Most intriguing storylines as Trade Deadline final countdown begins
Mark Feinsand
It’s the final countdown.
No, we’re not talking about the finale of a Europe concert, but rather the time ticking away toward today’s 6 p.m. ET Major League Baseball Trade Deadline.
It’s been a busy few days on the trade front, beginning with Thursday’s trade of Randy Arozarena from the Rays to the Mariners all the way through Monday night, when the Braves brought back Jorge Soler in a trade with the Giants.
The completed trades will surely help shape the pennant races, but there are plenty of players in trade limbo as the Deadline draws near. MLB.com looks at some of the most intriguing storylines that will play out in the hours ahead.
Are the White Sox done selling?
We’ve been talking about Chicago’s impending fire sale for weeks (months?), yet it took until Monday afternoon for the White Sox to start making moves. The three-way trade with the Cardinals and Dodgers sent Tommy Edman, Michael Kopech and Oliver Gonzalez to Los Angeles, Erick Fedde and Tommy Pham to St. Louis, while the White Sox received SS Miguel Vargas, 2B Jeral Perez (LAD No. 17 prospect per MLB Pipeline) and INF Alexander Albertus (No. 23) from the Dodgers.
Even after pulling off the three-way trade, general manager Chris Getz will have a busy day ahead of him, since the Sox still have players generating various degrees of interest leading up to the Deadline.
Garrett Crochet remains the big prize, though the left-hander’s demand for a contract extension to pitch in October has complicated things to some degree.
“The communication had been very strong between Garrett and I and his agency,” Getz said. “And I was a little surprised and taken aback by how they went about it, considering I had a conversation with his agent the night before.
“That’s not exactly the tactic I would have taken, even being a former player quite honestly. … I think it created some questions in which sometimes I’m able to combat some of that just because of the relationships I have with other clubs. But it definitely created some questions that short-term and long-term consequences are unknown.”
Luis Robert Jr. is unlikely to move because Chicago’s asking price has been higher than teams are apparently willing to pay, per sources. Paul DeJong and his expiring contract are likely to get dealt, and keep an eye on Andrew Vaughn, who has two years of control beyond 2025 and could fill a first-base hole for a number of teams.
Will the Tigers trade Tarik Skubal?
Skubal is among the favorites for this year’s American League Cy Young Award, and while the lefty has two years of control remaining, the Tigers have been getting calls about the 27-year-old for weeks.
If Detroit decides to deal Skubal – which still feels like a longshot – the Orioles and Dodgers figure to be the two most serious suitors. Baltimore has the best and deepest farm system in the game, giving GM Mike Elias a wealth of prospect capital to use in such a trade. Los Angeles is said to be intrigued by Skubal, and while the Dodgers have a strong system, Baltimore would appear to have the edge in terms of what it can offer.
The guess here is that Skubal remains with the Tigers, who most executives believe will hold on to the pitcher. But given some of the prices we’ve seen this week, Detroit might find itself with an offer it can’t refuse.
Is Blake Snell really getting traded?
Two things would have been unthinkable a month ago:
- That Snell would even consider opting out of his $30 million contract for 2025
- That Snell would become a hot trade commodity this summer
Yet here we are, less than 24 hours from the Trade Deadline, and Snell is one of the most talked about names on the market. That’s what happens when a two-time Cy Young Award winner returns from the injured list and gives up two runs over 24 innings, including a 15-strikeout performance in his final start before the Deadline.
The big questions that need to be answered regarding Snell are, in no particular order: Are the Giants sellers, or will San Francisco try to make a run at the postseason? What will potential suitors be willing to give up for a pitcher who might be no more than a two-month rental? Will potential suitors be willing to risk a poor finish or injury, either of which could result in Snell not opting out, saddling them with a $30 million salary for 2025?
All signs point to Snell being traded to a contender; the Orioles, Astros, Yankees and Padres are among the teams that have been connected to the lefty.
Will rental prices come down?
To this point, the costs for players on expiring contracts have been quite high. Monday night, the Astros sent RHP Jake Bloss – who was set to become Houston’s No. 2 prospect in the midseason re-rank – to the Blue Jays as part of a three-player package for LHP Yusei Kikuchi.
Prior to that, the Angels received two highly regarded pitching prospects from the Phillies for closer Carlos Estévez, while the Red Sox sent three players, including a Top 30 prospect, to the Blue Jays for catcher Danny Jansen. The Mariners also traded two Minor Leaguers, including No. 10 prospect Jonatan Clase, to Toronto for reliever Yimi García.
Will rentals continue to bring back such sizeable hauls as the Deadline draws near?
“Prices are high, but I can see the market collapsing,” an AL executive said. “At some point the rising interest rates of rental players will stop the market.”
Among the most notable players available with expiring contracts are Tigers RHP Jack Flaherty, Marlins LHP Tanner Scott and Rockies C Elias Díaz.
Are the Yankees done buying?
New York made a big move with its acquisition of Jazz Chisholm Jr. from the Marlins, adding a bat the lineup sorely needed. But the Yankees remain in the market for a reliever or two, an infielder, and perhaps a starting pitcher.
Reports on Monday suggested the Yankees were pursuing Tigers starter Jack Flaherty, and if such a deal were to take place, New York could look to deal lefty Nestor Cortes. Upgrading the rotation is a need for the Yankees, though not as pressing as the bullpen and infield.
Just how many relievers will get traded?
The Rays received three of the Padres’ top 12 prospects for reliever Jason Adam, while Estévez and García commanded strong returns as mentioned above. Other relievers traded include Nick Mears (Rockies to Brewers), Jalen Beeks (Rockies to Pirates), Ryne Stanek (Mariners to Mets), Seranthony Domínguez (Phillies to Orioles), Hunter Harvey (Nationals to Royals), A.J. Puk (Marlins to D-backs) and Phil Maton (Rays to Mets).
Scott is the best reliever available, while Nationals RHPs Kyle Finnegan and Dylan Floro, Rays RHP Pete Fairbanks, Angels RHP Luis García, White Sox RHP John Brebbia, Athletics RHP Lucas Erceg, and Reds RHPs Lucas Sims and Buck Farmer could also potentially be on the move.
Will the Blue Jays stand by their plan?
Toronto has maintained for weeks that it has no plans to move its controllable players, many of whom – Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Bo Bichette, Chris Bassitt, Jordan Romano and Kevin Gausman – would net significant returns.
The Blue Jays have already dealt Kikuchi, García, Jansen and Justin Turner, each of whom are headed to free agency at the end of the season. Chad Green – who is under contract for 2025 – might be the lone controllable piece to get moved.
Could general manager Ross Atkins change his stance and make Guerrero or any of the other controllable players available? That would certainly spice up Deadline day, though as of Monday, Toronto still had no plans to blow up the roster entirely, convinced it can contend with that core in 2025.
Do the Rays have more moves to make?
Tampa Bay has been among the most active teams to this point, trading away Isaac Paredes, Zach Eflin, Randy Arozarena, Jason Adam, Amed Rosario and Phil Maton in exchange for a haul of prospects, further boosting their already impressive farm system.
The Rays entered Monday only three games out of an AL Wild Card spot, and while the belief was that the club would toe the line between buying and selling, to this point Tampa Bay has done far more of the latter.
If the Rays are still looking to move established players for younger, more inexpensive talent, they could trade Yandy Díaz, Pete Fairbanks and Brandon Lowe, among others. Given the approach they have taken to this point, nothing would be a surprise today.
