This is the Trade Deadline, folks, in all its glory. (Also, it is an informative update about a Cubs trade target that we liked, but that the Cubs are apparently not getting.)
Act I, Scene 1
Marlins have traded Brad Ziegler.
— Craig Mish (@CraigMish) July 31, 2018
OH MY! IS IT THE CUBS?!?!?
Act I, Scene 2
Source tells me there is no done deal yet. But Ziegler is absolutely expected to be dealt today. https://t.co/K1Ht4ePpEF
— Mark Feinsand (@Feinsand) July 31, 2018
Ah, well, it’s still interesting, and we knew Ziegler was gonna get dealt soon anyway. But is it the CUBS?!?!
Act II, Scene 1
Hearing #Marlins have not yet completed Brad Ziegler deal. Appears soon. field down to 1 or 2 and #Cubs are NOT in mix
— Joe Frisaro (@JoeFrisaro) July 31, 2018
Oh. Well screw this.
Act II, Scene 2
Brad Ziegler trade is indeed "close," source says, and he is not expected to go to the #Cubs. @MLB @MLBNetwork
— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) July 31, 2018
YEAH WE ALREADY SAW THAT IN SCENE 1, DAMNIT. /goes out for intermission smoke break
UPDATE (Michael): I’m not sure where in the play this fits in … or if it’s just the crazy ramblings of a theater fan outside, but Ken Rosenthal suggests that the Diamondbacks are close on Ziegler:
#DBacks close on Ziegler, sources tell The Athletic.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) July 31, 2018
Normally, I’d tell you to just about book this as a done deal (especially this close to the deadline with Rosenthal reporting it), but this year? Who knows.
UPDATE 2: Here’s a little more confirmation from a man tapped into the Marlins’ org:
As @Ken_Rosenthal notes. The team is the Diamondbacks for Ziegler. Agreed in principle.
— Craig Mish (@CraigMish) July 31, 2018
With Rosenthal and Mish reporting, you can say this is about as serious as it gets, which is a bit of a bummer, because I had Ziegler on my wish list, given the *whole* picture (acquisition cost, ground ball rate, low-cost, expiring deal, recent streak of hotness, etc.). Oh well. Plenty of other fish (get it?) in the sea.
UPDATE 3: Sounds like it’s done:
Source: Brad Ziegler is going to Arizona. @Ken_Rosenthal said it was close.
This one is for real.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) July 31, 2018
Brad Ziegler goes to #Diamondbacks from #Marlins. @Ken_Rosenthal 1st
— Joel Sherman (@Joelsherman1) July 31, 2018