2022 MLB trade deadline: What trades weren’t made? Shohei Ohtani, Ian Happ, Wilson Contreras, who else?
Rumors and reports fueld the chatter, but in the end there are some big names who won’t be listed on new rosters when the dust settles on MLB’s trade deadline.
The 2022 MLB trade deadline took us for quite a ride. There were winners and losers and of course one particular show stopping trade, but there were also some moves that never got made. Let’s take a look at who went nowhere.
The biggest trades that didn’t happen in the MLV trade deadline
‘Nobody move and nobody gets hurt’ is a line normally reserved for those of us who’ve decided to take on new career paths in the industry of ‘wealth redistribution.’ Yet, it seems like where some teams and stars were concerned, the MLB trade deadline proved to be just as good a reason to adhere to the logic of the age-old phrase. With that in mind, we decided to break down some of the major names who were widely rumored to be on the verge of moves elsewhere, but in the end simply stayed put. Here’s our list of the MLB trades that didn’t happen:
DH/SP - Shohei Ohtani - Los Angeles Angels
Unless you were hiding under a rock for the last few weeks, this was always going to be the first name off of our bat. The fan favorite for MVP and rightly so, the Japanese two-way sensation has been nothing short of unreal this year. Indeed, with his list of records continuing to grow, many were shocked by the rumblings of a potential trade for the megastar. Though the reports never truly picked up any steam, it’s understood that the Angeles were open to entertaining offers. With that, fans in LA can now breathe a little easier as they will have their star on the roster once again.
C - Willson Contreras - Chicago Cubs
The 30-year-old is currently in the middle of the best season of his career and make no mistake, he’s worth it. So much so in fact, that it’s quite frankly surprising that he didn’t leave the Cubs. That being said, the price was prohibitive. Contreras is owed the balance of a $9.63 million salary for 2022, and moreover is due to become a free agent in the winter. In light of all of this, the Cubs are now faced with negotiating his extension or at the least an acceptable offer in the now, such that they can potentially get some kind of draft pick when he does actually move on. With all that said, it would appear that Contreras is happy to be staying.
OF - Ian Happ - Chicago Cubs
Heading into D-Day, most thought this one was a done deal, but in the end the 27-year-old stayed exactly where he was. A player who can handle more than one position, Happ has a career OPS+ of 113 and has actually managed to surpass that this season. A first-time All-Star, Happ will be up for free agency after next season so it kind of makes sense that he wasn’t on the move this summer. Don’t surprised if that changes in Winter. Like his teammate listed above, it’s not hard to see that Happ was happy to stay. Take a look for yourself:
OF - Bryan Reynolds - Pittsburgh Pirates
Despite a number of reports saying the opposite, the Pirates finally made it abundantly clear to would be suitors around the league, that their star outfielder was no longer available for trade. Indeed, the news would have come as a big blow given that Reynolds was literally one of the most sought-after players on the market. Until next time guys.
C - Sean Murphy - Oakland Athletics
As skilled defensively as he is at the plate, Sean Murphy has proven himself to be a true asset in recent times. Under team control until 2025, his continued presence on the roster is somewhat curious when one considers the idea that the A’s have opted to trade just about everyone else. Though it’s commonly the case that teams avoid changing catchers mid-season, it could well be that the franchise is simply trying to lock him down on a long-term basis.