MLB Trade Rumors: Red Sox, Yankees Looking To Upgrade Rosters For Pennant Runs

MLB trade rumors are heating up as baseball’s nonwaiver trade deadline nears, with several teams including the Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees looking to upgrade their rosters.

The Yankees currently sit at 48-41, five games behind the first-place Red Sox but only 1.5 games out of a wild card slot. Many MLB trade rumors have centered on the Yankees, who are in need of a productive right-handed hitter. The New York Daily News reports that the Yankees could be targeting Michael Young of the Phillies or Marlins outfielder Justin Ruggiano.

While the Yankees are expected to be buyers at the trade deadline, their woeful crosstown rival is expected to be selling off assets. The New York Mets are already 11.5 games out of first place in the NL East, but have potential trade-bait in reliever Bobby Parnell.

Three AL East teams — the Red Sox, Baltimore Orioles, and Tampa Bay Rays — all could use a good late-inning reliever who can also serve as closer, and the Mets could exchange Parnell to any one of them for young prospects to rebuild around in the future.

A scout told the New York Daily News:

“I’m sure those clubs could really tempt the Mets on Parnell — the Red Sox with the outfielder, Jackie Bradley Jr., and one of their top pitching prospects like (Rubby) De La Rosa, but that remains to be seen, and if they want to be able to compete next year, as they say they do, there’s no way they can trade him.”

The Milwaukee Brewers are another team at the center of many MLB trade rumors. The team is reportedly looking to deal a trio of relievers — John Axford, Jim Henderson, and Francisco Rodriguez — and have gotten interest from the Orioles, Detroit Tigers, and Arizona Diamondbacks.

There have already been a handful of significant trades this year, as the payroll-strapped Miami Marlins sent righthander Ricky Nolasco to the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Orioles beefed up their starting rotation by acquiring Scott Feldman from the Chicago Cubs.

It’s only a matter of weeks before the MLB trade rumors either materialize or fizzle in the summer sun. The nonwaiver trade deadline is July 31.