In the past, MLB fans have been privy to seeing front offices make deals during the All-Star break, catching players who may have even been playing in the game off guard.
Rumors were running ablaze during last season’s All-Star game, which were mainly focused on which team was going to acquire All-Star Manny Machado from the Baltimore Orioles. The Los Angeles Dodgers ended up winning that circus, although his antics in the postseason brought this team more bad publicity than good results on the diamond.
Nonetheless, teams have been known to make trades during the All-Star break, seeing as how all players are off and front offices are able to more easily communicate with each other to get deals all worked out. With that in mind, here are three deals that could be consummated over the ASB.
Zack Wheeler to the Boston Red Sox
According to reports, both the New York Mets and the Boston Red Sox have been in discussions lately about sending Mets starting pitcher Zack Wheeler to the starter-hungry Red Sox. Currently sitting in third place in the American League East, the Red Sox need any and all types of additions to even begin to smell the postseason again.
For the Mets, their 2019 season has represented a failure so far, as their offseason moves have not resulted in the types of results they were looking for. Thus, sending out any players that could result in a decent prospect haul has to be at the forefront of their mind now.
Wheeler would be a solid no. 3 addition to the Red Sox rotation and the BoSox have a solid-enough farm system that would be able to replenish some of the prospects that the Mets lost in the Robinson Cano – Edwin Diaz deal with the Seattle Mariners over the offseason.
Madison Bumgarner to the New York Yankees
Another rumored deal to at least have some wheels, Madison Bumgarner has been rumored to be on the trade block since the offseason when it was pretty easily known that the San Francisco Giants would yet again not be competing for any sort of postseason play.
Now for Bum, he reworked his no-trade clause to help his chances of being acquired by a top-flight, contending team, which would work for the Yankees. The Bronx Bombers are in first in the AL East over the surging Tampa Bay Rays, but could always use another arm or two, especially with how bad injuries hit their squad earlier this season.
Bum would be a nice piece for the Yankees, and his demeanor and swagger (if you will) would probably rub some of the players the wrong way, but his play would make up for any ill-will that may develop between players.
Brad Hand to the Los Angeles Dodgers
For a team that has been struggling mightily but still has their heads above water and are in second place in their division, the Cleveland Indians have been as disappointing as any team that was expected to make the playoffs. With the Minnesota Twins running away with the AL Central already, the Indians really would not even have a hand in making the Wild Card, as teams like the Rays, Oakland Athletics and even the Texas Rangers look to be better than them.
The Dodgers, on the other hand, are exactly what they were projected to be and more, and they currently are running away with the National League West divisional title with no end in sight. Looking for one final knockout blow that could put the Dodgers ahead of anyone else in the NL would be another solid bullpen piece to pair with Kenley Jansen and Joe Kelly, among others.
Brad Hand would represent that piece, and his left-handed closing abilities would make Dave Roberts and his team unstoppable in late-game scenarios. Controlled through 2020, with a 2021 club option, Hand would have a very hefty price tag, as the Indians would be looking to recoup the prospect package they sent to the San Diego Padres to acquire Hand in the first place.
The Dodgers, because of course they do, have the farm system built to survive a big acquisition like Hand, and if they were to acquire him, the entire NL would realize that in order to be LA, they would need to score before the eighth inning.
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