Keep up to date with all the latest rumours and rumblings from around Major League Baseball ahead of Tuesday's trade deadline.

If the Atlanta Braves part with top pitching prospects Luiz Gohara or Kolby Allard, it will be for a controllable starter and not bullpen help according to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic. The Braves were reported to have interest in both Jake Diekman and Keone Kela of the Texas Rangers, but not in a deal involving their top pitching prospects. 

Rosenthal notes that Chris Archer may be one of the starter the Braves are looking at, who the Tampa Bay Rays seem more willing to move now than before. 

Jon Heyman of Fancred Sports reported earlier Sunday that the San Diego Padres are the frontrunners for Archer, should the Rays decide to move him.

Heyman adds that the Rays scouted Justus Sheffield, New York's top pitching prospect, who they could ask for in a deal involving Archer. 

While he has pitched at least 200 innings three years in a row, Archer's ERA sits at 4.36 entering play Saturday, the third year in a row it's been at least 4.00. 

But some feel that Archer's lofty ERAs of late have more to do with the quality of lineups he faces in the American League East on a regular basis. Jason Collette of ESPN tweets that Archer's ERA against the AL East is 4.02 compared to 3.40 against the rest of baseball. He also gives up fewer home runs per nine innings and his chase rate is almost three per cent better against non-AL East clubs. 

Crasnick wrote earlier in the week that the Rays also have their focus on moving shorter-term assets like outfielder Carlos Gomez, closer Sergio Romo, catcher Wilson Ramos and shortstop Adeiny Hechavarria, who are all free agents after the season.

 

Red Sox trying for a bullpen piece

San Diego Padres relievers Craig Stammen and Kirby Yates have drawn interest from the Boston Red Sox according to Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe. 

The Red Sox have the ninth inning locked down with Craig Kimbrel, but have struggled this year in the middle innings. Both Yates and Stammen have extensive experience in middle relief and both have ERAs well below 3.00 this year.

According to Dennis Lin of The Athletic, both Yates and Stammen are drawing significant interest from numerous teams.

 

Pirates looking for help on the mound

The Pittsburgh Pirates are shopping for a controllable starter as well as bullpen help according to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic. 

However they do not appear to be at the forefront of the Chris Archer discussions. 

The Pirates have been on fire lately, winning eight of their last 10, to push their record to 55-51 entering play Sunday. Their hot streak has them just three games out of the second National League wild card spot. 

Despite their success, they sit 10th in the NL in both team ERA and opponent's batting average. 

 

Jones staying in Baltimore?

Baltimore Orioles outfielder Adam Jones might play his final home game with the club Sunday as rumours continue to swirl about his availability. According to Dan Connolly of The Athletic, multiple interested teams have requested he waive his trade veto to allow the Orioles and a contending team to strike a deal.

But as Connolly reports, the sense is that Jones will stay with the Orioles for 2018 to “not uproot his family and say proper goodbye to fans and community.”

Jones has been with the Orioles for the last 11 seasons since coming over in a trade with the Seattle Mariners involving Canadian lefty Erik Bedard. In 99 games so far this season, Jones is hitting .281 to go along with 11 home runs and 43 RBI.

He is a free agent at the end of the season and given Baltimore’s dismal record of 31-74 entering play Sunday, the Orioles have long since been eliminated from playoff contention, already dealing veterans Manny Machado and Zach Britton.

 

Five teams scout Kela Saturday

There were five teams scouting Texas Rangers closer Keone Kela on Saturday reports Jeff Wilson of the Star-Telegram.

The Boston Red Sox, Arizona Diamondbacks, Pittsburgh Pirates, San Francisco Giants and Cleveland Indians all got a good look at the right-handed reliever, who has 23 saves this season with an ERA of 3.28 in 37 games.

Kela has three more years of team control left after 2018, so he isn’t expected to come cheap. Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News adds that the Los Angeles Dodgers also have expressed interest in Kela, along with fellow Rangers’ relievers Jose Leclerc, Alex Claudio and Jake Diekman.