Finding the best trade match for every contending club’s biggest need
Mark Feinsand
Separating contenders from pretenders is as difficult as ever this season, because a good (or bad) week leading up to Tuesday’s Trade Deadline can completely flip a front office’s plans.
Through Thursday, 20 teams are within five games of a postseason spot, presenting some significant decisions for baseball operations departments around the league.
Some clubs will have more than one hole to fill, but here’s a look at the most glaring need for each of those 20 teams, listed in order of standings through Thursday.
(Note: Although multiple teams are likely to pursue some of the same players, each player listed as a “potential fit” was used only once.)
Jump to: AL East | AL Central | AL West | NL East | NL Central | NL West
American League East
Orioles: Starting pitching
Corbin Burnes and Grayson Rodriguez are a formidable 1-2 punch atop the rotation, but season-ending injuries to Kyle Bradish, John Means and Tyler Wells have left the back of the rotation very thin. Baltimore has the trade capital to do pretty much anything it wants to.
Potential fit: Tarik Skubal (DET)
Yankees: Relief pitching
New York’s bullpen ranks second in the AL with a 3.57 ERA, but the Yankees could use a swing-and-miss reliever – preferably a left-hander – to insert into the late-inning mix. Mason Miller would be the ideal candidate, but the price for the Oakland All-Star is likely higher than the Yankees are willing to pay, and he just landed on the injured list with a broken left hand.
Potential fit: Tanner Scott (MIA)
Red Sox: Starting pitching
Tanner Houck and Kutter Crawford have led Boston’s rotation to the eighth-best ERA (3.75) in the Majors, but Garrett Whitlock and Lucas Giolito are out for the year and the rest of the rotation has been inconsistent. Adding a reliable mid-rotation starter would be a huge help.
Potential fit: Tyler Anderson (LAA)
Rays: Outfielder
Tampa Bay’s production in right field has been among the worst in the league with only nine home runs and a .658 OPS. Josh Lowe (.642 OPS) has gotten the most at-bats but hasn’t built on his breakout 2023 season, and Jonny DeLuca (.513 OPS) has struggled after coming over in the Tyler Glasnow trade. If the Rays try to thread the needle by buying and selling, it’s possible that Randy Arozarena gets traded, which would create another hole in the outfield. Tampa Bay could look for a buy-low, change-of-scenery candidate.
Potential fit: Dylan Carlson (STL)
American League Central
Guardians: Starting pitching
The struggles of both Logan Allen and Triston McKenzie landed the pair back in the Minors, leaving Cleveland searching for rotation answers. The Guardians are fighting for the AL’s top seed – assuming they can hold off the Twins and Royals in the AL Central – so adding rotation help is crucial.
Potential fit: Yusei Kikuchi (TOR)
Twins: Starting pitching
Minnesota’s rotation ranks 21st in the Majors with a 4.39 ERA, and with Chris Paddack’s latest injury, the Twins are thin behind Pablo López, Joe Ryan and Bailey Ober. Another injury would leave the Twins in a terrible spot, making a rotation addition a priority.
Potential fit: Frankie Montas (CIN)
Royals: Relief pitching
Kansas City already strengthened its bullpen with a trade for Hunter Harvey, but the Royals could use another arm to insert into the late-inning mix. The price tag for the available closers might be too high, but there are plenty of reliable relievers to choose from.
Potential fit: Yimi García (TOR)
American League West
Astros: Starting pitching
The Astros have overcome their dreadful start despite losing three starters for the season (Cristian Javier, Jose Urquidy and J.P. France) and three others to extended time on the injured list (Justin Verlander, Luis Garcia and Lance McCullers Jr.). Houston has used a total of 10 starting pitchers this season, presenting the need for another reliable arm who can help stabilize things down the stretch.
Potential fit: Erick Fedde (CWS)
Mariners: First baseman
Seattle has endured a number of injuries of late, most notably Julio Rodríguez and J.P. Crawford, the latter of whom will miss the next 4-6 weeks with a fracture in his right hand. Those two are expected to return for the stretch run, leaving first base – a position at which the Mariners have struggled to get solid production all season – as the biggest hole on the roster.
Potential fit: Yandy Díaz
Rangers: Catcher
Rangers catchers have the fourth-lowest OPS in the Majors (.597), and while Jonah Heim is locked in as the starter, adding a second backstop to pick up some of the load would benefit Texas as it tries to chase down the Astros and Mariners in the AL West.
Potential fit: Elias Díaz (COL)
National League East
Phillies: Outfielder
It’s difficult to say the best team in the game has a glaring need, but if there’s one spot the Phillies can upgrade in their lethal lineup, it’s in the outfield. Center field has been an issue for most of the season – their .602 OPS ranks 25th in the Majors, while their five homers at the position are tied for 27th – though Philadelphia could add a left fielder and move Brandon Marsh to center.
Potential fit: Lane Thomas (WAS)
Braves: Outfielder
While most teams prefer to trade for controllable players at this time of year, the Braves have Ronald Acuña Jr., Michael Harris II and Jarred Kelenic under control through at least 2027. Atlanta will likely continue to look for an outfield upgrade, with any impending free agents in play to fill the need.
Potential fit: Tommy Pham (CWS)
Mets: Relief pitching
The trio of Edwin Díaz, Adam Ottavino and Jake Diekman has struggled to find consistency this season, so while the Mets rank around the middle of the league in terms of bullpen ERA, the need for a reliable late-inning reliever is apparent. New York added Phil Maton earlier this month, but the Mets aren’t done reshaping the bullpen after climbing back into the Wild Card race.
Potential fit: Carlos Estévez (LAA)
National League Central
Brewers: Veteran outfield bat
Christian Yelich’s injury leaves the remainder of his season in doubt, taking away both a potent bat from the lineup and a veteran leader in the clubhouse. The Brewers have a young club that would benefit from the addition of an experienced bat for the stretch run.
Potential fit: Mark Canha (DET)
Cardinals: Starting pitching
The Cardinals’ rotation ranks in the lower third of the league with a 4.40 rotation ERA, getting inconsistent performances from Miles Mikolas, Lance Lynn and Andre Pallante. Kyle Gibson has been more than serviceable, but St. Louis would be in better shape in the pursuit of a postseason spot with a new No. 2 starter to slot in between Gibson and ace Sonny Gray.
Potential fit: Zach Eflin (TB)
Pirates: Outfielder
Pittsburgh might use some of its pitching depth to get a much-needed bat, and while the Pirates are unlikely to make a big splash, there are many quality hitters who can be had for a reasonable price. The outfield’s .654 OPS ranks in the bottom five in the Majors, so upgrading from Jack Suwinski or Michael A. Taylor would help lengthen the lineup.
Potential fit: Jesse Winker (WAS)
Reds: Impact bat
Cincinnati ranks among the middle of the pack in most offensive categories, but adding a controllable bat would make sense for a young club looking to take another step forward. The Reds ranked 10th in MLB Pipeline’s organizational rankings entering the season, so for the right bat, it might make sense to dip into their deep prospect pool.
Potential fit: Brent Rooker (OAK)
National League West
Dodgers: Starting pitching
General manager Brandon Gomes said the Dodgers would be targeting an “impact-type arm,” a category with a limited number of names at this point leading up to the Trade Deadline. Los Angeles is getting healthy with the return of Tyler Glasnow and Clayton Kershaw, but the Dodgers want to add another top starter to their rotation.
Potential fit: Garrett Crochet (CWS)
Padres: Starting pitching
The absence of Yu Darvish and Joe Musgrove has left San Diego’s rotation thin, and while some of its starters have pitched well in recent weeks, GM A.J. Preller is unlikely to enter the stretch run without improving the rotation if it’s at all possible.
Potential fit: Jack Flaherty (DET)
D-backs: Relief pitching
The rotation is getting healthy, but GM Mike Hazen should try to upgrade the bullpen depth as the D-backs look to return to the postseason after reaching the World Series last fall.
Potential fit: Kyle Finnegan (WAS)
