Sportv
-
ESPN
Jul 23, 2024, 04:25 PM ET
The 2024 MLB trade deadline is just around the corner, with contending teams deciding what they need to add before 6 p.m. ET on July 30 arrives.
Could Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Bo Bichette be on the move from the Toronto Blue Jays? Could Garrett Crochet, Luis Robert Jr. and Jazz Chisholm Jr. be dealt to contenders? And who among the Los Angeles Dodgers, New York Yankees, Baltimore Orioles and Philadelphia Phillies will go all-in to boost their 2024 World Series hopes?
Whether your favorite club is looking to add or deal away — or stands somewhere in between — here’s the freshest intel we’re hearing, reaction to completed deals and what to know for every team as trade season unfolds.
Passan’s trade deadline preview | All-Star Week rumors
Sportv Five trending names to know
-
Randy Arozarena: Outfielder will draw plenty of interest — if Rays choose to deal him
-
Vladimir Guerrero Jr.: Will the Blue Jays start a rebuild or hold on to their superstar(s)?
-
Garrett Crochet: The pitcher everyone’s talking about — but is he a starter or a reliever?
-
Luis Robert: Risk/reward outfielder who could be this deadline’s biggest offensive difference-maker
-
Jack Flaherty: Right-handed starter shining on a one-year deal with the Tigers
July 23 updates
Rays could be big players in the next week: Tampa Bay could shed future salary in the form of both Randy Arozarena and Zach Eflin in deadline deals. Eflin is due $13 million next season while Arozarena will get a bump up through the arbitration system which is currently paying him $8.1 million — especially if his numbers continue to improve as they have this month. — Jesse Rogers
Astros looking for rotation help: The Houston Astros are interested in starting pitching. They’re probably not in the Garrett Crochet sweepstakes, but have scouted both Chicago teams including looking at White Sox right-hander Erick Fedde and Cubs righty Jameson Taillon. — Rogers
Who will the reigning champs deal away? Some believe Texas could deal away veteran players before the deadline, with Nathan Eovaldi the biggest prize among several players who could move in a retool. David Robertson, Kirby Yates, Robbie Grossman and even Adolis Garcia could possibly be had. — Rogers
Cubs reliever drawing interest: Chicago reliever Mark Leiter Jr. could be a popular name for teams in need of bullpen help. Since coming off the IL earlier this month, he has retired all 16 batters he’s faced — striking out 11 of them. Both New York teams are among his suitors. — Rogers
Two impact hitters on Dodgers’ radar: The Los Angeles Dodgers will be chasing high-impact talent on the trade front the rest of this month. They will prioritize starting pitching, largely because of the uncertainty surrounding Yoshinobu Yamamoto, who has been out since the middle of June with a strained rotator cuff. But they would also like to add an everyday outfielder to join Teoscar Hernandez, deepening their lineup and allowing them to find the best platoon in their third outfield spot. The Dodgers have the depth and flexibility to target either a corner outfielder or a center fielder. The two best fits at the moment, according to people familiar with their thinking: Randy Arozarena and Luis Robert Jr. — Alden Gonzalez
Will Dodgers find a fit for Paxton? A trade market desperate for starting pitching gained an intriguing arm on Monday, when the Dodgers made the rather surprising decision to designate 35-year-old left-hander James Paxton for assignment. Paxton was 8-2 with a 4.43 ERA and had made every start, but the Dodgers are activating Tyler Glasnow and Clayton Kershaw this week, and Bobby Miller and Walker Buehler are expected to return to the rotation shortly thereafter. They essentially didn’t think there would be any room for Paxton. His underlying metrics also aren’t good; he has walked a National League-leading 48 batters in 89⅓ innings, and his chase rate and expected ERA are unfavorable. Still: The Dodgers are widely expected to be able to find a trade partner for Paxton over these next seven days. — Gonzalez
Why Angels are a deadline team to watch: Given that the Los Angeles Angels are way out of the race, it’s obvious that pending free agents like closer Carlos Estevez, center fielder Kevin Pillar, infielder Brandon Drury, and relievers Luis Garcia and Hunter Strickland will be available. The question rival executives are asking themselves: How do the Angels see themselves in 2025? If they see themselves as competitive, then they might have a higher-than-expected asking price for outfielder Taylor Ward, utility man Luis Rengifo, and starting pitchers Tyler Anderson and Griffin Canning, players controllable through 2025 or 2026. If they don’t, then those players can be had. The Angels would be well-served to capitalize on the market and part with what would be some pretty coveted assets, even if it means resetting next year. But they’re always among the most difficult teams to predict. — Gonzalez
July 22 updates
How Blue Jays are approaching the trade deadline: The Toronto Blue Jays have signaled to other teams that they intend to try to win in 2025 rather than to go through a full rebuild, and this is being interpreted by some other teams as an assertion that Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Bo Bichette — each eligible for free agency after ’25 — won’t be moved this summer. Two rival officials say their sense is the Jays would listen to offers for any player but would have to be overwhelmed. Toronto has indicated to other teams that it is ready to move players who will be free agents at the end of this year, such as pitcher Yusei Kikuchi, catcher Danny Jansen and reliever Yimi Garcia, who may become one of the most sought-after names on this year’s market. Garcia was just activated from the injured list, and on Saturday, he struck out all three batters he faced in an inning of work against the Tigers. — Buster Olney
New York blanketing the trade market: The New York Yankees are looking for corner infield help along with some pitching add-ons, which includes the bullpen, where closer Clay Holmes has struggled some over the past month. Both Tanner Scott from the Miami Marlins and Kyle Finnegan of the Washington Nationals could fit. The Yankees could be close to all-in mode, which means don’t discount any big name on the market, including Chicago White Sox starter Garrett Crochet. It also means they might be inclined to move one of their top prospects, such as Spencer Jones or Jasson Dominguez — if the deal is a home run for the Yankees, that is. — Jesse Rogers
Chicago looks likely to deal: The Chicago Cubs told teams a couple of weeks ago that they would probably be willing to trade some of their veterans, but then a sweep of the Orioles in Baltimore before the All-Star break put that on pause. But they’re back to subtraction mode after losing a home series to Arizona. A few of their relievers look desirable, with Hector Neris and Mark Leiter Jr. drawing the most interest. Neris has a team option for 2025 that turns into a $9 million player option if he makes 65 or more appearances. That could complicate a deal for him. On the position player front, Cody Bellinger’s finger injury and contract status make a deal for him complicated as well — but not impossible. — Rogers
Market for Fedde could heat up: The Milwaukee Brewers already added hurler Aaron Civale, but they might not be done with the starting pitching market. White Sox pitcher Erick Fedde fits a need and comes at the right price. Signed for just $7.5 million for next season, he could interest several midmarket teams, such as the Brewers. Count the Cleveland Guardians in that category as well. — Rogers
