The MLB trade deadline is just one week away: Tuesday, August 2 at 6 pm ET.
We have a lot of fun and player movement. While there may not be as many trades as last year, we could have one or two of the biggest trades in baseball history if the Nationals deal Juan Soto or the Angels receive an attractive enough offer for Shohei Ohtani. It appears the Nationals will trade Soto, who has generated strong interest. Meanwhile, the Angels are reluctant to trade Ohtani and have publicly said they don’t want to, but are listening to offers from teams that have been surveyed. As difficult as it is to trade any of these special superstars, the Nationals and Angels need talent at the major and minor league levels, and trade returns of this magnitude may be the best way to jumpstart their organizations.
I’ve been contacting all 30 teams to assess where they stand. Here’s the latest I’m hearing about who’s buying, who’s selling and which players are being discussed and targeted in inter-team talks, along with my thoughts.
First, this cheat sheet takes a high-level look at what to expect from each team. Below, I provide a position-by-position summary of the major league players most likely to be traded; these are the names i’m watching closely.
Which team will win the Juan Soto draw? (Jonathan Newton/The Washington Post via Getty Images)
Sellers
(Listed in alphabetical order)
Arizona Diamondbacks (43-53, .448) – The Diamondbacks will be sellers, but aren’t expected to make any major trades. They can offer experienced relievers like Mark Melancon and Ian Kennedy. Their most valuable trade asset is left-handed reliever Joe Mantiply, but they’re not shopping him, and it would take a lot for a contending team to pry him away. Powerful first baseman Christian Walker could be traded, but that could depend on which teams lose Josh Bell.
Chicago Cubs (39-57, .406) – Willson Contreras headlines the Cubs’ upcoming trade. The All-Star catcher will be a free agent after this season and could be the best bat moved at the deadline other than Soto. The Cubs could also trade infielder/infielder Ian Happ (who is under team control through 2023), their catcher, David Robertson, and other relievers such as Mychal Givens and Chris Martin.
Cincinnati Reds (37-58, .389): The Reds have Luis Castillo, the most talented starting pitcher on the market, and the offers have poured in. Cincinnati will get a strong return for Castillo due to the small number of firsts on the market. -Rotational starters are available (and the extra year of control improves their value). The Reds could move third baseman Brandon Drury, who has been one of their most productive position players this season. They would like to trade veterans like left-hander Mike Minor and infielder Mike Moustakas if they can find a taker for either of them, even if it requires significantly paying their salaries. The Reds have seven impending free agents, all of whom could be dealt. They are just trying to get better in the long run.
Colorado Rockies (44-53, .454) – The Rockies haven’t decided which direction they’ll go at the deadline, but all signs point to them being sellers. Shortstop Jose Iglesias is available, and they would like to trade him to make room for one of their top prospects, Ezequiel Tovar, who is ready for the majors. Rockies closer Daniel Bard will be their most sought-after reliever, but they are willing to move other bullpen arms, such as Alex Colomé or Carlos Estévez, to righty. Starting pitcher Chad Kuhl is having a solid year, but will be a free agent this winter, so he could be on the move as well. At the very least, I expect Iglesias and Bard to be wearing different uniforms on August 3rd.
Detroit Tigers (39-58, .402) — The Tigers’ most valuable trade asset is closer Gregory Soto, who they don’t want to move, but if they get the right long-term position player back, they will. Teams have also inquired about right-handed relievers Michael Fulmer and Joe Jimenez and lefty Andrew Chafin. Also, outfielder Robbie Grossman, third baseman Jeimer Candelario and second baseman Jonathan Schoop are solid bench bats that could be dealt. The Tigers will target young position player prospects in all of their trade talks.
Kansas City Royals (39-57, .406) – The Royals are expected to make several changes, most notably to outfielder Andrew Benintendi and second baseman Whit Merrifield. There is a strong possibility that their two main relievers, Scott Barlow and Josh Staumont, could also be moved. The Royals are looking for solid returns for their rebuild, and they should get them.
Los Angeles Angels (40-56, .417) – The Angels are sellers and want to add depth in all areas for their major and minor league teams. They’ll listen to all trade offers, including Ohtani, who will be a free agent after the 2023 season. They’ve made it clear they have no intention of trading Ohtani, but that doesn’t mean they won’t if they receive an overwhelming offer. The Angels will likely move right-hander Noah Syndergaard, who will be a free agent after this season.
Miami Marlins (45-51, .469) – The Marlins continue to look for a long-term answer in center field and will look to acquire more position players who can hit and spin. They can use starting pitcher Pablo Lopez and a farm system loaded with top pitching prospects as trade bait.
Oakland A’s (36-63, .364) – The A’s can finish off the fire sale they started in the offseason at the trade deadline, and still have right-hander Frankie Montas, outfielder Ramón Laureano and catcher Sean Murphy . They’ve also received a lot of interest in their relievers, including righties Lou Trivino and Zach Jackson and lefty AJ Puk. The A’s don’t have to move anyone, so they’ll only make trades if it helps them long term.
Pittsburgh Pirates (40-57, .412) – The rebuilding Pirates have virtually no untouchables. They will listen to all trade offers with the goal of building a perennial contender as early as 2023 or 2024. The Marlins and Yankees have been clamoring for center fielder Bryan Reynolds, but so far neither has offered enough to attract the Pirates. All-Star David Bednar is one of the most sought-after relievers on the market because of his performance since 2021 (2.54 ERA in 100 relief appearances) and his four additional years of control. The Pirates should do well if they decide to move him.
Washington Nationals (33-65, .337) – The Nationals are clearly in trade mode again at the deadline this year, but it goes beyond trying to trade Soto, as Bell and the Designated hitter Nelson Cruz also moved. The Nationals would love to find a team to take Patrick Corbin’s bad contract off their hands. They also have a group of relievers who could move, such as Kyle Finnegan, Carl Edwards Jr. and Steve Cishek. Washington will be busy from now until the deadline.
The buyers
(Listed by percentage of winners)
Brian Cashman’s Yankees have a comfortable lead in the AL East, but how will they look to improve for the postseason? (Kim Clement / USA Today)
New York Yankees (66-31, .680) – The Yankees want to improve their outfield. They’ve talked to the Nationals about Soto, the Pirates about Reynolds and the Royals about Benintendi and Merrifield. They are also in the pitching market, scouting available starters and relievers, including Castillo dels Rojos and Bednar dels Pirates. Go big or go home is what it feels like right now in the Bronx.
Los Angeles Dodgers (64-31, .674): The Dodgers are always looking for impact moves and this trade deadline is no different. They want to be opportunistic, so like the Yankees, they have the best players available, from Soto to Castillo to Bednar to Barlow. The Dodgers are everywhere and have the farm system and financial resources to do what they always do (see: Mookie Betts, Trea Turner and Max Scherzer).
Houston Astros (64-33, .660) – The Astros are buyers, of course, with interest in several players and positions. They have been linked with the Nationals in Bell, the Reds in Castillo and the Cubs in Contreras. The Astros have a strong, deep farm system and a general manager, James Click, who smells another chance to win a World Series.
New York Mets (59-37, .615) — The Mets have already acquired DH Daniel Vogelbach in a trade with Pittsburgh and will continue to try to improve their career differential by adding another bat, pitch or both. New York is one of the teams that has talked to the Angels about Ohtani. Mets GM Billy Eppler signed Ohtani in 2017 when he ran the Angels’ baseball operations. The Mets’ farm system is stocked at the top, which bodes well for big trades at the deadline.
Atlanta Braves (58-40, .592) – With Adam Duvall’s season-ending wrist injury, left field has become a major need for the Braves. Benintendi tops his target list because he is a strong defensive player with a high on-base percentage and is a left-handed hitter, which would help balance his lineup better. If they have a chance to land a top-of-the-rotation starter like Castillo, they’ll take advantage of the opportunity. They are excited that reliever Kirby Yates (41 saves in 2019) is close to returning from Tommy John surgery, and will monitor his rehab between now and Aug. 2 before deciding whether to trade for a another relief The Braves will be open to other upgrades, but are pretty set in most areas.
Toronto Blue Jays (53-43, .552) – The Blue Jays are looking to add a starting pitcher and a left-handed bat. They, too, are involved in the Soto and Castillo sweepstakes and, like the Yankees and Dodgers, have the farm system and financial resources to pull off a deal.
San Diego Padres (54-44, .551) – The Padres have been linked to Soto and could…