MLB trade rumors: Garrett Crochet declines comment on report, Mets interested in reunion with outfielder

Here are the latest rumors and moves from Saturday, July 27

Major League Baseball's trade deadline, slated for July 30, continues to draw ever closer with each passing hour. Friday saw the market get moving, with the Seattle Mariners obtaining outfielder Randy Arozarena and the Baltimore Orioles netting right-handed starter Zach Eflin, each in a trade with the Tampa Bay Rays. What will Saturday have in store? Keep it locked in here for all the latest news and rumors.

Crochet declines to address report

White Sox lefty Garrett Crochet is considered one of, if not the top arm available this deadline. His situation became trickier this week when Jon Heyman of the New York Post reported that he has some specific desires for how he's used the rest of the season -- and that he would require a contract extension if he's to pitch into October. Heyman noted that Crochet "views starter routine as best for health."

Garrett Crochet

CHW • SP • #45
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Crochet was asked about the validity of Heyman's report on Friday. He declined to comment.

"No comment. Right now, I'm just focused on pitching for the White Sox," Crochet told reporters, including Scott Merkin of MLB.com. "In terms of that, it kind of just is what it is. I'm focused on pitching for the White Sox. Beyond that, I'm not really controlling much."

Crochet has already thrown a career-high 111 1/3 innings. His previous high was 65 -- and that came as a college sophomore in 2019.

Mets interested in Conforto reunion

Count the Mets among the teams with interest in Giants outfielder Michael Conforto, according to Mike Puma of the New York Post. Conforto is, of course, no stranger to the Mets: he spent the first seven seasons of his career with New York.

Michael Conforto

SF • LF • #8
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Across 80 games this year with the Giants, Conforto has hit .226/.298/.415 (105 OPS+) with 10 home runs and 40 runs batted in. In an odd twist, he's been more productive against lefties than righties -- that seems more likely than not to be a small-sample quirk given his history of spottiness when faced with a southpaw.

The Mets are currently without outfielders Starling Marte and Harrison Bader (though he's expected to return soon), leading to them using more of Tyrone Taylor and DJ Stewart. Conforto would represent an obvious offensive upgrade over them both.