MLB Rumors: Padres targeting Red Sox sluggers Justin Turner, Adam Duvall in trades

Among the biggest disappointments of the 2023 season, without question, is the San Diego Padres. They opened the season at just 41-47 on the ledger, 9.5 games out of first place in the NL West.

But don't think that they're going to throw in the towel.

While some would argue that trading Juan Soto or other assets would behoove the Padres, the fact of the matter is that AJ Preller and this front office are so pot-committed with this roster and the investments that have been made that they are still likely to buy. And it appears that they may be looking at the team that they sniped Xander Bogaerts from this offseason, the Boston Red Sox.

According to Jim Bowden of The Athletic (subscription required) as he discussed trade targets that the Padres could (and should) pursue, he talked about hitters who could help the team make the playoffs this year, noting that Red Sox outfielder Adam Duvall and veteran infielder/DH Justin Turner could both be helpful in San Diego.

Turner has been phenomenal at the plate (and shockingly in the field) for Boston this season, posting a .287/.359/.462 slash line with 13 homers and 51 RBI on the year. Duvall, meanwhile, got off to one of the most torrid starts of the 2023 season, but suffered a wrist injury that kept him out. He has struggled since returning but, as a veteran with plenty of pop, everyone still knows his value.

The biggest question, however, is if the Red Sox will actually sell. Yes, they are in last place in the AL East, but with an easy schedule after the All-Star break coupled with the fact that they are also 46-43 on the season, Chaim Bloom and Co. could be ready to make their own run and buy, not sell, at the trade deadline.

What happens with the Red Sox is crucial, but if they are selling, the Padres should be in the mix for one of the Boston bats.

MLB Rumors: Latest Jack Flaherty trade buzz, level of Cardinals return package

There is truly no doubt that the St. Louis Cardinals are going to sell at the trade deadline, barring a true miracle for this team… something that seems unlikely given that they've been looking for such a supernatural event for months now.

It appears that one of the biggest names in St. Louis that could be involved in a trade would be Jack Flaherty, who seems to be auditioning in a big way after his latest start in which he went 6.2 innings and gave up no runs on nine hits and two walks against the Marlins.

So what is the market for Flaherty as of right now and how could things shape up?

Cardinals insider Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch noted after that start on Thursday that the club is going to field offers, but may not have yet decided if the trade return would outweigh the value of draft picks returning for losing him as a free agent or, more importantly, their push to re-sign him to an extension.

Meanwhile, MLB insider Jon Heyman listed the likelihood that the top trade targets for starting pitching would be moved at the deadline and added the value they could have. He listed Flaherty with a 70% likelihood to be traded but gave him only 2/5 stars in terms of his value rating.

Those two nuggets together are interesting. The Cardinals will get offers for teams looking to gamble on an inconsistent but high-upside starting pitcher, even if he's a free agent after this season, but might not be willing to give up big pieces from farm systems in order to get that deal done. As such, the conversation of what's more valuable for St. Louis and Flaherty could be the biggest discussion regarding whether or not the 27-year-old righty actually gets moved.

MLB Rumors: Could Mets trade David Robertson, Brooks Raley to rival Braves?

The rivalry between the New York Mets and Atlanta Braves is one of the most heated in baseball — it has been and the heat has been turned up with the spending and success of the NL East foes in recent years.

While the bad blood is flowing freely, though, there's a chance that the Mets and Braves could actually help one another at the MLB Trade Deadline.

Two of the most likely candidates to be dealt by the Mets, perhaps whether they sell or make a last-ditch effort to push for a playoff spot, are relievers David Robertson and Brooks Raley. The former has a 2.06 ERA and 1.02 WHIP while Raley is sporting a 2.30 ERA and 1.21 WHIP for the year. And it just so happens that the Braves need bullpen help.

So New York has what Atlanta is likely targeting at the deadline. But the key is that the Braves can also offer what should be highly interesting to the Mets.

The best trade assets that the Braves have are some still-young and controllable starting pitchers with minimal and mixed results in the majors, such as Jared Shuster or Dylan Dodd, while they could also offer an upgrade in the lineup with a controllable player like Vaughn Grissom or a more immediate help in DH/catcher Travis d'Arnaud.

Again, it remains to be seen if the two rivals would actually go into business together at the trade deadline. But based on needs and the respective deadline plights of the Braves and Mets, there is definitely a match to be made.