These 7 clubs have the prospects to swing Deadline deals
The Trade Deadline is one week away – July 30 at 6 p.m. ET, to be exact — and organizations in the postseason race are looking for the best ways to address their squads’ needs.
Headlining the flurry of trade candidates are Tigers pitchers Tarik Skubal and Jack Flaherty, White Sox stars Garrett Crochet and Luis Robert Jr., Rays outfielder Randy Arozarena and A’s outfielder Brent Rooker, among dozens of other names.
More from MLB Pipeline:
• Top 100 prospects | Stats | Video | Podcast | Complete coverage
While the list of potential trade pieces contains several high-end talents sure to bolster whatever teams they join, they will most likely come at hefty prices.
Last season, four Top 100 prospects were dealt at the deadline (Kyle Manzardo, Luisangel Acuña, Edgar Quero and Drew Gilbert) and 40 ranked prospects in total were shipped to new clubs.
On the latest Pipeline Podcast, Jim Callis and Jonathan Mayo ranked seven contenders based on ability and desire to dip into their prospect pools to swing deals at the Deadline. Here’s their list:
1. Baltimore Orioles
“[They] have shown a willingness to trade from what has been the best farm system in all of baseball. I don’t think they are currently … but they have a combination of guys at the top of their system and a logjam starting to happen.
“Even a guy like Kyle Stowers who is no longer a prospect but can’t seem to stick in Baltimore. I kind of put him in that larger bucket of guys they might be willing to trade or trade somebody to make room for. I don’t think they’re going to trade Jackson Holliday or Coby Mayo or Samuel Basallo necessarily unless it is something big.” —Mayo
2. Los Angeles Dodgers
“They traded seven prospects at the Deadline last year which led all of baseball. They’re obviously at a point where anything less than winning the World Series is a disappointment.
“The one reason I would put them behind the Orioles is a lot of their best prospects are younger guys. So if they were trying to go get a Crochet or Skubal, a lot of their best prospects are [19 years old or younger].” —Callis
3. Seattle Mariners
“They have six guys on the Top 100 right now. This is a pretty good system and they’ve been focused lately on promoting from within, getting young guys to the big leagues and restocking the system. But the one reason why I would put them higher on the list is we’ve all seen Jerry Dipoto flip the switch and make trades.” —Mayo
4. New York Yankees
“I don’t think it’s an elite farm system but it’s the Yankees, they’re trying to win the World Series every year. I don’t know that they would trade Jasson Domínguez, but I feel like anybody else could be had for the taking.
“I feel like the Yankees are never afraid to part with pitching prospects because they can always create them. At least their first six picks in the [2024] Draft were pitchers, so they got more ammunition there. … It’s more based on willingness than abundance, but there’s some of each and I don’t think the Yankees are just going to be quiet.” —Callis
5. San Diego Padres
“One of the problems is that their top prospects have not performed all that well this year. They have some pitchers at the upper levels, like an Adam Mazur and Ryan Bergert, that could be of interest because they’re closer [to the Majors] but they’re not going to bring in a huge return.
“I think that’s why they were a little bit lower down. They’re also a team that, even if they don’t have a really rich farm system at the moment, that doesn’t stop them from making trades.” —Mayo
6. New York Mets
“It’s maybe willingness over abundance of prospects, but there’s some of each. They definitely have pitching if they want to trade guys like Brandon Sproat, Blade Tidwell, Tyler Stuart, Nolan McLean or Jonah Tong. Kade Morris has had a nice year too.
“They’ve got position players too. The Mets aren’t going to sit idly now that they’re back in the playoff race. I would expect them to make a move.” —Callis
7. Philadelphia Phillies
“Their system isn’t super deep, but there’s some talent at the very top. I don’t think Aidan Miller is going anywhere. Andrew Painter is coming off injury, so obviously I don’t think they trade him. If Mick Abel were having a better year, he’d either be in the big leagues or be a really good trade piece.
“The really interesting guys who could take big steps forward and might be of interest to teams [are further away]. [Their trade partner] would have to be a team that’s willing to look at the long-term picture. But they are a team that looks to compete and make it to the World Series every year and they’re not afraid to use the pieces they have.” —Mayo