In just about a week is the MLB Trade Deadline and there are a ton of strategies in play. Contending teams are looking to sure up their rosters for a playoff run. Teams threatening for an MLB Wild Card spot could make the biggest splashes at the deadline. 

Then there’s those teams who will be sellers at the deadline; I’m talking about you White Sox, Cubs, Marlins, and Rays.

 

 

 

Fantasy Baseball Prospect News: Potential 2024 MLB Trades

All of these potential deals mean MLB prospects getting traded. 

That’s what we’re talking about this week: the teams, and MLB prospects, who are the most likely to be involved in deals that could affect MLB Lineups and fantasy baseball rosters for this year and in the future.

Baltimore Orioles Trades

It’s no secret what the Orioles want/need at the deadline. They need another top-flight starter for their rotation. Baltimore needed it heading into the season but following the Kyle Bradish injury, they need it even more. Luckily for the Orioles, they have elite prospect depth – maybe even the best package of bats available at the deadline. 

The name at the top of the wish list for Baltimore is Garret Crochet, as he should be. Jackson Holliday is likely a must in a package for the flame-throwing righty but we could see a guy like Dylan Beavers also included as well. Baltimore could also be looking to add offensively with a couple of soft spots in the lineup like with Cedric Mullins. 

There are a few outfielders in the market, one listed under Miami, who could find themselves in Charm City after the deadline. If Baltimore wants to make multiple moves, they have the prospect depth to do it, including their first couple of picks from the 2024 MLB Draft as well.

 

 

 

Los Angeles Dodgers Trades

Pitching was known to be a serious question for the Dodgers going into the season. That’s borne out as true. L.A. has used the second-most starting pitchers (not including openers) of any team in the league. 

The recently DFA’d James Paxton to get Clayton Kershaw and Tyler Glasnow back. However the return of Kershaw and Glasnow don’t inspire that much confidence. If anyone is going to beat the Orioles for Crochet, it’s likely to be the Dodgers. Their sheer number of high-level prospects make them a player in any deal this deadline. 

Dalton Rushing, their top prospect, is a prime trade candidate. He’s blocked at catcher and first base by Will Smith and Freddie Freeman. Other prospects the Dodgers could put in a package are likely Jackson Ferris, River Ryan, Diego Cartaya, and Kendall George. All without significantly threatening their depth.

Chicago White Sox

The White Sox are going to have the most talk about and surrounding them this trade deadline. Between Garrett Crochet, Luis Robert, Eloy Jimenez, and even Erick Fedde, they likely have the most moveable pieces. Their farm system is still not great even after moving Dylan Cease this offseason so they’ll be looking for package deals this deadline. 

They may not even need the most MLB-ready prospects in return either as they’re still a few years away from having a competitive, well-rounded roster. Everyone could use Crochet and he’s likely to be the lynchpin to making other deals happen as teams wait to see if they’ve landed the prized pitcher.

Tampa Bay Rays Trades

It may have caught some people off guard when reports surfaced about the Rays potentially dealing players like Zach Eflin, Randy Arozarena, Isaac Paredes. However, all of those players are up for new contracts, or bigger salaries next year and can get a good return at the trade deadline. 

A team that misses out on Crochet and possibly Eovaldi would look strongly at Eflin who’s pitching far better than his 4.14 ERA suggests and would likely bring a two-prospect package for his 1.5 years of team control left. Bats like Arozarena and Paredes should be arguably the best on the market and could bring a nice return for the Rays who are always looking to stock pile young controllable talent for their next run. 

Depending on their willingness to deal intra-division to either Boston or New York, they could create a bidding war between longtime rivals who are both loaded with prospects.

 

 

 

Miami Marlins Trades

Miami has been floating the idea of selling at the trade deadline for a while now, nearly as soon as the first pitch was thrown to be honest. To their credit they do have interesting pieces to move in Jazz Chisholm and Tanner Scott after having already traded Luis Arraez earlier in the year. Chisholm has 2.5 years of team control left and is on pace for a 22-31 season this year while staying healthy. 

All of which is in his favor, what’s not is that his personality likely limits the markets that he’ll excel in. Scott on the other hand is a plug-and-play closer-caliber arm who would add immediate depth to whatever bullpen he lands in. As the best reliever on the market, he likely also brings the highest price tag to acquire as well and should help Miami’s cause of building a better farm system.

San Diego Padres Trades

The most pressing need for the Padres is clearly bolstering their rotation. The injuries to Yu Darvish and Joe Musgrove have tested the Pades’ depth which likely won’t hold up much longer. 

San Diego continues to restock their farm system with impressive and tradable pieces that let AJ Preller make the blockbuster moves he’s become famous for. Earlier this season they were talking to the White Sox about a double dip and trading for Garrett Crochet after having traded for Dylan Cease this offseason. 

To make that happen though San Diego will likely need to put either Dylan Lesko or Robby Snelling in the package as the headline along with Adam Mazur and perhaps Graham Pauley too. If they want a smaller, less big-name deal, they could give up Homer Bush, Jackson Wolf, and one of their catching prospects not named Ethan Salas for say Jack Flaherty or James Paxton who was DFA’d by L.A.

Seattle Mariners Trades

We can never count out Jerry DiPoto from making trades. He has a very long history of deal making. Unlike most other teams on this list, Seattle needs offense more than pitching. Their rotation is, if not the, among the best in the AL and MLB. 

However, the same can’t be said for the offense which has struggled for a couple of years, even when players are healthy, which they aren’t right now. The smoke is already starting around a potential deal with Tampa surrounding Randy Arozarena and perhaps Isaac Paredes. We could see the Mariners deal prospects any of their top shortstop prospects like Cole Young, their top prospect, Colt Emerson, Felnin Celesten, or Tai Peete. 

We could see Lazaro Montes or Jonny Farmelo on the move too. Seattle just gave up a 10-game lead in the division but has the pitching to make a serious run at their first World Series appearance if they can get a bat or two.

 

 

 

Texas Rangers Trades

Texas has already come out and reportedly declared that several of their players, mainly pitchers, are available at the deadline. In a local radio interview, GM Chris Young said that Nathan Eovaldi, Kirby Yates, David Robertson, Andrew Heaney, and perhaps even Adolis Garcia could be available. 

One year removed from winning the World Series, the Rangers seem to be one of the keys to how deals will come together as the trade deadline approaches. The Rangers will be looking for controllable, MLB-ready prospects in return as they try and free up some money from their tightening 2025 budget and beyond. Look for Boston, Arizona, San Diego, and even the Minnesota Twins to come calling about deals.

Boston Red Sox Trades

Boston seems to be a perennial study in will they or won’t they in terms of trade questions. This year isn’t any different based on what their GM has said leading up to the deadline. Boston finds itself in the mix for the AL Wild Card and is arguably over performing expectations for this year. The Red Sox could arguably use a right-handed threat in the lineup but they definitely need starting pitcher depth. 

Boston doesn’t necessarily need huge trades to accomplish this either. Watch for them to offer players like Miguel Bleis, Nick Yorke, Luis Perales, Mikey Romero to get players like Brent Rooker from Oakland or Nathan Eovaldi from Texas or bullpen help in the form of Tanner Scott from Miami. Tampa has pitchers who could be gotten but an intra-division trade will be tougher and costlier to pull off.

Arizona Diamondbacks Trades

This one is a dark horse set of moves but ones I think could happen. The Diamondbacks haven’t gotten nearly what they thought they would from their starters. Three of their big four, Eduardo Rodriguez, Jordan Montgomery, and Merrill Kelly have all been injured and/or bad this year. 

It’s clear they need another starting option as Ryne Nelson, Brandon Pfaadt, Yilber Diaz, and others aren’t giving Zac Gallen enough help in the rotation. Arizona could use Jordan Lawlar and perhaps Deyvison De Los Santos as a package to land another starter who’s on the market. Those two are near MLB-ready premium position bats who should be enough to garner someone like Zach Eflin or one of the Texas Rangers starters.