MLB Trade Rumors: Brewers release Brock Holt, Blue Jays acquire Taijuan Walker

The MLB Trade Deadline is five days away, but the action is starting to pick up around the league. The Phillies got the market rolling by acquiring Red Sox relievers Brandon Workman and Heath Hembree last week. Now the Mariners and Blue Jays are in on the action, too. Expect the market to come into better focus soon.

Since it can sometimes be hard to keep up with the news, Pinstripe Alley is going to run a series of posts containing all the Yankees rumors over the next few days. It’s important to remember that these are rumors, and you should take them with a grain of salt. Teams frequently posture, selectively releasing information in a way that benefits them.

Rumors of the Day (July 27, 2020)

3:00 PM ET: The Brewers have released Brock Holt, says Bernie Pleskoff. The team designated the fielder for assignment earlier in the week. Holt, 32, has been Capital-A Awful this year, hitting .100/.222/.100 (0 wRC+) in 16 games for Milwaukee. That said, he’s just a year removed from a serviceable 103 wRC+ with the Red Sox. He can play second base, as well as some outfield, and the Yankees have Thairo Estrada and Tyler Wade in everyday roles right now. I don’t hate the idea of a flyer for a marginal upgrade. Plus, watch him hit to a 140 wRC+ down the stretch in pinstripes.

3:00 PM ET: Cross Taijuan Walker off your pitching wishlists. The Mariners have sent the right-hander to the Blue Jays for a player-to-be-named-later. Walker, 28, has made five starts in 2020, pitching to a 4.00 ERA (4.94 FIP). The Yankees reportedly had some interest in trading for Walker.

3:00 PM ET: The Yankees have reportedly inquired on Giants right-hander Kevin Gausman, per Andy Martino. Gausman, 29, has pitched to a 4.65 ERA (3.13 FIP) with sterling peripherals. His strikeout rate is way up, ditto his fastball velocity. Don’t let the ERA scare you. He could be a solid pickup.

Reminder: This is not an open thread. Please keep comments on topic. Thank you.