Trade Deadline Deals and Rumors

[Author’s Note: This blog post will be updated throughout the day as more deals and rumors come in]

As we approach the always exciting CBL trade deadline, several teams have already been tweaking their rosters leading up to today. With today being the last good opportunity to add real talent to your ball club, though, teams are expected to be very active in acquiring that difference maker, and moving the pieces they don’t want.

Rumors

• San Diego continues to shop big names like Eric Hosmer and Jose Reyes. Both players have solid track records and post season experience, and are free agents at season’s end. Teams looking for a rental or two should get in touch with the Surf Dawgs.
• Minneapolis, Syracuse and potentially Dayton all made heavy runs at Vallejo’s Stephen Strasburg. According to one report, Minneapolis dangled a package based around Bryce Harper but were still rebuffed. The Millers had no comment on the reported offer.
• Vancouver has moved most of their veteran trade pieces over the last week, but they are looking at moving veterans Jayson Werth and Evan Longoria. Longoria hit .291/.370/.547 last season, but has seen his slash line fall to .225/.317/.407 this season. He’s still a good player and has added almost 2 wins above replacement despite the down offensive year, but interest hasn’t been as high as expected.
• The Austin Bats could possibly look to make another big move, with the ability to add a little salary now with Votto out the door.
• Vallejo, Calgary and Charlotte seem poised to stand pat at this point.Vallejo did make one trade already today, but those teams seem to have their rosters set by now.
• Traverse City is expected to stand pat, as their ownership and GM situation is still unknown for next season.
• Montreal, Richardson City, Mahoning Valley and Savannah are all playing for next season at this point. Anyone in need of some veteran depth for the stretch run without giving up the farm should be looking closely at these rosters.
• Bowling Green’s GM was abducted by aliens, and hasn’t been around. (Really he’s just having in-game file issues)
• Boston has an interesting decision to make, as they’re playing better of late and remain in the wild card race, at least momentarily. Trading veterans seems the most likely, but if Boston chooses to go for it, they could potentially add enough talent to compete for a playoff berth.

Update 1

• Minneapolis made one final attempt at landing Stephen Strasburg, but ultimately came up short, according to league sources. They also dangled Scooter Gennett in at least one other deal.
• Bowling Green’s GM has been found. He has no memory of anything, but is discussing trades again.
• Calgary managed to land an upgrade in center field, bringing in Andrew Aplin from RC. That trade is yet to be finalized, but is expected to be by the deadline. Any other moves by Calgary are likely to get prospects back.
• Tyler Kolek will be (or has been) sent to AAA, sources confirmed. Syracuse remains extremely high on the lefty.
• Vancouver reportedly was “willing to listen” on Jose Fernandez deals, but GMs around the league didn’t really buy in and expected him to stay put. If he goes anywhere, Syracuse seemed like the only possibility.

Update 2

• San Diego is reportedly on the verge of making two trades that should be finalized prior to the deadline.
• There was buzz late in the evening surrounding Byron Buxton and Vallejo, although league sources weren’t sure how far talks had progressed.
• Montreal continues to try and move veterans, but most offers teams have been making aren’t close to the value Montreal feels they warrant.

Update 3

• Syracuse has made Matt Garza available in the final hours leading up to the deadline.
• Jose Reyes is reportedly available for cash, if teams are willing to pay the rest of his salary for this season.
• Boston continues to shop several veterans, although no deals are imminent at this point.

Update 4

• As we approach the final hour before the deadline, teams are surprisingly quiet. Syracuse continues to shop several decent veterans, although most contending teams are looking for difference makers. Sometimes teams forget three small upgrades at three different positions can be more valuable than one major upgrade.
• Minneapolis has been in talks to move MR/CL Tim Collins with a few teams after adding Koji Uehara to their bullpen.
• Jose Reyes and Eric Hosmer appear likely to remain in San Diego, and test free agency following the season.

Official Trades

1. Vallejo trades 1B Ryan “Rowdy” Tellez and SP Jon Teaney to Vancouver for LF Corey Dickerson and 1B Jon Singleton.
2. Minneapolis trades SP Jordan Zimmerman to Syracuse for 2B River Fuller, 1B Curt Hall and C Sam Ferri.
3. Austin trades 1B Joey Votto to Syracuse for SP Eldon Conklin and SP Tyler Chatwood
4. Minneapolis trades SP Jarred Cosart to Austin for SP Eldon Conklin and LF Joe Gilfillan
5. Austin trades SP Cobi Johnson to Vancouver for OF Michael Taylor, MR Daniel Webb and SP Taylor Cole
6. Calgary trades C Devon Fisher and 2B Wilmer Flores to Richardson City for CF Andrew Aplin
7. San Diego sells C Jeff Burns to Minneapolis for $2,500,000
8. Syracuse trades SP Matt Garza to Montreal for SP Felipe Rivero
9. Charlotte trades C Alex Avila and $2,000,000 to Richardson City for MR Derek Tuttle
10. Syracuse trades 1B O’koyea Dickson to Richardson City for SP James Haynes
11. Minneapolis trades MR Tim Collins to Vancouver for SS Amed Rosario and 3B Al Moore
12. Boston trades C Russell Martin to Vancouver for C Steve Bean and $1,000,000