Keep up with all the latest trades and rumors around Major League Baseball by Mike Axisa & Dayn Perry 1h ago • 9 min read With back-to-back losses to the Marlins this weekend, there’s some thought the Nationals should sell prior to the trade deadline. GM Mike Rizzo was said to be on the fence about selling prior to the four-game split in Miami. The big question is whether they’ll consider trading franchise icon and outgoing free agent Bryce Harper. On the one hand, a Harper trade seems highly unlikely … On the other hand, though, the Nationals and Indians have had at least cursory trade discussions involving Harper … Yes, Morosi indicates there’s no momentum toward a deal. That said, there’s still plenty of hours left until Tuesday afternoon’s deadline, and it’s possible that the Indians and Nats have discussed a general framework. The Indians are focused on adding an outfielder — specifically a center fielder — prior to the trade deadline, reports ESPN’s Buster Olney. Olney opines Cleveland may be better off adding an infielder and shifting Kipnis to center field, where he played late last season and in the postseason. At the moment the Indians are using a Greg Allen/Rajai Davis platoon in center field with Melky Cabrera and Brandon Guyer sharing time in right. All-Star Michael Brantley is entrenched in left and both Tyler Naquin (hip), Lonnie Chisenhall (calf), and Bradley Zimmer (shoulder) are injured. The Indians can go in a number of different directions before the deadline, though it is clear they need an upgrade in center. While Harper isn’t a… [Read full story]
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