MLB Rumors: Brewers have a change of heart with Corbin Burnes
Corbin Burnes and the Milwaukee Brewers front office did not get along prior to the season, as the pitcher's arbitration talks got heated. This led to trade rumors involving the Milwaukee ace, which only grew in anticipation leading up to July and the All-Star Break.
Yet, in all of this chaos, the Brewers keep winning. They entered the day tied with the Cincinnati Reds for first place in the NL Central. Per Burnes himself, Milwaukee's front office made it very clear that they don't intend on trading him prior to the deadline.
"He said he's (GM Matt Arnold) not trading me," said Burnes. "They're looking to add some pieces. Obviously the market we're in, they're going to do it responsibly and not trade off the farm system for one guy for two months. They obviously don't tell us names of what they're looking for or positions they're looking for, but just knowing that hey, we're not going to trade me, we're not going to trade anyone that would put a huge dent in the team."
Despite trading closer Josh Hader to the Padres in a similar position just last season, Arnold and Milwaukee have no intent on tearing down what they have built. Doing so would cause an uproar in the Brewers fanbase, as Burnes is a homegrown ace and a good one at that.
He has one more arbitration year left on his current contract, which should make for another awkward series of negotiations should Milwaukee fail to sign him to a long-term contract this winter.
MLB Rumors: Reds in trade talks with the White Sox
It's no secret that the Cincinnati Reds want to upgrade their rotation. It's one of the more obvious weaknesses with the NL Central leaders, as the Reds competitive window opened far sooner than they expected. Buoyed by Elly De La Cruz and a host of young players playing for the team's first postseason berth in quite awhile, Cincinnati's front office doesn't want to waste this opportunity.
The Reds farm system remains strong, which is why they are one of the more intriguing buyers on the market. The Chicago White Sox, a clear seller in the AL Central, have taken note. Trade talks between the two teams are reportedly underway, with Jon Morosi reporting Cincinnati's interest in Lance Lynn and Lucas Giolito, for starters.
Dylan Cease feels like a pipe dream, as he would cost an arm and a leg, but Giolito is arguably having a better season and can be had. Giolito has a 3.45 ERA and in his final start prior to the All-Star Break threw seven innings of two-run ball against the Cardinals. Lynn, meanwhile, struggled for the majority of the first half, but struck out 11 in seven innings of one-hit ball against the Blue Jays in his final start prior to the break. Should he continue to pitch at that rate, his value will only increase for a White Sox team looking to retool for 2024.
Lynn may be the more realistic target for the Reds. The organization is hungry to win, sure, but over-investing in a team still a year or two away from being a true World Series contender isn't wise, as it would rid the system of much-needed depth. Lynn has experience in the NL Central, and likely won't cost all that much. He also has another year left on his contract.
MLB Rumors: Will the Cubs sell?
Chicago opened the second half with an 8-3 loss to the Boston Red Sox. While one game shouldn't be enough to change the team's trade deadline plans, the Cubs are an organization in flux. Yes, Jed Hoyer and Co. should prefer to add at the deadline rather than sell of spare parts, but this team remains several games below .500 and is rapidly trending in the wrong direction as it pertains to the NL Central and NL Wild Card races.
"There's nothing we want more than to add, to continue to win this season," Hoyer said. "But if we are in a position where that doesn't look like the right bet to make, then we'll pivot."
The Cubs have some valuable assets if they do decide to sell. Players like Marcus Stroman and Cody Bellinger can land them a hefty haul. Stroman has an opt-out after this season, and Bellinger will be a free agent. Chicago has tried to extend both at one time or another, but those contract talks fell short of expectation.
"I definitely know what is possible," Bellinger said. "I'm focusing on helping this team win while I am here. And hopefully we can get on a little roll and stay together."
Hoyer and his front office used the All-Star Break to clear their heads, and focus on long-term goals. Odds are, this will not be the next Cubs World Series team. But they also cannot afford to trade away core players who could be a part of something special in Chicago.
David Ross knows the importance of the next few weeks on the north side.
"It's going to be dependent on how we play, right?" Ross said. "If we play [poorly], there will probably be more stuff going on. If we play really good and get on the roll, then we won't probably hear much of the noise. It all comes down to how we play."
No pressure, Chicago.
