected to change up their Trade Deadline strategy, according to a report from The Athletic.

Per the report, the Dodgers will "look to improve on the margins but refrain from big splashes that could harm the club’s depth and projected future."

Ohtani's injury reportedly has not given Los Angeles added incentive to pursue a trade for Tigers ace Tarik Skubal. The Dodgers also have no plans to look for Major League catching depth behind Dalton Rushing and Eliezer Alfonzo.

Yankees, Rays scout Jeffers at Wrigley Field

The Yankees and Rays aren’t just competing with each other for the American League East crown. They also have some shared interests in the trade market.

According to USA Today, both teams had scouts at Wrigley Field over the weekend to watch catcher Ryan Jeffers, who recently returned from a fractured hamate bone in his left hand. Jeffers homered for the first time since his injury on Friday and owns a .941 OPS this season.

He’s a coveted option for catcher-needy teams like the Yankees and Rays, but the Twins are reportedly still deciding whether to buy or sell. They sit two games out in the AL Wild Card race at 49-51 after losing two of three to the Cubs.

'Playoff-caliber starter' on Braves' Deadline wish list

Braves president of baseball operations Alex Anthopoulos has been through enough Trade Deadlines to know not to build your whole plan around players returning from the injured list.

Atlanta has potential reinforcements coming, both for its lineup (Ronald Acuña Jr.) and its rotation (Spencer Schwellenbach, AJ Smith-Shawver). But Anthopoulos understands that nothing is guaranteed when it comes to injuries.

So, as he explained in an appearance Sunday on MLB Network Radio, he’s been working the phones for upgrades. While Anthopoulos mentioned the team’s pitching needs in particular, he made it clear adding a bat is a possibility, too. It’s going to depend on the market.

“As much as we all like to say, ‘I need to get this, I need to get that,’ sometimes you just have to take what might be available to you,” Anthopoulos said. “I think it’s been pretty obvious, if there’s a playoff-caliber starter out there, we would jump at that. If there’s a reliever [out there], we would jump at that.”

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