MLB Trade Rumors: Madison Bumgarner, Jacob deGrom Won't Be Dealt, Chris Archer Drawing Interest

The 2018 MLB trade deadline is less than a week away, and it’s not looking likely that a top starting pitcher will be moved. Even as contending teams look to acquire a front-end starter, none seem to be readily available.

There’s Madison Bumgarner, whom some have speculated the San Francisco Giants might trade for the right price, but general manager Bobby Evans told The New York Post’s Joel Sherman that the team won’t be sellers. Jacob deGrom has found himself in plenty of trade rumors, but the New York Mets don’t seem very interested in dealing their best pitcher.

Bumgarner is one of the best playoff performers of all time. DeGrom has been the best pitcher in all of MLB this year. Adding either player could turn a contending team into the World Series favorite.

That was the case a year ago when the Houston Astros traded for Justin Verlander before the Aug. 31 waiver trade deadline. All the starter did was post a 1.06 ERA in September to help give Houston home-field advantage in the American League playoffs. Verlander was unhittable at times in the postseason, going 4-1 with a 2.21 ERA on the way to a championship.

The New York Yankees saw Verlander’s impact firsthand when they lost to Houston in seven games in the 2017 ALCS. The right-hander beat the Yankees twice, allowing just one run in 16 innings.

New York would like to add that kind of player over the course of the next week. The Yankees are three games in the loss column behind the first-place Boston Red Sox, and they rank sixth among AL teams with a 4.03 ERA from their starters.

With no big name starters seemingly available, the Yankees traded for Zach Britton, hoping that having the league’s most dominant bullpen can make up for deficiencies in their rotation. The team could still add a starter, though the player might only be New York’s fourth option in a playoff series.

The Yankees have reportedly inquired with the Tampa Bay Rays about Chris Archer. The San Diego Padres have done the same, according to The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal. The Padres won’t make the playoffs this season, but Archer is signed to a lengthy, team-friendly contract that could help make San Diego contenders in the future. The asking price would likely be steep, considering Tampa Bay is hovering around .500 and could compete for a postseason berth next year.

Archer has a 4.30 ERA in 90 innings this season. The 29-year-old has a career 3.69 ERA and a 1.23 WHIP since entering the league in 2012, though he hasn’t pitched to a sub-.400 ERA since 2015.

San Diego has also checked in on Noah Syndergaard of the New York Mets. Fancred's Jon Heyman reported Sunday that the chances of New York dealing their No.2 starter were slim. Syndergaard is on the disabled list with hand-foot-and-mouth disease after posting a 2.89 ERA in 13 starts.

J.A. Happ is the best pitcher that has been considered likely to be traded. The Toronto Blue Jays’ starter is 10-6 with a 4.18 ERA, though interest in the veteran has waned with his 7.41 ERA in July.

The Texas Rangers might not be able to get much in return for Cole Hamels, who is also on the block. The veteran has a 4.72 ERA to go along with a $20 million team option and a $6 million buyout for the 2019 season.