Cubs Trade Rumors: Cubs ‘Pushing’ for Orioles Reliever Brad Brach (Updated)
***Update***
Hearing the #Orioles have reached agreement to deal Brach to #Braves
— Eduardo A. Encina (@EddieInTheYard) July 29, 2018
#Orioles are getting $250,000 in international slot money
— Joel Sherman (@Joelsherman1) July 29, 2018
***Update #2***
Trent Giambrone (AA) and Luis Ayala (high-A) were pulled early from their respective games and Giambrone was seen hugging teammates. SiriusXM’s Craig Mish is reporting that the Marlins don’t seem to be involved, but reliever Brad Ziegler is a potential Cubs target and is expected to be moved prior to the deadline.
Trent Giambrone #Cubs Leads @smokiesbaseball with 16 Homeruns, 22 Stolen bases and second with 19 Doubles. Pulled in the 3rd inning and didn’t appear to be injury related. Ranked as the 30th best prospect https://t.co/Ujt5ZIVn17 prospect list. Hugs reported in the dugout
— Mick Gillispie (@BroadcasterMick) July 29, 2018
In a further development on a rumor we had addressed a few days ago, MASN’s Roch Kubatko tweets that the Cubs are “pushing” to acquire Orioles righty reliever Brad Brach. Though he’s not performing up to his All-Star form of a couple years ago, Brach may have legit bounceback potential.
Hearing #braves and #cubs "pushing" for #orioles reliever Brad Brach.
— Roch Kubatko (@masnRoch) July 29, 2018
Kubatko also mentions the Braves, who are said to be in the mix for the Rangers’ Keone Kela. Brach is sought-after as well, with the Pirates perhaps going into full-on buy mode to acquire both him and controllable starter Kevin Gausman.
But wait, weren’t the Cubs reportedly looking into a similar deal? Yes, yes they were. They’ve also been connected to Kela, for what it’s worth.
Kela still mentioned as main target for Cubs.
— TomLoxas (@TomLoxas) July 29, 2018
The moral of the story is that several top teams are going to be after several top relievers. Brach isn’t nearly as sexy as Kela, but he wouldn’t require nearly as much a return. Expect a lot of churn in these reports as the deadline draws near.
