Our MLB trade tracker for the 2023 season is live with MLB trade rumors shaping the summer of baseball coverage. We’ll look at MLB trades today with grades and analysis for each of the key MLB trades in 2023. Let’s jump into the latest MLB trade news.
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Who got traded in the MLB today?
There have been no MLB trades today. The only two notable MLB trades this season involved the Kansas City Royals trading Aroldis Chapman to the Texas Rangers and the New York Mets acquiring Chris Flexen and Trevor Gott from the Seattle Mariners.
We expect there to be a significant number of MLB trades after the All-Star Break. Following each major deal, we’ll provide live analysis and grades in our MLB trade tracker.
Latest MLB trades
New York Mets acquire Chris Flexen, Trevor Gott from Seattle Mariners
The struggling Mets added to their bullpen by picking up veteran pitcher Trevor Gott from Seattle. While New York did acquire Flexen in the deal, he was immediately designated for assignment. Flexen was a part of the deal in order for the Mariners to move off the remainder of his $3.9 million salary.
- New York Mets receive: RHP Trevor Gott, RHP Chris Flexen
- Seattle Mariners receive: LHP Zach Muckenhirn
In Gott, the Mets acquire a 30-year-old veteran who is pitching to a 4.03 ERA and 1.41 WHIP on the campaign. This represents his best performance since the righty was a member of the Los Angeles Angels back in 2015.
In return, Seattle picks up a 28-year-old lefty in Muckenhirn who put up a 6.00 ERA in three appearances with the Mets earlier in the season. As reported by Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic, Seattle moved off Flexen and Gott to create some payroll flexibility. Because the Mariners made the move to help set up an acquisition at the MLB trade deadline, it boosted their grade here.
- New York Mets: B
- Seattle Mariners: B+
Aroldis Chapman heads to the Texas Rangers
- Kansas City Royals receive: LHP Cole Ragans, OF Roni Cabrera
- Texas Rangers receive: LHP Aroldis Chapman
The Kansas City Royals traded reliever Aroldis Chapman to the Texas Rangers on Friday in exchange for starting pitcher Cole Ragans and outfielder Roni Cabrera. As part of the deal, Ragans was optioned to Triple-A Omaha and Cabrera was assigned to the Royals Dominican Summer League Team.
After signing a one-year deal with Kansas City this offseason, Chapman reestablished himself as one of the hardest-throwing pitchers in baseball. Across 29.1 innings this season, Chapman recorded a 2.45 ERA and struck out 43.4 percent of batters faced.
Texas entered June 30 ranked 24th in bullpen ERA (4.37), with its relievers placing 16th in K-BB rate (14.6 percent) and 19th in strikeout rate (23.1 percent). Chapman is owed the remaining portion of his $3.75 million salary and will be a free agent in 2024.
Ragans, the 30th overall pick in the 2016 MLB Draft, is in his age-25 season. The 6-foot-4 southpaw has compiled a 5.92 ERA with a 13.2 percent walk rate in 24.1 innings with Texas this season. Last year with the Rangers’ Triple-A affiliate, he posted a 3.32 ERA in 43.1 innings. Cabrera was signed out of the Dominican Republic in international free agency in January 2022. Neither are top-30 prospects in the Rangers’ system.
- Kansas City Royals: C
- Texas Rangers: B
Los Angeles Angels acquire Mike Moustakas from Colorado Rockies
- Los Angeles Angels get: Mike Moustakas
- Colorado Rockies get: Connor Van Scoyoc
A day after acquiring Eduardo Escobar from the New York Mets, the Los Angeles Angels made more MLB trade news by landing Colorado Rockies infielder Mike Moustakas. Primarily serving as a backup corner infielder this season in Colorado, Reynolds posted a respectable .270/.360/.435 slash line with a .795 OPF, 101 wRC+ and 17 RBI in 136 plate appearances. In Los Angeles, he’ll again function as infield depth for a team that just demoted Jared Walsh.
Connor Van Scoyoc, age 23, was an 11th-round pick in the 2018 MLB Draft. The 6-foot-6 righty has made 11 starts at the High-A Level this season for the Angels’ minor-league affiliate, recording a 2.76 ERA in 62 innings. Based on his age for the level and career struggles in the minors (4.4 ERA, 1.36 WHIP across 264 innings), he’ll likely function as minor-league pitching depth for the majority of his career.
- Colorado Rockies: C
- Los Angeles Angels: B-
New York Mets trade Eduardo Escobar to Los Angeles Angels
- Los Angeles Angels receive: Eduardo Escobar
- New York Mets receive: Landon Marceaux, Coleman Crow
The Los Angeles Angels placed Anthony Rendon on the 10-day injured list with a left wrist contusion on June 19, creating a need for depth at third base. So, Los Angeles dealt starting pitching prospect Coleman Crow and fellow pitching prospect Landon Marceaux to the Mets for Escobar. While neither were top prospects in the Angels’ farm system, it’s an overpay. Escobar posted a .236/.286/409 slash line in 120 plate appearances with the Mets this season.
Meanwhile, New York receives two intriguing young arms. When he’s not injured, Crow has posted a 1.88 ERA and 0.63 WHIP across 24 innings at the Double-A level this season. Marceaux isn’t as intriguing as a prospect, but he does provide New York with more pitching depth in the minors.
- New York Mets: A
- Los Angeles Angels: D+
When can MLB teams make trades?
Major League Baseball teams are allowed to make MLB trades all the way until the MLB trade deadline on Tuesday, Aug. 1 at 6 PM EST. Once the trade deadline passes, MLB teams can’t make trades involving major-league players until the offseason.
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What is the biggest trade in MLB?
The biggest trade in MLB this season was the New York Mets trading infielder Eduardo Escobar to the Los Angeles Angels for pitching prospects Coleman Crow and Landon Marceaux. From April through June, a majority of the MLB trades are clubs swapping cash considerations for players that were about to be released or already designated for assignment. Stay tuned, our MLB trade tracker will be analyzing and grading every deal up to the 2023 MLB trade deadline.
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Who makes trades in MLB?
The president of baseball operations and general manager of a team are responsible for MLB trades. While there are a few coaches in the NBA and NFL who have the authority to make trades, only the front offices of clubs make trades in baseball.
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San Diego Padres acquire Juan Soto from Washington Nationals
- San Diego Padres acquire: Juan Soto, Josh Bell
- Washington Nationals acquire: James Wood, Robert Hassell, MacKenzie Gore, C.J. Abrams, Jarlin Susana, Luke Voit
Los Angeles Angels trade Raisel Iglesias to Atlanta Braves
- Atlanta Braves receive: Raisel Iglesias
- Los Angeles Angels receive: Tucker Davidson, Jesse Chavez
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Kansas City Royals trade Whit Merrifield to Toronto Blue Jays
- Toronto Blue Jays land: Whit Merrifield
- Kansas City Royals land: Samad Taylor, Max Castillo
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New York Yankees, St. Louis Cardinals swap Jordan Montgomery, Harrison Bader
- New York Yankees acquire: Harrison Bader
- St. Louis Cardinals acquire: Jordan Montgomery
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Philadelphia Phillis land Noah Syndergaard from Los Angeles Angels
- Philadelphia Phillies get: Noah Syndergaard
- Los Angeles Angels get: Jadiel Sanchez, Mickey Moniak
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Cincinnati Reds trade Tyler Mahle to Minnesota Twins
- Minnesota Twins receive: Tyler Mahle
- Cincinnati Reds receive: Spencer Steer, Christian Encarnacion-Strand, Steven Hajjar
New York Yankees land Oakland Athletics pitcher Frankie Montas
- New York Yankees acquire: Frankie Montas, Lou Trivino
- Oakland A’s acquire: Ken Waldichuk, JP Sears, Luis Medina, Cooper Bowman
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Milwaukee Brewers trade Josh Hader to San Diego Padres
- San Diego Padres get: Josh Hader
- Milwaukee Brewers get: Robert Gasser, Esteury Ruiz, Taylor Rogers, Dinelson Lamet
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Chicago Cubs deal Scott Effrross to New York Yankees
- New York Yankees land: Scott Effross
- Chicago Cubs get: Hayden Wesneski
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Seattle Mariners swing blockbuster trade for Luis Castillo
- Seattle Mariners acquire: Luis Castillo
- Cincinnati Reds acquire: Noelvi Marte, Edwin Arroyo, Levi Stoudt, Andrew Moore
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