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News and Notes: Former Blue Jay Jackie Bradley Jr. signed a minor league deal with the Mets, the Dodgers want an impact arm, and more!
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Photo credit: © David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports
Ryley Delaney
Jul 23, 2024, 18:30 EDTUpdated: Jul 23, 2024, 19:25 EDT
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We’re just a week out from the 2024 MLB trade deadline, and as you can imagine, the hot stove is burning.
The New York Mets signed a former Blue Jay to a minor league deal, the Los Angeles Dodgers want an impact arm after designating James Paxton for assignment, the Boston Red Sox are interested in the Canadian, and the Baltimore Orioles figure to be active next Tuesday.
Let’s take a look at all of that in the latest News and Notes!

Former Blue Jay Jackie Bradley Jr. signs minor league deal with Mets

According to Sean W. Alcide on Twitter (or X, whatever you want to call it), the New York Mets signed Jackie Bradley Jr. to a minor-league deal.
The 34-year-old spent eight seasons with the Boston Red Sox from the 2013 season until 2020, where he slashed .239/.321/.412 with 98 homers in 3281 plate appearances for a 93 wRC+. He was an All-Star in 2016, and won a Gold Glove in centre field in 2018.
Bradley Jr. signed with the Milwaukee Brewers prior to the start of the 2021 season and struggled with his new team, being traded back to the Red Sox before the beginning of the 2022 season. At the start of August 2022, he was released and signed with the Blue Jays, where he slashed .178/.250/.274 with a homer in 80 plate appearances as a fourth outfielder.
He signed with the Royals for the 2023 season, lasting just 113 plate appearances with a 2 wRC+, before he was waived. He signed with the Independent Long Island Ducks of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball, before joining the Mets.

Dodgers want an impact arm at the deadline

On Monday, the Los Angeles Dodgers designated Richmond, British Columbia-native James Paxton for assignment. However, according to The Athletic’s Fabian Ardaya, the team is still searching for an impact arm.
Well, the Blue Jays may have just that for the Dodgers, as Yusei Kikuchi is believed to be their highest-value trade asset at this season’s deadline. This season, the 33-year-old lefty has a 4.54 ERA and a 3.58 FIP in 111 innings pitched, along with a 26.4 K% and a 5.9 BB%.
His numbers haven’t been great over his last seven starts, posting a 7.49 ERA and a 4.69 FIP in 33.2 innings pitched, with a 32.5 K% and a 6 BB%, but over the last two seasons, Kikuchi’s body of work has been great.
Heading into the season, the Dodgers had the eighth-ranked farm system in the entire league (including former Blue Jay prospect, Nick Frasso). They’re an ideal trading partner thanks to that strong farm, but the Jays could also attach one of the relievers and maybe even former Dodger Justin Turner to maximize their return.
It wouldn’t be all that surprising if the two teams made a trade at the deadline, as they’re common trading partners, doing so in 2020 and 2022.

Red Sox interested in Canadian pitcher James Paxton

Speaking of James Paxton, it seems like the 36-year-old Canadian has interest from around the league. According to Rob Bradford of WEEI 93.7 FM, the Boston Red Sox are expected to get in the mix for the righty.
Paxton didn’t have a great season with the Dodgers, posting a 4.43 ERA and a 4.96 FIP with a 16.4 K% and a 12.3 BB%. Still, he’s a big league pitcher, even if a perennial contender like the Dodgers don’t have a use for him.
The 36-year-old was a part of the 2023 Red Sox, where he posted a 4.50 ERA and a 4.68 FIP in 96 innings pitched, along with a 24.6 K% and an 8 BB%. Prior to that, he pitched two seasons with the New York Yankees in 2019 and 2020, as well as the Seattle Mariners from 2013 until 2018, as well as a brief stop with the Mariners in 2021. Like very brief, he pitched 1.1 innings with the team before requiring Tommy John surgery.
It’s likely that the Dodgers will find a trade partner for Paxton before he clears waivers.

Orioles are open to trading Ryan Mountcastle and Cedric Mullins

Years of tanking – and yes, good roster construction and scouting – have paid off the Baltimore Orioles, as they currently lead the American League with a 60-39 record. Interestingly, they could trade two of their main roster players, Cedric Mullins and Ryan Mountcastle, according to ESPN’s Jeff Passan.
The Orioles had the top-ranked farm system in the big leagues heading into the 2024 season, including corner infielder Coby Mayo, shortstop Jackson Holliday, and outfielders Colton Cowser and Heston Kjerstad. All four players are either in Triple-A or in the big leagues.
Trading Mullins or Mountcastle could net the Orioles even more prospects for the future of their team.  Mountcastle is slashing .264/.305/.437 with 12 homers in 371 plate appearances. The first baseman hit a career-high in homers back in 2021 with 33, but he’s a solid hitter with 20 home run power. He has two more seasons of arbitration before hitting free agency after the 2026 season. Just please, get him out of the American League East.
Mullins is a solid defensive centre fielder who is having a career-worst year with the bat, slashing .214/.258/.379 with 10 homers in 300 plate appearances. His career-high in homers was also in 2021 with 30, the same year he also had 6 fWAR. The past two seasons, he’s accumulated 4.5 fWAR, and he has one more season of arbitration remaining.
As always, you can follow me on Twitter @Ryley_L_D.

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