2025 MLB Commerce Deadline Rumor Tracker: Cardinals’ Steven Matz Drawing Curiosity

The 2025 MLB trade deadline is Thursday, July 31 at 6 p.m. ET, but there will be plenty of trade talk and transactions that take place beforehand.

Here are trade rumors around the sport:

There is growing interest surrounding left-hander Matz as the trade deadline inches closer, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. The 34-year-old Matz is in the final season of a four-year contract worth $44 million. By the time deadline day rolls around, he’ll have about $3.8 million left on that contract. The Cardinals would also likely be open to offers on right-hander Phil Maton but would need an excellent offer to trade closer Ryan Helsley, per the report.

Orioles could move on from veteran players

After back-to-back playoff appearances, the Orioles are currently sitting in last place in the American League East before going into the second half of the season. You can place the blame anywhere on the O’s disappointing season from an early-season manager dismissal to past All-Stars not playing up to their level or pitching struggles. With a struggling season, the O’s could be moving on from some pieces. Left-hander Trevor Rodgers could be one of those pieces that could be on the move. A surging season after being recalled has increased his interest. Other veteran pitchers like 41-year-old Charlie Morton, Zach Eflin, Seranthony Domínguez and Gregory Soto are also on the market. Veteran outfielders Cedric Mullins and Ryan O’Hearn are pieces that could be moved from the deadline as well.

Diamondbacks have many players up for grabs

Zac Gallen, Merrill Kelly, Josh Naylor and even All-Star Eugenio Suárez all up for grabs, according to USA Today. The Seattle Mariners reportedly already tried to reunite with Suárez in November and would be interested in trying again.

The White Sox have heard from eight different teams about Robert, per the New York Post. There’s a belief that he’d improve were he to get out of Chicago, where he has struggled just as much as the team has over the past two years. Robert has $20 million club options for both 2026 and 2027, with $2 million buyouts, a hurdle to overcome in any deal.

Diamondbacks open to dealing outfielder

The Diamondbacks are listening to offers on their outfielders, according to the New York Post. While star Corbin Carroll is not among those, Alek Thomas, Jake McCarthy, Lourdes Gurriel Jr. and Randal Grichuk have come up in conversations with other teams. 

Phillies looking to add bullpen help

The Phillies reportedly want to fill a hole in their bullpen with a late-inning closer amid Jose Alvarado’s 80-game suspension, per The Athletic. Alvarado will also be ineligible in the postseason. The Phillies are open to trading some of their top prospects to acquire a closer under team control or another right-handed batter. They have kept an eye on the Minnesota Twins, who could be possible sellers at the deadline. A pair of Twins relievers, Griffin Jax and Jhoan Duran, are high on the Phillies’ radar.

Yankees targeting pitching

Yankees senior vice president and general manager Brian Cashman made clear what the team seeks to add before the trade deadline. “Whether it’s bullpen guys or starting pitchers, it’s just all of it,” Cashman said, according to ESPN. “That’s the area. We have people that are capable, but I think it also needs to get some help. And if I can do so, great. But again, there’s no guarantees. We’re going to be fully engaged and see where it takes us. Hopefully, we can run into some opportunities that can benefit us.”

The struggling Pirates are obvious sellers at the trade deadline, and there are only two players they won’t offload — young star pitcher Skenes and veteran, franchise-icon outfielder McCutchen — and each for completely different reasons. The Pirates are maintaining Skenes is the cornerstone of their future, while McCutchen doesn’t want to be traded out of Pittsburgh, and the team is respecting his wishes.

Cubs eyeing a pair of Marlins right-handers

Chicago has expressed interest in acquiring Miami right-handers Sandy Alcántara and Edward Cabrera, among other starting pitchers, according to The Athletic. Alcántara, the 2022 National League Cy Young Award winner, is having a rough season in what’s his first one back from Tommy John surgery. Alcántara is under contract through 2027, while Cabrera is under contract through 2028.

Phillies president speaks on bullpen

If one were to pinpoint a weakness for Philadelphia, it’s the bullpen. However, Phillies president Dave Dombrowski offered up his perspective on how the team can improve its bullpen internally. 

“The postseason bullpen is a lot different than the regular-season bullpen because in the NL this year, if you advance past the wild-card round … you play five games [in the next round, the NLDS],” Dombrowksi mentioned, in keeping with The Athletic. “Nicely, the way in which the schedule is [with an extra off day], you solely want three beginning pitchers throughout that point interval. So when you have 5 [starters], two of them can go into the bullpen as it’s there. Plus, when you have further [surplus starters], they’ll go into the bullpen there.”

That mentioned, Dombrowski conceded {that a} crew cannot get complacent with its standing. “Chances are you’ll quit a bit bit greater than you’ll wish to in different circumstances, however that chance [to win it all] doesn’t all the time come,” he added. “And I all the time inform folks: Don’t take it without any consideration whenever you’re able the place you’re in it, 12 months in and 12 months out.”

Atlanta Braves president Alex Anthopoulos expressed that there is “zero” likelihood Sale will likely be traded regardless of the crew’s 33-39 begin, in keeping with MLB.com. Throughout his first 15 begins this season, Sale boasts a 2.52 ERA, 1.16 WHIP and 114 strikeouts throughout 89.1 innings. Sale, who gained the 2024 NL Cy Younger Award, is within the first season of a two-year, $38 million cope with the Braves.

Hill will stick with the Kansas Metropolis Royals previous his June 15 opt-out clause. Nonetheless, ought to the 45-year-old not but attain Kansas Metropolis’s big-league membership and one other MLB crew is prepared to supply the left-hander an MLB roster spot, the Royals “won’t stand in his method,” in keeping with FanSided. Hill signed a minor-league contract with the Royals in Could and appeared in 4 video games for the Boston Crimson Sox final season.

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