The MLB trade deadline is 6 p.m. ET on Aug. 5, which means the rumors are in full swing across baseball. There are a handful of former Florida Gators who could be dealt at the deadline, with a pair of well-known right-handed pitchers at the top of the list.
The most likely trade candidate is Brady Singer, whose contract with the Cincinnati Reds is set to expire this offseason. Singer was traded by Kansas City in the 2024-25 offseason, swapping teams with former college teammate Jonathan India. In 53 starts with the Reds, Singer has a 4.15 ERA, 8.24 K/9, 3.12 BB/9 and 3.6 fWAR.
Singer is a consistent presence for MLB teams looking to strengthen their starting rotations, and his last two months of work have helped boost his trade value after struggling in the early part of the season. A return to the AL Central could be on the table, with the Chicago White Sox and Minnesota Twins both in need of pitching. The Atlanta Braves, Philadelphia Phillies and San Diego Padres are National League teams that are also in the mix to trade for a pitcher.
Brandon Sproat is another former Gator who could be moved by next week. He’s 25 years old and still developing into a reliable starter at the major-league level. The Milwaukee Brewers might not be excited to trade a key piece of last offseason’s return for Freddy Peralta, but Sproat could be packaged in a deal for a high-end starter, such as Detroit’s Tarik Skubal. There’s certainly plenty of upside with Sproat, but a proven starter — even one on a rental — may be more valuable for a team chasing a World Series.
Florida Gators in minor leagues who could be traded
The two names that come to mind among former Gators in the minors are left-handed starter Hunter Barco and right-handed reliever Philip Abner.
Barco has made seven appearances as a reliever since making his major league debut with the Pittsburgh Pirates last September. He’s been optioned back to the minors twice but was called back up on Wednesday. Similar to Sproat, Barco is a 25-year-old, high-upside arm with good minor league numbers, but he’s approaching his fifth professional season. The Pirates are set up as buyers ahead of the deadline, and Barco is the kind of prospect who gets included in blockbuster packages.
Abner is a similar story, being called up and optioned four times this season. The Arizona Diamondbacks didn’t need to start his major league clock last season, but now he’s taking up a space on the 40-man roster. The numbers aren’t great, but more consistent opportunities out of an MLB bullpen could help him stabilize.
Finally, outfielder Jud Fabian is a nice defense-first center fielder in a Baltimore Orioles organization that is full of good outfielders. He’s expendable at this point, and he could warrant a decent return playing a premier defensive position.
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This article originally appeared on Gators Wire: Five former Gators who could be traded at MLB deadline
Reporting by David Rosenberg, Gators Wire / Gators Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By David Rosenberg, Gators Wire | USA TODAY Network
