The Chicago White Sox are having a fire sale. The team traded three pitchers away over the weekend after sending Lucas Giolito to the Angels on Wednesday. Chicago sent starting pitcher Lance Lynn and reliever Joe Kelly to the Dodgers in exchange for minor league pitchers Nick Nastrini and Jordan Leasure as well as outfielder Trayce Thompson. The Sox also traded reliever Kendall Graveman to Houston, getting catching prospect Korey Lee back in return.
The St. Louis Cardinals are also selling at the trade deadline. St. Louis sent left-handed starter Jordan Montgomery and right-handed reliever Chris Stratton to Texas in a trade with the Rangers. Texas sent reliever John King to St. Louis along with a pair of top prospects in infielder Thomas Saggese and right-hander Tekoah Roby. St. Louis also traded reliever Jordan Hicks to the Blue Jays in exchange for minor league pitchers Sem Robberse and Adam Kloffenstein. Hicks had spent his entire MLB career with the Cardinals, posting a 3.67 ERA with eight saves through 40 appearances this season. The 26-year-old is set to become a free agent this winter. Both Robberse and Kloffenstein have played in Double-A this season. Montgomery was 6-and-9 with a 3.42 ERA in 21 starts with St. Louis this season, while Stratton had thrown the fifth-most innings of any reliever in baseball. Here’s Cardinal GM John Mozeliak on the roster shuffle.
The Chicago Cubs won’t be parting ways with Cody Bellinger ahead of the MLB trade deadline. ESPN reports Chicago has told opposing teams that Bellinger won’t be traded. The 28-year-old outfielder has had a strong first season with the Cubs, batting .314 with 15 home runs and 46 RBI. Bellinger signed a one-year, 17-million dollar deal with Chicago and will hit free agency after this season. The Cubs climbed back into the playoff race after putting together an eight-game winning streak that was snapped yesterday.
The MLB trade deadline is set for 5:00 cst on Tuesday.
