A couple of NL East are tightly racing for the remaining Wild Card spots, and look to be active at the 2023 MLB Trade Deadline.
With the MLB Trade Deadline fast approaching (August 1st @ 6p EST), we here at PSN are tracking every transaction from blockbuster deals to minor-league contracts that may otherwise fly under the radar in the volatile NL East.
With the hometown Philadelphia Phillies in the market for several upgrades to force their way to the top of the NL East, you can find updates and insights from the whole team here at PSN.com.
Last Updated: 7:30p EST, August 1st
PSN LIVE NL EAST TRADE DEADLINE TRACKER
Philadelphia Phillies
- Phillies sign RHP Shaun Anderson to minor-league deal
With a career ERA of 5.84, Anderson was been the most exciting (and only) ‘Trade Deadline’ movement for the Phillies until about two hours remained. Yippee. However, Dombrowski got things going around 3:45pm…
- Phillies pick up RHP Michael Lorenzen for prospect Hao-Yu Lee
The Phillies sent their fifth-rated prospect per MLB.com to the Tigers in exchange for right-hander Michael Lorenzen. Per fellow PSN Phillies writer Alec Kostival, Lorenzen looks to bolster the Phillies starting rotation and help propel them upwards in the NL East and back into creating a Red October.
Even though he is also approaching a career-high in innings pitched, the Phillies hope he can give Cristopher Sanchez a break, who is also eating a ton of innings for the team this season.
- Phillies done with Bailey Falter, acquire INF Rodolfo Castro from the Pirates
Check out all that analysis by PSN’s own Alec Kostival. He’s smarter than me.
NL East Leading Atlanta Braves
- Atlanta DFA’s Charlie Culberson
- Braves Aquire SS/3B Nicky Lopez from Royals for LHP Taylor Hearn
Lopez should provide some depth for the already formidable Atlanta Braves in the NL East. While this was likely a defensive upgrade (with a 1.1 dWAR in 2023), Lopez was responsible for a .300 batting average and 22 stolen bases in 2021.
Meanwhile, after acquiring Hearn from the Rangers just a week ago, the Braves decide to flip the big lefty to Kansas City for some infield depth. Hearn appeared in one game for the Braves and allowed four earned runs.
- Braves sign RHPs Rowan Wick, Mike Morin, Seth Elledge & Kodi Whitley to minor-league deal
The Canadian, Wick, appeared in 64 games for the Chicago Cubs in 2022. With a career ERA of 3.82, it’s a good sign that he could help bolster this bullpen to continue their reign in the NL East.
- Braves acquire RHP Pierce Johnson from the Colorado Rockies for RHPs Victor Vodnik and Tanner Gordon
Johnson, a former 1st-round pick by the Cubs in 2012, will look to regain the form of his early career, pitching to a 3.39 ERA with the San Diego Padres.
Vodnik was formerly the Braves’ 7th-ranked prospect and Gordon, no slouch himself, sat at 24th overall in 2022.
- Braves add veteran reliever Brad Hand for prospect
Another trade between the Colorado Rockies & Atlanta Braves nets the NL East leaders some veteran help in reliever Brad Hand. Hand owns a 4.52 ERA and 10.3 K/9, his highest since 2020.
Their latest swap sends pitching prospect, Alec Barger, to Colorado. Barger has a 3.29 ERA through 30 appearances at AA Mississippi, including a perfect 5-for-5 in save opportunities. Everyone go congratulate him for escaping ATL.
New York Mets
- David Robertson to Marlins for INF Marco Vargas & C Ronald Hernandez
With Robertson’s trade to Miami, the Mets are sellers in the NL East and the fireworks have seemingly hardly begun in the Big Apple. The Mets nab two top-twenty prospects down on the rookie farm in the form of Vargas and Hernandez. Looks like its paying off already (for both teams).
- Max Scherzer to Rangers for SS Luisangel Acuña
After signing a 3-year, $130MM deal this offseason, Scherzer’s time with the Mets will likely be forgotten to time. A 4.01 ERA through nineteen starts wasn’t enough to keep New York competitive but, hey, at least they walk away with Acuña, who immediately slots in as their #2 overall prospect and will be a force in the NL East for years to come.
It sounds like the Rangers will cover Scherzer’s monster salary for 2023, but after that, it’s all on the shoulders of Steve Cohen.
- Mark Canha and cash headed to the Milwaukee Brewers for prospect
The Mets snagged the Brew Crew’s 30th overall prospect RHP Justin Jarvis in this one-for-one swap. Take what you can get, I guess.
- Justin Verlander headed back to Houston
The Mets have officially thrown in the towel in the NL East, sending Verlander back to Houston for a package of prospects which includes OF Drew Gilbert (Houston’s #1 overall prospect). More to come as the details unfold, but Verlander brings his 3.15 ERA back to one of America’s hottest cities. Lord have mercy.
- Tommy Pham the latest casualty of the 2023 New York Mets
Rumored to land in Philadelphia, Pham finally lands in Arizona in exchange for SS prospect, Jeremy Rodriguez. Pham’s .820 OPS joins the Diamondbacks who sit 0.5 games behind the Phillies in the Wildcard Standings.
- Mets add bullpen depth in fallout
RPs Phil Bickford and Adam Kolarek are headed to the Mets for some of that sweet LA Dodger cash. Unfortunately for the Mets, this transaction won’t come close to covering how much they owe Scherzer and Verlander.
Miami Marlins
- Marlins aquire David Robertson From New York Mets
Surrendering their 19th & 20th overall prospects for Robertson, who carries a 2.05 ERA through 40 appearances, feels like a fair swap.
- Marlins acquire RHP Jorge Lopez from Minnesota Twins for RHP Dylan Floro
- Marlins acquire LHP Jose Castillo from the San Diego Padres for cash
- Marlins make a splash with some big bats
The Marlins truly just shook up their offensive lineup. With the acquisitions of 1B Josh Bell from the Guardians and 3B Jake Burger from the White Sox, they’ve added 36 homers to their offense.
Burger leaves the Chicago White Sox in exchange for the Marlins #4 overall prospect, LHP Jake Eder. The 24-year-old was drafted in the 4th round of the 2020 MLB Draft and should be Major League ready as early as next season. Burger, on the other hand, will be under club control until 2028.
For Bell, the Marlins send former Phillie, Jean Segura, and minor-league INF Kahlil Watson. To make way for Bell, the Fish send incumbent first basemen, Garrett Cooper to San Diego for LHP Ryan Weathers.
The deal also included Marlins minor leaguer Sean Reynolds, who owns a 2.77 ERA between AA & AAA in 2023. That’s a wrap on the Deadline for a much improved Miami squad that is poised nicely in the NL East.
Washington Nationals
This will be a deadline to watch as it could quickly fill up with Lane Thomas, Kyle Finnegan, and more likely on the move out of the NL East. The Cubs just made a play for Nats 3B Jeimer Candelario which tells me more is to come.
- The Chicago Cubs acquire Nationals 3B Jeimer Candelario
The first domino has fallen for the Nationals with Candelario headed to Chicago for two prospects, SS Kevin Made and LHP DJ Herz (14th and 16th overall prospects respectively). A solid get for the Nationals who would likely have said farewell to Candelario at the season’s conclusion.
The question remains, who’s leaving D.C. next?
Photo by Rich von Biberstein/Icon Sportswire
