2023 MLB Trade Deadline rumors & discussion (Deadline: Aug. 1)

[Christopher]

Just for fun on a quiet day: Assuming that Harper can play 1B, where would you draw the line on trading for Ohtani as a rental?

If you could do it without trading Abel or Painter, would you do it?

[bigel57]

Just for fun on a quiet day: Assuming that Harper can play 1B, where would you draw the line on trading for Ohtani as a rental?

If you could do it without trading Abel or Painter, would you do it?

OLney reporting the Yanks only team reasonably in on the possibility.

[Christopher]

Since the Yankees are the most likely winter landing spot, they should be the LAST team that's willing to give up their scant few prospects just months before they give him $1 billion. ... Plus, the Red Sox will be very motivated to bid up the price and make the Yankees overpay.

[FolesMVP09]

We need a righty bat
Pass on Ohtani

[Christopher]

Worried we're going to get Dombrowski'd, and he'll go for the big bold swing that costs some key prospects

Might especially do it if he feels like the 2023 team has a better shot than the 2024 no-Nola team.

I'd rather just see some complementary moves and let's give it a run.
Season really hinges on Harper's power stroke anyway, not anything that happens at deadline.

[Christopher]

I think the Phillies are going to end up trading for Goldschmidt, which ultimately also helps the bench problem a little bit

1B: Goldschmidt 80%, Harper 20%
LF: Schwarber 80%, TBA (Rojas if he stays) 20%
DH: Harper 80%, Schwarber 20% (though maybe a few Goldschmidts mixed in)

[Christopher]

I could see the Phillies getting Goldschmidt and one of the Cardinals' relievers.
One thing to keep in mind is that ultimately I don't think there's a huge market for Goldschmidt, which helps the Phillies' leverage.

Who would the Phillies trade?
Some odds:

Painter: 0%
Abel: 10%
Crawford: less than 5%
McGarry: 50%
Rojas: 50%
Guy(s) we haven't heard of: 80%

I sort of hope they hold onto Rojas, and I suspect the Phillies might want to. I also hope they hold onto INF Hao-Yu Lee, though they have some infield depth in the minors.

[FolesMVP09]

What makes you think that they are going to make such a big move and add that large salary?

[Christopher]

Middleton
Dombrowski

This team is built for this October. It's healthy, it has Nola-Wheeler-Walker-Suarez.
Other than the Braves, I can envision them winning a series against any NL team in October.
But thinking the Braves are a foregone conclusion is no way to approach things when you have a roster like this.

[Christopher]

I don't understand the Soto talk at all.
Given that you'd have him for 1.5 seasons, he is literally the most expensive bat on the market.
He'll probably fetch just as much as Ohtani, who you'd only have for 2 months.

This is not anti-Soto talk. He's an incredible players and those ripping his "attitude" say more about themselves than Soto.

I just think he's too expensive when there's a lot of RH power out there on the deadline trade market.

Soto probably starts with Abel & Rojas, and would require more.