LWOS will chronicle every move made today here on this continually updated post. Welcome to the baseball equivalent of Christmas. Has your GM been a good boy this year? We’ll find out if Jon Lester, David Price, Cole Hamels, Chase Utley, Marlon Byrd, Josh Willingham, and maybe even James Shields have new homes (before the non-waiver trade deadline, at least) by 4 PM ET today. Keep in touch with us on Twitter as well (@MLBFB), and give our writers some follows as well as they’ll have even more running commentary. You can find their Twitter handles at the end of their articles. For a recap of what major trades have happened thus far; Billy Beane swung what so far has been the deal of the year about a month ago, when he acquired Jeff Samardzija and Jason Hammel from the Cubs in exchange for top prospect Addison Russell. Yesterday, the Cardinals picked up Justin Masterson from the Indians for a great outfield prospect, James Ramsey. Also, on the minor side of things, the Blue Jays recently grabbed third baseman/DH Danny Valencia from the Royals for a couple of small pieces, and the Cubs took Felix Doubront off Boston’s hands.
All times listed below are EST.
Updates
4:27: WAIT! A few things came out after the deadline. The Braves have acquired Emilio Bonifacio and James Russell. The Marlins have acquired Jarred Cosart and Enrique Hernandez in exchange for prospects Colin Moran Jake Marisnick and a compensation pick in next year’s draft. The Yankees have acquired IF/OF Martin Prado from Arizona in exchange for slugging AA catcher Peter O’Brien (who played in this year’s Futures Game) and a player to be named later. The Rays will also be receiving minor league shortstop Willy Adames in the David Price mega-deal.
4:01: And that’s it. Phillies, White Sox, Giants, Dodgers, Blue Jays, Pirates, Royals, Mets, Braves, Marlins did not make moves today.
3:56: Drew Smyly going from Detroit to Tampa Bay.
3:54: Jackson is going to Seattle, Nick Franklin is going from Seattle to Tampa Bay.
3:53: Austin Jackson and Drew Smyly are involved.
3:53: Per Heyman, the other team involved is Seattle.
3:51: Still waiting on other players involved in deal, but the ramifications are huge.
3:48: There it is. Rosenthal says Tigers are getting David Price.
3:44: First Boston/New York trade since 1997.
3:42: Gordon Edes says the Yankees are getting Stephen Drew.
3:40: 20 minutes left. Talks going down to wire.
3:37: Jayson Stark says the Yankees are officially out on Marlon Byrd.
3:34: Rosenthal is saying that Rays pitching prospct Enny Romero may be part of the deal they eventually make.
3:30: Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times is also talking about a possible three team deal for Price.
3:29: Half hour left. Interestingly, Dodgers haven’t done anything.
3:25: Sherman says the sense is that the Rays won’t move Zobrist.
3:23: Bill Shakin of the LA Times says the Angels are “quiet.”
3:21: Marlon Byrd is in the Phillies lineup tonight, most likely not getting moved.
3:17: Rosenthal says Pirates are nearing a deal. Not sure if for Price. Sherman has an unconfirmed report Price deal might be a three-teamer.
3:14: Mark Feinsand of the NY Daily News has a source saying the Tigers are the new frontrunners for Price.
3:12: Rosenthal says he’s been told there’s no chance the Yankees get David Price.
3:10: Need to emphasize that Rodriguez came into the season as a consensus top-100 prospect. He was just traded for a reliever. Boston has been stockpiling all day, could be players in offseason trade market.
3:07: Multiple reports surfacing that the Yankees are making a last-minute charge at David Price.
3:06: Indians get IF Zach Walters from Nats in exchange for Asdrubal Cabrera.
3:03: The Red Sox are reportedly getting highly touted pitching prospect Eduardo Rodriguez from the O’s for Miller. Huge day for Ben Cherington.
3:01: Jerry Crasnick says Andrew Miller is going to the Orioles. No return yet on that one either.
3:00: Jordan Bastian says Cabrera is going to the Nationals. Return not public yet.
2:57: Paul Hoynes says the Indians have traded Asdrubal Cabrera.
2:49: For what it’s worth, Billy Butler and Nori Aoki aren’t in the KC lineup. May not mean anything, but possible story brewing.
2:46: Still a massive lull in the action. It’s all very strange. Most likely teams are busy bidding on Price. Something should surface soon.
2:41: The Braves and Nationals have also been strangely quiet, and there’s a bit more than an hour and fifteen minutes left.
2:36: Heyman says the Tigers tried to get Lackey, but wouldn’t give up Drew Smyly.
2:31: Eery quiet. Something’s happening.
2:27: Jayson Stark says the Rays are getting very close on a Price deal.
2:24: Interestingly, both Sherman and Rosenthal are reporting that the A’s are getting lots of calls on Jason Hammel. He came over recently in the Samardzija trade but has imploded.
2:23: Red Sox reporter Gordon Edes says that the Tigers aren’t getting Andrew Miller.
2:21: It appears that the Padres will get Abraham Almonte and a minor league pitcher for Denorfia, Rosenthal reports.
2:13: Jon Heyman reports that Chris Denorifa is being traded to the Mariners. No word on what Padres are getting.
2:08: To make room for the newly acquired Gerarrdo Parra, the Brewers option Logan Schafer to AAA.
2:05: John Lackey plans to honor his club option (league minimum salary) for 2015 with Cardinals.
2:04: The Pirates are also in on Price. Could be start of a bidding war.
2:03: The Dodgers are beginning talks with the Rays on David Price.
2:01: Less than two hours to go. The Reds are shopping Mat Latos around.
1:59: Not a trade, but Jack Curry of the YES Network is saying that the Yankees have claimed Esmil Rogers off waivers from the Blue Jays.
1:56: Diamondbacks outfielder Gerrardo Parra is going to the Brewers as the main focal point of the previously reported trade between the two teams. There will also be another minor-leaguer going to Arizona from Milwaukee.
1:55: Retracting previous report about Yankees/Byrd. It appears that a few insiders have jumped the gun on that one.
1:50: The Yankees are silent no more. The Bombers have acquired Marlon Byrd from the Phillies, according to Jim Bowden. The return is infield prospect Christian Guzman and a player to be named later.
1:49: On a much smaller scale, the Brewers have dealt AA outfielder Mitch Haniger to Arizona. It’s unclear what the other half of the trade is.
1:47: Joel Sherman has been told that the Rays do plan on moving David Price. ESPN’s Jim Bowden says the Dodgers and Mariners may be the favorites to land him.
1:35: Diamondbacks beat writer Nick Piecoro says that Oliver Perez may be the Arizona player most likely to be moved today.
1:32: The Yankees of course have added two large pieces without giving up much of value in the last few weeks. They traded for starter Brandon McCarthy, and third baseman Chase Headley. Team is still very incomplete, though.
1:31: Brian Cashman and the Yankees have been strangely quiet thus far. They’ve been linked to Marlon Byrd a lot, but the consensus is that Ruben Amaro Jr. and the Phillies are asking way too much for him.
1:28: Phil Rogers, and MLB.com columnist, says the Cubs seem intent to trade away Bonifacio, as well as relievers James Russell and Wesley Wright. If Miller does indeed go to Detroit, Russell could then be moved in on by Atlanta.
1:26: Morosi has also said the Red Sox are nearing their third trade of the day, one that would send Andrew Miller to Detroit.
1:25: Morosi is reporting that the Giants and Rangers are in ongoing talks over Rios
1:09: High asking price for Miller may be to stir up crazy bidding war. Tigers are also in on him, likely Dodgers as well.
1:07: Boston lefty reliever Andrew Miller is the player the Braves want the most, but are turned off by the Sox’ high asking price.
1:05 Susan Slusser says that part of the reason the A’s brought both Gomes and Fuld back, in addition to outfield need, is that they were so well liked in their time in the Oakland clubhouse that it may help mitigate the shock of seeing Cespedes leave.
1:03: Rosenthal also saying that the teams in on Cubs utilityman Emilio Bonifacio are the Orioles, Giants, Mariners, Royals and Pirates.
12:59: Rosenthal is reporting that the Marlins and Rangers checked in on Astros starter Jarred Cosart.
12:52: A little over three hours to go now. Big names (Price, Zobrist, Rios, Byrd, Paplebon) still out there.
12:46: Wow, Peter Gammons is saying that the Red Sox are getting Joe Kelly and Allen Craig in exchange for Lackey. That’s quite the haul.
12:42: In other news, the Braves and Royals seem to be in the lead for Chris Denorfia. Mariners view him as backup plan in case they can’t grab Rios.
12:40: The Lackey/St. Louis trade has been confirmed. There’s no word yet of who the Red Sox are getting in return.
12:33: Heyman says the Cardinals are getting Lackey. Waiting for more confirmation.
12:32: Tons of teams are in on Texas OF Alex Rios. Deal may be close.
12:29: Other rumblings: Dodgers working hard to get reliever Joaquin Benoit from the Padres. Growing sense Cleveland will trade Asdrubal Cabrera. Mets may stand pat. Phillies asking too much for Marlon Byrd. GM Jeff Lunhow says about 50% chance Astros make a move. Padres very likely to move OF Chris Denorfia.
12:25: Gordon Edes is reporting that Sox are now close to a deal for Lackey. Either Cardinals or Dodgers are getting him.
11:59: Bob Nightengale says Red Sox are getting all sorts of offers for reliever Andrew Miller, but their price tag is very high.
11:57: Heyman is reporting the market for Rangers OF Alex Rios includes the Giants, Reds, Royals, Indians, and Mariners.
11:54: Doesn’t look like the Twins will trade catcher Kurt Suzuki. In fact, they’re discussing an extension with him.
11:49: A’s outfielder Josh Reddick is a fan of the trade.
11:42: Ken Rosenthal had a source tell him it’s unlikely the Dodgers land David Price.
11:37: As expected, FOX Sports’ Jon Morosi is reporting David Price trade talks have heated up in the wake of Lester deal. Pirates are likely right at the forefront.
11:33: Back again, sorry! A’s have sent Tommy Milone to the Twins for Sam Fuld, another former A. Looks like they’re getting the band back together. This makes me think they’re concerned about CF Coco Crisp’s neck injury.
10:39: Also, this deal is a killer for the Pirates. They desperately need an ace, and with Lester off the market they have to hope that Tampa decides to trade David Price.
10:37: Full story on the A’s/Red Sox blockbuster is here. Read up!
10:20: Billy Beane really isn’t messing around, wow. Full writeup on the blockbuster coming soon.
10:15: We’re back, sorry about that! BLOCKBUSTER Lester to A’s confirmed. Jonny Gomes is going with him. Red Sox are getting Yoenis Cespedes, AND Oakland’s competitive balance pick next year. Holy blockbuster, Batman.
9:46: Jon Heyman of CBS is saying it’s most likely A’s who have Lester. Desperately needed another pitcher, as Hammel has an ERA over 9 (!) in his starts for them.
9:43: For what it’s worth, A’s were the “mystery team” in on Lester yesterday.
9:42: Passan says it’s a West Coast team. A’s were reported to be in play. Dodgers, Giants also possibilities, Angels real longshots.
9:40: Yahoo’s Jeff Passan says a source has told him that Jon Lester has been traded. Will have more as it flows in.
9:36: Current sense is that the Blue Jays will focus entirely on pitching. Makes sense, since Encarnacion and Lind could be back soon. They’re a good starter away from having a postseason-ready rotation.
9:27: Astros have made Scott Feldman available. Kecuhel, McHugh, Cosart have also been said to be available.
9:25: So far, all quiet. A few rumblings here and there. Nats have checked in on Indians’ Asdrubal Cabrera, and the Mets Daniel Murphy. Murphy deal particularly unlikely. O’s have looked at Bartolo Colon.
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