3 teams who'll be in desperation mode for Reds starter Tyler Mahle before the MLB trade deadline

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The trade deadline is just hour away and the Cincinnati Reds have one of the most valuable starting pitchers who's yet to be dealt. Tyler Mahle has been rumored to be on the move for weeks, but with less than 24 hours remaining, will he really be traded?

The market is bit clouded. The Reds received a tremendous return for Luis Castillo's services, but the Oakland Athletics were not as fortunate. The A's traded Frankie Montas to the New York Yankees yesterday and didn't receive near the package the Reds did.

Miami Marlins starter Pablo Lopez and San Francisco Giants left-hander Carlos Rodon could be on the move as well today. It'll be a race to the 6 PM ET finish line and there'll be plenty of teams still interested in Mahle's services. But will they be willing to offer the type of trade package it's going to take? Which

1. The Phillies will be in desperation mode and could trade for Reds RHP Tyler Mahle.

The Philadelphia Phillies were never mentioned as a potential destination for former Cincinnati Reds starting pitcher Luis Castillo, but Dave Dombrowski appears to be taking a long look at Tyler Mahle. The Phillies are definitely in the market for a starter as the deadline approaches.

The Phillies are clinging to the final Wild Card spot in the National League, and with the St. Louis Cardinals rumored to be after Washington Nationals superstar Juan Soto, Philadelphia needs to add to their roster before 6 PM ET today.

The Phillies are not going to catch the New York Mets or the Atlanta Braves in the NL East, so Philadelphia's only hope to salvage this season and make a run in the playoffs is to secure a spot in the Wild Card. Philly has the horses to get the job done in the batters' box, but they need one more quality starter in the rotation.

Tyler Mahle would slot nicely behind Aaron Nola and Zack Wheeler in the Phillies starting rotation, giving manager Rob Thomson a solid 1-2-3 punch. The Phillies have been rumored to be unwilling to move some of their top prospects. Perhaps they change their tune as the deadline approaches this evening.

2. The Twins will be in desperation mode and could trade for Reds RHP Tyler Mahle.

It's quite surprising to see the Minnesota Twins so quiet as the trade deadline is now less than 24 hours away. The Twins lead in the American League Central is slipping away and President of Baseball Operations Derek Falvey cannot afford to see Minnesota fall behind the Cleveland Guardians or Chicago White Sox.

If the Twins lose their lead in the AL Central, their chances of making a run in the postseason will take a tremendous hit. The American League Wild Card race is dominated by the AL East and even the Boston Red Sox seem unwilling to concede at this point.

Much like the aforementioned Philadelphia Phillies, the Minnesota Twins have the bats, but lack depth in their rotation. Former Cincinnati Reds pitcher Sonny Gray would likely be Minnesota's Game 1 starter if the Twins make the playoffs, but they'd have to turn to Dylan Bundy, Chris Archer, or Joe Ryan would be next in line for Rocco Baldelli's club. Neither of those choices are ideal.

The Twins are Reds already pulled off a trade earlier this year, so obvious the two front offices are on speaking terms. Don't be shocked if the Twins shell out some of their top prospects in order to make their path to the postseason a little easier with Tyler Mahle as their No. 2 starter.

2. The Rangers will be in desperation mode and could trade for Reds RHP Tyler Mahle.

The Los Angeles Dodgers may be lurking, but to call the 2020 World Champions desperate would be like calling Bob Castellini a big spender. If LA's wants Mahle, they have the prospect capital to make a deal. The Texas Rangers, however, could find themselves in dire straits as they look o solidify the rotation and make a push for the playoffs.

Texas isn't out of it just yet. The Rangers are not in a good position to be sure, but after adding Corey Seager and Marcus Semien in the offseason, Texas cannot afford to just give up on the 2022 season with two months still remaining.

They're currently eight games back for the final Wild Card spot and trail teams like Baltimore Orioles and Chicago White Sox. According to Baseball Reference, the Rangers have less than a 2% chance to make the playoffs, but Reds fans know all too well how quickly a team can make a last minute surge. Just look at what the St. Louis Cardinals did in 2021.

Furthermore, the idea of trading for Tyler Mahle could help the Texas Rangers make a late-season charge in 2022 and it helps bolster their starting rotation for next season. One of Mahle's biggest selling points is that he's under team control through the 2023 campaign. Don't be shocked if the Rangers enter the Tyler Mahle sweepstakes.

dark. Next. Tyler Mahle drawing trade interest from this NL East team

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