Major League Baseball’s trade deadline is coming up on July 30.
With the MLB Draft and All-Star events over, teams are now focused on making trades. Every day, new rumors and speculation pop up about who might be traded next.
Phillies, Royals Interested in Tommy Pham
The Chicago White Sox are having a terrible season, so GM Chris Getz might trade away many of their veteran players before the deadline. Outfielder Tommy Pham is one such player. According to Jon Heyman from the New York Post, both the Phillies and Royals are interested in him. The Mariners and Pirates might also want to add him to their lineups.
Pham, at 36 years old, has a batting average of .264 with four home runs and five stolen bases in 60 games this season. He’s good at hitting against left-handed pitchers . Teams see him as a valuable player for specific matchups. He can play all three outfield positions and has a $3 million contract that ends this year.
A’s Unlikely to Trade Mason Miller?
The Oakland A’s are not doing well this season either, and owner John Fisher isn’t investing much into the team as he plans a move to Las Vegas via Sacramento. This situation makes it likely they will sell players at the deadline, with closer Mason Miller being their most valuable piece.
Miller is only 25 but already impressive with his fastball reaching triple digits. This season he has an ERA of 2.27 and struck out 70 batters in just under 40 innings. Since he’s under team control until 2029, many teams would love to have him.
However, manager Mark Kotsay hinted during the All-Star Game that Miller might stay put:
“I don’t [think Miller will be traded]. For us, where we’re trying to go, what we’re trying to do, to build something from within, he is a big part of that development. I can’t say 100 percent because I don’t make those decisions. But when I look at him, I see part of our nucleus.”
Fans may think it’s smart for A’s to keep such a talented player like Miller for future success.
Even though Kotsay doesn’t make final decisions on trades, his opinion matters. Many teams need strong relievers like Miller and would offer good deals for him due to his long-term contract control—making this an interesting storyline as we approach late July.
What do you think? Should A’s keep or trade Mason Miller?
