MLB Rumors: The Mets could explore an Edwin Diaz trade

If this idea would have been brought up a few months ago, it would have seemed absolutely crazy. But nobody imagined the New York Mets to be out of the playoff hunt. Nobody thought that New York would have traded their two biggest stars and entered a full-scale rebuild.

But here we are, a few months later and the Mets are almost 25 games back in the NL East, Max Scherzer is a Ranger and Justin Verlander is an Astro. What a world.

So, with that being said, it's not completely out of the realm of possibility that the Mets explore a trade of Edwin Diaz when he gets healthy. Bob Nightengale of USA Today actually noted in his recent column that the only reason Diaz could be rushed back this season — as he's starting to throw off a mound recently — is to showcase him for an offseason trade.

And this just begins to make sense the deeper you look into it. The last thing that a rebuilding team needs is an All-Star closer. That closer is worth more to them in the trade market than he ever would be saving games and making sure they win 70 games instead of 60.

Diaz's value would be incredible in the market, and it would be foolish for New York not to at least test the waters to see what they could get in return. Diaz is signed under contract for a few more years and the Mets could even pursue trading for him again in the future.

MLB Rumors: Padres still aggressive in trying to resign Juan Soto beyond 2024

Bob Nightengale of USA Today reported that the San Diego Padres are considered "aggressive" in their pursuit to resign their young superstar outfielder, Juan Soto. This extension would likely rival the biggest contracts in sports and could lock Soto down with guaranteed money for around a decade.

But that's the kind of player he is and that's the true value of him as a player right now and projecting into the future. The interest in Soto is there and San Diego will likely be willing to give him this huge contract. The problem arises if Soto would rather explore other options that could give him huge money as well.

If the Padres are unable to come to terms on an extension in the near future, Juan Soto will be back on the trade market where he would likely be worth another huge trade haul.

Soto has already voiced his frustrations with the organization and the situation they're in. This is one of the worst cases for the Padres, who moved a huge package to get him, but Soto could force their hand if he decides not to extend beyond 2024.

Only time will tell where this story goes, but if the Padres can't get it done, it won't be by a lack of effort.

MLB Rumors: Aaron Judge is brutally honest as Yankees continue to struggle

There may not be a player in the entire MLB that means as much to his team as Aaron Judge does to the New York Yankees. When he talks, everybody listens. When he's hitting, everybody seems to stop and watch. So, when Judge doesn't hold back about the honest truth with the ball club, it's almost certain that it's going to get through to nearly everybody in the Yankees faithful, including the roster and the front office.

"We're not showing up," Judge said, via ESPN. "That's what it comes down to, we're not showing up when we need to. Especially down the stretch right now, and we've gotten every opportunity to keep ourselves in the race. But we're not capitalizing on what we need to," Aaron Judge stated.

He spoke the complete and honest truth about the Yankees' current situation. There's nobody in Yankee country that's okay with the way the team is playing and if anybody is going to be able to kick them back into gear, it would be the former MVP Aaron Judge.

The Yankees are currently under .500 for the first time in months after being swept by the Braves. 2023 may not be the year of the Yanks after all.