As we enter the All Star Break one can expect that at least some of the trade rumors that have been flying around for the last month are about to become reality. The couple of days off gives executives the time to sit back, relax, and send players packing.
The biggest name out there is Cubs right-hander Matt Garza. Bruce Levine of ESPN Chicago reported that a slew of scouts were watching Garza throw against the Cardinals on Saturday night. The front-runners for Garza are thought to be the Rangers and the Blue Jays with the Red Sox, Indians and Giants showing some interest.
Garza did not have his best stuff on Saturday but showed that he can still gut out a victory without it, something teams will be looking for in a pitcher they hope can lead them through the playoffs.
"He is extremely impressive," Cubs manager Dale Sveum told ESPN Chicago. "Tonight, he was missing by a half a ball, and there were huge pitches in the game that cost him [extra] pitches, too. His last five or six starts have been extremely impressive."
ESPN's Buster Olney tweeted that he expects Garza to be dealt over the All Star Break.
This may well be Matt Garza's last start with CHC, who are said to be making progress with at least 2 teams. Deal over break appears likely.
— Buster Olney (@Buster_ESPN) July 14, 2013
CBS Sports has listed the St. Louis Cardinals as one of the possible destinations for Garza although that has to be a long shot. Even with the Cubs desperately trying to get as many prospects as possible to return to respectability they would have to receive an insane package to send Garza to their arch-rivals.
The Rangers are also thought to be making a play to upgrade one of their outfield positions, a spot they notably ignored when Josh Hamilton left town. Word is that Chicago White Sox outfielder Alex Rios could be moving to Arlington, according to Bleacher Report.
Rios had a horrific 2011 but returned form last year. This year Rios is hitting .270 with 11 home runs, and 40 RBIs. The outfielder has also shown that he hasn't lost his speed with 19 steals on the season so far.
Jeff Seidel of ESPN Dallas reports that the Rangers fear they may be missing Nelson Cruz's bat from the lineup going down the stretch thanks to his involvement in the developing Biogenesis scandal. If Cruz is missing for a stretch of time Rios would be able to fill in for him.
Philadelphia is going to have some interesting decisions to make in the next month. With Ben Revere going down for 6-8 weeks they have to decide if they are buyers or sellers. Going into the break the Phillies are 48-48, 6-and-a-half games out of first. Revere, who had been tearing the cover off of the ball lately, will be joining Ryan Howard on the disabled list.
The Philadelphia Inquirer asked Phillies GM Ruben Amaro if the team would be able to contend without Revere and Howard.
"Well, we'll find out," Amaro said. "I'm the GM. I'm supposed to be able to do that stuff. It's pretty exciting actually for us to have gotten ourselves back in the race and have been playing a little bit better baseball has been great."
From that quote it sounds like the Phillies consider themselves to still be buyers before the trade deadline. Not only will this effect teams looking for outfielders, assuming the Phillies want a replacement for Revere, but it also kills all of the rumors that Cliff Lee and Chase Utley might have been available.
