MLB trade deadline 2020: Tracking the latest rumors, news, updates as Mike Clevinger goes to Padres

Joe Rivera

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MLB trade deadline 2020: Tracking the latest rumors, news, updates as Mike Clevinger goes to Padres image

The 2020 MLB season is unlike one we've ever seen, which means the trade deadline could be wonky as well.

To that end, the deadline was actually pretty, surprisingly busy: Mike Clevinger went early in the day to the Padres, and it turns out he was the biggest name to move in a flurry of depth moves and bullpen realignments across the sport.

MORE:  15 worst MLB trade deadline deals in history, ranked

The Cubs and Mets were pretty busy, as they both reworked their rosters in search of depth moves. The Reds also made some intriguing moves to help alleviate some of their bullpen woes and depth in the outfield.

Some of the bigger names like Francisco Lindor, Lance Lynn and Joey Gallo stood pat, adding some fuel to what should be a very fascinating offseason.

Sporting News tracked all the rumors, deals and more from the 2020 MLB trade deadline below.

MORE: 8 players most likely to be traded at the deadline

MLB trade deadline 2020: Live updates, news, rumors

Ross Stripling heads to Toronto

Source: Official

The Blue Jays add a controllable starter in Stripling, even if he's having a down year, it's a very good move for Toronto. He's under team control through 2022 and has a career 3.68 ERA. A solid move for the Blue Jays in a rotation that needs some help.

Mets add to the bullpen

Source:  Jon Heyman, MLB Network

In the third of a trio of moves at the deadline buzzer, the Mets acquired hard-throwing-but-wild reliever Miguel Castro from the Orioles. The Mets' bullpen has been pretty average to bad once again, and Castro is going to be an interesting fit there.

Todd Frazier heads back to New York

Source:  Ken Rosenthal, The Athletic

Todd Frazier, native of Toms River, N.J. and once (and now current) Met, returns to New York. He also met Derek Jeter at the Little League World Series, you know.

Frazier is having a Frazier-esque season with the bat and will offer some more offensive depth.

Brian Goodwin heads to Cincinnati

Source:  Ken Rosenthal, The Athletic

The Reds add to their outfield depth, acquiring lefty bat Brian Goodwin from the Angels. Goodwin has four homers on the season and plays average defense.

Mets add catching depth

Source:  Ken Rosenthal, The Athletic

The Mets, who were looking for catching depth, added Robinson Chirinos from the Rangers just before the deadline. New York was also flirting with the idea of trading for Red Sox catcher Christian Vazquez, but that didn't materialize. 

Reds make a move, acquire Archie Bradley

Source:  Ken Rosenthal, The Athletic

Bradley is turning out a very solid year out of the bullpen and should help a Reds 'pen that needs a few more arms. Very good get late in the afternoon for Cincy.

Cameron Maybin on the move

Source:  Joel Sherman, New York Post

In a deal that trickled out just after the deadline, the Cubs are reportedly adding Cameron Maybin to the mix. Maybin, a plus outfielder who seems to have come around with the bat, had a great year with the Yankees in 2019 before landing back with Detroit in 2020.

Cubs add to their bullpen

Source:  Jon Heyman, MLB Network

The Cubs continued to add to their bullpen, acquiring lefties Andrew Chafin and Josh Osich from the Dbacks and Red Sox respectively. 

Kevin Pillar finds a new home

Source:  Mark Feinsand, MLB.com

 Pillar is in the midst of a decent season with the Red Sox, with four home runs and a .795 OPS at the time of the trade, one of the best offensive starts to a season of his career. Pillar, known as a defensive specialist, will offer some good depth to a good Rockies outfield — could also be an upgrade to their center field situation.

Phillies get bullpen help from Brewers

Source:  Ken Rosenthal, The Athletic

While Josh Hader was the source of a lot of rumors surrounding the Brewers trading off bullpen pieces, the Phillies are actually getting David Phelps for three low-level prospects. Phelps is a free agent after the year and is having a solid year.

Blue Jays acquire Jonathan Villar

Source:  Ken Rosenthal, The Athletic

The Marlins sent off Jonathan Villar to the Blue Jays to help a lineup currently without Bo Bichette. In return, they get Griffin Conine, son of "Mr. Marlin" Jeff Conine.

Here's some more of the reasoning, per Mish, from the Miami side:

Starling Marte traded to Miami

Source:  Craig Mish

Marte, who was traded from Pittsburgh to Arizona this offseason, is redirected to Miami for pitcher Caleb Smith, per reports. Looks like Arizona is continuing to break it down while Marte adds some much-needed reinforcement to the Miami outfield.

Robbie Ray headed north of the border

Source:  Rob Longley, Toronto Sun

Ray was a hot commodity during the 2019 trade deadline, but he stuck with the Diamondbacks. This year, his numbers are far worse (a lot of pitchers' numbers are, to be fair), but he brings and offers a lot to the Jays' middle-to-back end of the rotation. We'll see what Toronto gave up, and what they can pull out of him.

Yankees searching for pitching help

Source:  Jon Morosi, MLB Network

Lynn, the one-time Yankee, is attached to New York once again. The Yankees let Lynn go in free agency, and he soon signed a three-year deal with the Rangers. A reunion could be in the works.

Athletics land Mike Minor

Source:  Jeff Passan, ESPN

The A's continue their AL West push by acquiring Minor, who had a very solid year with the Rangers last season before faultering down the stretch. Still, Minor delivers some more veteran presence to the A's rotation, which could certainly use it. 

Mike Clevinger is heading to San Diego

Source:  Robert Murray

Rumors floated about that the Indians were looking to trade the starter, and they came to be true, as they shipped Clevinger to the Padres for a package that includes Cal Quantrill and more. An interesting, mutually beneficial deal on its surface.

Nationals are in on Robbie Ray

Source:  Jayson Stark, The Athletic

The Nationals are still willing to defend their 2019 world championship with a fight, but there's a question of what exactly they have left to give in a trade. Still worth monitoring.

Twins looking to add starting pitching help

Source:  Jon Morosi, MLB Network

The Twins' rotation has been in flux but it looks like they're looking towards a small bit of the future by trying to acquire controllable starting pitching. Both Lynn and Bundy are under team control through the 2021 season. 

Padres acquire Austin Nola from the Mariners

Nola is a late-bloomer who can play the infield in addition to catcher. Because he didn't reach the bigs until last year at 29, he's under team control through 2025. He has 15 home runs in 108 career games, and the Padres' front office apparently believes that sample size will translate to years of years of quality play.

San Diego did give up a lot in this deal, including consensus top-100 prospect Taylor Trammell.

Padres get Jason Castro from Angels

San Diego nabs a veteran catcher for its stretch run.

Rangers could deal two players

Source:  Jeff Passan, ESPN

Lance Lynn is in the midst of a sensational season, so it's no surprise that the Rangers would move on from the veteran righty, who is a free agent at the end of the season. What is somewhat surprising is looking to move on from Joey Gallo, who is a monstrous middle of the order bat. While Gallo is hitting sub-.200 on the year, he still has 7 home runs and a 110 OPS+. Gallo isn't a free agent until following the 2022 season.

Mike Clevinger could be dealt, per reports

Source:  Jon Heyman

Clevinger, 29, is under team control for another year, so he'd be more than just a rental. Cleveland would be dealing from a position of strength, and the price would likely be very, very high.

Padres add Mitch Moreland in swap with Red Sox

Orioles trade reliever Michael Givens to the Rockies

This is something of a surprise, considering the Rockies tend to stay put during the trade deadline. Still, Givens is in the midst of a career year, pitching to a 1.38 ERA (2.60 FIP) in 12 games this season.

Cubs acquire Jose Martinez from the Rays

The Cubs added some help to their lineup, acquiring Jose Martinez from the Rays for two PTBNL and/or cash considerations. 

Martinez will help the Chicago lineup vs. lefty pitching: he has a career OPS vs. lefties well over .900.

Padres trade for Trevor Rosenthal from Royals

San Diego gets an inconsistent (but sometimes dominant) reliever to aid its wobbly bullpen.

Joe Rivera

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Joe Rivera is in his seventh year with The Sporting News, handling NFL, MLB and some things pro wrestling. A proud-ish Rutgers University graduate, Rivera combines a new-school flair with an old-school soul. He loves dingers, wrestling, comic books, movies, music and really bad puns. He is also a card-carrying BBWAA member and teaches Multimedia Sports Reporting at his alma mater.

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