MLB power rankings: Giants, Cardinals, Indians surging before trade deadline
By Sean Sears
22. Chicago White Sox, 45-55, 3rd in the AL Central (ranked 21st last week)
The White Sox are on a bit of a downward spin, losing seven of their last 10 games, and there are reports from Bruce Levine of 670 the Score, saying teams are interested in their relievers. Closer Alex Colome is someone most teams are looking at right now but LHP Aaron Bummer has drawn a few suitors, however, the White Sox seem to think he has closer potential and may want to hold on to him.
But the Braves have emerged from a few teams showing interest in the Sox bullpen, with other names like lefty Jace Fry and right Evan Marshall being mentioned in trade scenarios. The Braves make the most sense at the moment because of their love of relievers who generate weak contact and induce ground balls on a consistent basis – something Bummer does better than most in the league. It will depend on what the Braves are willing to part with for an unproven reliever, but Bummer, as well as guys like Colome and Marshall, may hold more value to the White Sox than other clubs at the moment.
21. New York Mets, 47-55, 4th in the NL East (ranked 24th last week)
The Mets have made Todd Frazier, Zach Wheeler, and Jason Vargas available at the deadline, but are reportedly still taking calls from rival teams about Noah Syndergaard. But despite the interest, the Mets and GM Brodie Van Wagenen have remained reluctant to move the 26-year-old Syndergaard, who has been healthy and thrown near triple-digits all season but isn’t getting the typical results we see from Thor. But even with a 4.33 ERA and an uncharacteristic drop in strikeouts, teams like the Yankees and Padres are still trying to convince the Mets to part with the starter.
Bryan Hoch from MLB.com reported that the Mets would still likely avoid a deal with the Yankees due to the in-city rivalry, but it’s hard to believe that if the Mets were offered a package with some of the Yankees top prospects with some MLB-ready talent that they’d still say no. But New York is a different market and with the Mets sitting 13 games back of first place, it might be time for the Mets to wave the white flag.