The deadline is 11 days away and the rumors have begun to gain steam. Buyers have been monitoring players and sellers have been scouting other teams minor league systems. Many pitchers are on the market and they have team control with them. Here is the latest:

Yankees Looking Into Acquiring Top-Tier Starter

The Yankees want a starter and have been monitoring everyone with control. Jon Morosi said the Yankees had a significant presence in to watch Marcus Stroman. Stroman will be a free agent after 2020 and the Blue Jays have every reason to move him. Stroman has posted a 3,06 ERA in 117.2 IP to go with a 3.60 FIP, 19.1 K%, and 7.4 BB%. He is a ground ball pitcher that bodes well for Yankee Stadium.

Jon Heyman added that the Yankees want a reliever or two plus a starter. They are particularly high on Trevor Bauer, Robbie Ray, Noah Syndergaard, and Stroman. Bauer has followed up his Cy Young caliber 2018 season with a good 2019 season. He has a 3.67 ERA in 144.2 innings with a 27.8 K% and 9.2 K%. He is also throwing harder than last year so perhaps the Yankees believe they will maximize his potential. Ray is a hard-throwing lefty who walks a lot of guys and strikes out a lot of guys too. He would be very dangerous in a super relief role in October.

Heyman also mentioned Bumgarner in his tweet but also added that the Giants might be more hesitant on moving him. The Giants have gone on a great hot streak recently and are just two losses back of the second wild-card spot. Bumgarner has missed quite a bit of time in 2017 and 2018 but has bounced back with a 3,65 ERA/3.69 FIP this year. His K% is 24.6 and his walks are at 5%.

Red Sox, Twins Heavily Scouted Bumgarner/Syndergaard Showdown

Speaking of Bumgarner, the Twins and Red Sox were at his start last night (also Noah’s) according to Jon Morosi. Morosi notes that the teams were also interested in the Giants relievers. Will Smith is their notable reliever up for free agency. He has been lights out since the start of 2018.

Last year, he had a 2.55 ERA/2.07 FIP in 53 innings and had a 33.8% strikeout rate and a 7.1% walk rate. This year he has a 2.68 ERA/2.64 FIP but has a 38.3% strikeout rate and 6.5% walk rate. He is easily the best reliever available on the market. They have some other arms like Trevor Gott and Sam Dyson who have been very solid after getting castoff. But Smith will command the large haul.

NL East Rivals Interested in Mike Minor

Despite being 50-46, the Rangers are looking like sellers. Mike Minor has received interest from the Braves and Phillies, who watched him tonight per Morosi. Minor leads the Major leagues in bWAR among pitchers. That number might be inflated due over-accounting for a bad Texas defense. Minor has still been very good though, he has a 2.86 ERA and 4.02 FIP and he’s seen his strikeouts going up from last year.

Finally, Morosi had some tidbits on the Tigers’ trio. The Twins and Tigers have had discussions regarding Matthew Boyd. Boyd had a 4.13 ERA but a 3.55 FIP to go with a stellar 32.2 K% and 4.8 BB%. He also mentioned the Dodgers as a team interested in Shane Greene. Greene has a 1.03 ERA this season to go with a 3.53 FIP and 26.1 K%.

Morosi did mention that Greene throws at a similar eye level to Joe Kelly so they may steer away from him and go for Will Smith. Greene has one more year of control after this and fun fact, he started against Jacob deGrom in his MLB debut. Nicholas Castellanos is the final player in this big three. He has hit .283/.343/.471 with a 114 wRC+ and .342 wOBA. His numbers against lefties though are .377/.451/.639 with a 184 wRC+ and .446 wOBA. Morosi mentioned the Cubs and Braves had scouts watching him tonight and both could play the lefty-heavy, Dodgers, in the postseason.