With less than two weeks to go before the Aug. 3 MLB trade deadline, deal discussions are heating up as teams are making a final decision whether they’re going to buy, sell, do both or even hold.
For those teams well positioned to make a playoff run, it’s a good time to take a realistic look at who they could acquire ahead of the deadline. Below I’ve matched up the contending teams with the trade targets I think would most improve their rosters.
AL East
Tampa Bay Rays — Tarik Skubal, LHP, Detroit Tigers or Reid Detmers, LHP, Los Angeles Angels
If the Tigers decide to trade Skubal, I would like to see either the Rays or the Brewers be the team that lands him because while both teams are already very good, acquiring an ace like Skubal would give them a legitimate chance to get to the World Series this year.
The Rays have a deep enough farm system to make a deal of this magnitude, and it would be a huge statement by their new ownership group if they could pull it off.
If the Rays can’t land Skubal, a pivot to the Angels for Detmers makes a lot of sense. He is controllable through 2028 and has been a steady presence in the Halos rotation all season, with a 4.05 ERA and 136 strikeouts in 120 innings.
New York Yankees — Hunter Goodman, C, Colorado Rockies
The Yankees sorely miss their superstar Aaron Judge and desperately need another power bat. In addition, they are getting practically no offense from the catcher position.
As a right-handed power hitter and a catcher, Hunter Goodman fills two voids for the Yankees. (Justin Edmonds / Getty Images)
Goodman could share the catching duties with Austin Wells and DH when Wells is behind the plate. Goodman has been an All-Star each of the last two seasons and is on track for his first 40-home run season.
Boston Red Sox — Luis Arraez, 2B, San Francisco Giants
The Red Sox could use another bat and Arraez would be a solid fit in their lineup and at second base. He has really improved his defense this year thanks to a lot of hard work with infield coach Ron Washington, who is one of the best in the game at teaching infield.
Arraez consistently puts pressure on defenses with his contact ability, and he would be a big help to a Red Sox offense that ranks in the bottom third in the league in OBP. With his ability to go the other way, he could take huge advantage of the Green Monster and perhaps turn some of his singles into doubles. He doesn’t have speed or home run power, but he’s an elite hitter for average who is in the middle of one of his best seasons in the big leagues.
Baltimore Orioles — Luke Weaver, RHP, New York Mets
The Orioles need to keep adding to their pitching staff and Weaver would be a solid get. His ability to pitch multiple innings and even close if needed would give the O’s more flexibility in their bullpen. It is also helpful that he already has familiarity with the AL East from when he was a Yankee.
AL Central
Chicago White Sox — Mason Miller, RHP, San Diego Padres
The White Sox were the only AL team to lose 100 games last year, and now they have a legitimate chance to win the AL Central. Because they have so much depth in their farm system, I believe they should try to go for it and make an overwhelming proposal to the Padres to land Miller, who is the best closer in baseball. An impact closer like Miller would not only significantly improve the White Sox’s chances of making the postseason, but he would also make them a much bigger threat in a playoff series.
Cleveland Guardians — Casey Schmitt, INF/OF, San Francisco Giants
The Guardians could use another power bat and Schmitt is having a breakout season with the Giants. The 27-year-old has already established career highs for homers, doubles, RBIs, hits and stolen bases. His ability to play all over the diamond also makes him a great fit in Cleveland.
Minnesota Twins — Brooks Raley, LHP, New York Mets
The Twins could really use another southpaw in their bullpen, and Raley would be a perfect fit. The 38-year-old is an impending free agent, and the cost to acquire him would be a mid-level prospect. Raley doesn’t throw hard, but he has been well above average this season at inducing weak contact, and he hasn’t had an ERA above 3.00 in any season since 2022. Even as the Mets have struggled this season, he has excelled.
Detroit Tigers — Luis Robert Jr., CF, New York Mets
I think the Tigers should be the headliner at the deadline by trading Skubal, Casey Mize and Kenley Jansen. However, if they’re going to go for it, then I’d like to see them acquire a right-handed bat. Enter Robert, who has spent practically the entire season on the injured list with a lumbar disc herniation. The Mets just reinstated him from the IL, and if he plays well over the next 10 days, it might be worth it for Detroit to take a flier on him. He’s still only 28, and he has a club option on his deal if he were to play well down the stretch.
Health is always a question with Luis Robert Jr., but he could be a big boost and carries relatively minimal risk. (Ishika Samant / Getty Images)
The Mets would have to pay down his salary to make a deal work, but the upside Robert offers is significant. The Tigers really struggle against left-handed pitching and Robert has always hit lefties extremely well. And the talent is evident. It was only three years ago that he hit 38 homers, and last season he stole 33 bases with 14 homers.
AL West
Seattle Mariners — Spencer Steer, INF/OF, Cincinnati Reds
The Mariners, like the Tigers, really struggle against left-handed pitching, so Steer would be a solid pickup. He can play first base, third base, corner outfield and DH. He’s already up to 16 homers through Wednesday and has hit 20 or more in each of the last three seasons.
Texas Rangers — Huascar Brazobán, RHP, New York Mets
The Rangers could use another power arm in the bullpen and Brazobán — who averages better than 96 mph on his fastball — can provide just that. He has a solid pitch mix, with hitters batting below .200 against his sinker, changeup and four-seamer.
Houston Astros — JJ Bleday, OF, Cincinnati Reds
The Astros have been looking for a left-handed hitting outfielder all season. It’s hard to find an elite one, but Bleday might satisfy their need without requiring the Astros to give up too much to acquire him. After a down season last year, Bleday has his OPS back above .800 and is nearing his career high (20) in home runs.
NL East
Atlanta Braves — Kevin Gausman, RHP, Toronto Blue Jays
The Braves are looking for a starting pitcher who can start a playoff game and if the Blue Jays decide to sell, then the impending free agent Gausman, with his postseason experience, would be a realistic target. He’s pitched for four different teams in the playoffs (including Atlanta in 2018) and carries a 3.83 ERA in 56 1/3 postseason innings. He’s probably a Game 3 or 4 starter at this stage of his career, but he’d improve the Atlanta playoff rotation. The Braves are not on his eight-team no-trade list.
Philadelphia Phillies — Lane Thomas, OF, Kansas City Royals
The Phillies have been looking for a right-handed hitting outfielder and Thomas would be a perfect match. He can play all three outfield positions and, more importantly, rakes against left-handed pitching. Through Wednesday, he had a career .289/.360/.498 line with 28 homers over 806 plate appearances versus lefties. In general, he’s done a solid job getting on base this season, with a .337 OBP.
Miami Marlins — Kyle Karros, 3B, Colorado Rockies
The Marlins are looking for offense and Karros is a young player who could fit their roster well for the short- and long-term. Through Wednesday, the son of former major-leaguer Eric Karros had slashed .259/.362/.427 with nine homers in his first full major-league season.
Washington Nationals — Antonio Senzatela, RHP, Colorado Rockies
The Nationals need to improve their bullpen and Senzatela is likely to be available. He’s made a smooth transition from the rotation to the bullpen this year and is controllable through 2027 with a team option.
NL Central
Milwaukee Brewers — Tarik Skubal, LHP, Detroit Tigers
The Brewers have the second-best team in the National League behind the Dodgers. Their chances of overtaking Los Angeles (or anyone else in the NL) to reach — and win — the World Series would go up significantly if they were able to acquire Skubal and team him with their ace, Jacob Misiorowski. I’m not sure if Detroit will trade Skubal, but I do know this: the Brewers have more than enough talent in their farm system to land him if they want to.
Chicago Cubs — Robbie Ray, LHP, San Francisco Giants
The Cubs need to keep trying to upgrade their rotation. Ray will be a free agent this offseason and would be a solid get for Chicago. The 34-year-old southpaw has a 3.33 ERA in 110 2/3 innings. It’s his lowest ERA since he won the AL Cy Young with Toronto in 2021.
St. Louis Cardinals — Michael Wacha, RHP, Kansas City Royals
The Cardinals need to go for it and why not have a reunion with Wacha, who was drafted by St. Louis 12 years ago?
Could Michael Wacha return to where his career began in St. Louis? (Jess Rapfogel / Getty Images)
He’s controllable through 2027 with a team option for 2028 at a reasonable annual salary ($18 million this year and $14 million each of the next two years). An AL All-Star, Wacha has a 3.66 ERA in 125 1/3 innings.
Pittsburgh Pirates — Daulton Varsho, CF, Toronto Blue Jays
If the Blue Jays decide to sell, Varsho would be the perfect trade target for the Buccos. He is a Gold Glove-caliber defender in center field, which is something the Pirates’ pitching staff desperately needs. He is having a down year offensively, but he has power and speed, in addition to his valuable glove. Salary-wise, he’s making a reasonable $10.75 million.
NL West
Los Angeles Dodgers — Get healthy and trade outfield prospects for infield and pitching prospects
The Dodgers don’t need to target anyone for their major-league roster; they simply need to get healthy. However, they could draw from their surplus of top outfield prospects and trade a couple for comparable infield or pitching prospects to better balance their farm system.
Arizona Diamondbacks — José Soriano, RHP, Los Angeles Angels
The Diamondbacks need to improve their rotation if they’re going to get a wild-card berth, and Soriano would be a solid pick-up because he is controllable through 2028. The 27-year-old has a 3.43 ERA with 122 strikeouts in 118 innings. Arizona has a much-improved farm system and certainly has enough to make this deal.
San Diego Padres — Hunter Greene, RHP, Cincinnati Reds
The Padres should probably be shopping both Mason Miller and Michael King to help rebuild the organization for the future. However, if they decide to buy, then I think their best trade target will be Greene. They need a long-term ace to lead their pitching staff and he can be just that.
The Reds need to get younger and cheaper and perhaps the Padres should unload more of their farm system to land the young ace, especially if they’re OK with his medicals. Greene just came off the IL and has made only three starts this year, but he looks healthy. He’s signed at a reasonable $53 million over six years that runs through 2028 with a team option for 2029.
