MLB Rumors: Mets ask Ronny Mauricio to switch positions

New York Mets prospect Ronny Mauricio is essentially position-less.

A shortstop by trade, Mauricio doesn't have a clear path to the major leagues thanks to Francisco Lindor, so New York has been experimenting with the young prospect at various positions. Left field was a thought for a time, and though Mauricio adapted well there, by no means was he a sure bet in a corner outfield spot.

Third base is the Mets latest attempt to find a regular position for Mauricio, despite already having Brett Baty and Mark Vientos — two fellow prospects — who play the same position. Baty was recently sent down in the midst of a killer slump, and he could be asked to move positions as well. Vientos started for New York with Baty out.

Questions persist about Mauricio, as he has struggled of late. He'll need to succeed at Triple-A Syracuse if he wants a call to the big leagues this season. Jon Heyman of the New York Post outlined Mauricio's struggles quite well:

"Mauricio, entering Friday, was hitting .230 with a .745 OPS over his last 100 plate appearances. In many seasons that might be enough for a glass-half-full outlook, but it doesn't pass muster in a year of Triple-A offensive explosion. Also, Mauricio's strikeout rate over those 100 plate appearances was 25 percent. For the first three months of the season, he was at 16 percent."

Add in some questions about Mauricio's defense, and it's easy to understand why the Mets might be cautious. If third base isn't the answer, we're not sure what is.

MLB Rumors: Could the Reds trade for Dylan Cease?

Prior to the MLB trade deadline, the Cincinnati Reds were one of several teams interested in White Sox ace Dylan Cease. Chicago's price tag was too high in the end, but if the deadline was any indication, they will shop Cease again in the offseason.

Bleacher Report's Zachary Rymer listed Cease as one of the most likely players to be dealt this offseason, and listed the Reds as a possible destination:

"That Cease ended up going nowhere isn't surprising. The White Sox would have rightfully put a high price on him, and other teams rightfully would have balked at paying it. He has, after all, seen his ERA more than double from the 2.20 mark he posted in 2022.

Still, one can imagine interest in Cease will pick back up again this winter. Teams that need pitching but can't afford the open market's best arms—looking at you, Reds—could see him as a huge upside play over the next two years."

Prior to the trade deadline, FanSided also linked Cease to the Reds in a trade package which landed Chicago three out of Cincinnati's top-11 prospects. That mock trade also included Kendall Graveman, so the return could be slightly less intimidating this time around from the Reds perspective.

Because Cease is coming off a sub-par year for his standards, his price tag should come down quite a bit. However, Cease has more than one season left on his deal, which also gives any team which acquires him the guarantee that he'll be around for more than one postseason run.

MLB Rumors: Cardinals trade target has dominant start

In that same Bleacher Report article, Rymer listed Logan Gilbert as another likely trade candidate. Gilbert, who the Cardinals were interested in near the trade deadline, had his best start of the season on Tuesday night.

Gilbert threw seven innings of scoreless baseball, striking out 12 batters in the process. Gilbert became just the second Mariner to strike out 12 batters, give up no runs and walk no batters, joining Felix Hernandez.

"I think it's just a lot of practice and good execution, just everything coming together," Gilbert said, per MLB.com. "It doesn't always turn out like this, but when it does, it's pretty fun. And in a game like that, too. It's a close game. Every pitch matters."

Gilbert credited the defense behind him for making some incredible plays, which included Julio Rodriguez's home run robbery of Fernando Tatis Jr.

"With the defense playing behind me, I'm just trying to do my part to keep things going," Gilbert said. "And with the win streak, trying to just keep it going."

If the Mariners keep playing like this — and Gilbert continues to pitch this well — it's tough to see them parting ways with him anytime soon. He's under contract until 2027, why trade him? Seattle plans on contending. FanSided's Scott Rogust outlined the Cardinals persistent interest in Gilbert, which started in early July:

"Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported on July 14 that Gilbert "is of interest to the Cardinals," but stresses that "it's unclear what the Mariners would command in exchange."

The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal mentioned in a column (subscription required) ahead of the trade deadline that the Cardinals and Mariners match up in terms of St. Louis' need for a young starting pitcher. But, Rosenthal notes that to get Gilbert, a trade package would have to start with promising young outfielder Lars Nootbaar."

The odds of such a trade happening are slim to none at the moment, despite the Cardinals need for young pitching.