With less than a week until the MLB trade deadline, let’s ponder what could await once all 30 teams start wheeling and dealing.
The Mariners and Diamondbacks got things going Thursday night, with Seattle acquiring a big bat in Josh Naylor for two prospects. So, what’s the next major deal?
Just for fun, here are five trades I’d like to see happen between now and July 31. Keep in mind these are not trades that I have confirmed are being discussed between teams; they are simply deal concepts I’m suggesting for everyone to consider and critique.
Please use the comments section to let me know what trades you’d like to see or how you would alter my trade ideas if you were one of the two sides.
1. Red Sox, Marlins, Padres swing a three-way swap
Red Sox get: RHP Edward Cabrera from Marlins
Padres get: LF Jarren Duran from Red Sox
Marlins get: C Ethan Salas from Padres, RHP Luis Perales from Red Sox
The Red Sox need another solid starter to put alongside Garrett Crochet, Brayan Bello and Lucas Giolito in the top part of their rotation. Enter Cabrera, who would give them a legitimate shot to win the division or maintain a wild-card spot while improving their chances of winning a playoff series. He’s logged a 3.48 ERA over 17 starts with 92 strikeouts in 88 innings. The Sox would need to be satisfied with Cabrera’s medical reports, for the short and long term, as the 27-year-old recently underwent an MRI on his right elbow and has dealt with various injuries in recent years. Cabrera is under team control through the 2028 season.
The Padres would land another difference-making bat, one that would arguably give them the best and most athletic outfield in the sport with Fernando Tatis Jr. in right, Jackson Merrill in center and Duran in left. Duran’s combination of power and speed would significantly lengthen their lineup and give them a solid shot to catch the Dodgers, who they trail by five games in the National League West. Duran, 28, is under team control through 2028.
The Marlins would get their long-term answer at catcher in Salas, and Perales has similar long-term potential to Cabrera. Salas, 19, is already at Double A, though he’s been sidelined since mid-April with a lower back injury. Perales, 22, underwent Tommy John surgery last July. He posted a 2.94 ERA over nine starts in High A and Double A last season. The prospects’ additional years of team control, distance from arbitration and the Marlins’ timetable for contention would make the fit work for Miami.
2. Cubs nab a much-needed starting pitcher
Cubs get: RHP Mitch Keller
Pirates get: OF Owen Caissie, INF Cristian Hernandez
Justin Steele’s season-ending elbow surgery in April left the Cubs in desperate need of a starter, and Keller could be one of the best dealt at this deadline. They need to bolster their rotation to hold off the surging Brewers and win the NL Central. Keller has a 3.53 ERA and 1.16 WHIP over 21 starts, with 97 strikeouts in 125 innings. He’s made 29 or more starts in each of the past three seasons. Keller, 29, is making $15.4 million this year and will be owed $55.7 million over the next three years of his contract.
The Pirates need to add offense, especially power, to their lineup. They rank last in the majors in runs scored and home runs. Caissie, whom major-league executives identified in our early July survey as the most likely prospect to be traded at the deadline, appears to be major-league-ready. The 23-year-old has slashed .278/.379/.569 this season in Triple A with 23 doubles and 20 home runs, and he could go right into the Pirates’ lineup. Hernandez, 21, is a speedy middle infielder who profiles as a leadoff hitter once fully developed. He has batted .272 with 36 steals this season in High A.
3. Yankees acquire All-Star from Royals
Yankees get: 3B Maikel Garcia
Royals get: OF Jasson Domínguez
Maikel Garcia is having the best season of his career. (Jay Biggerstaff / Getty Images)
If the Yankees can’t land Eugenio Suárez from the Diamondbacks, then Garcia would be a solid pivot. The first-time All-Star is slashing .291/.345/.440 with 26 doubles, eight home runs and 19 stolen bases (in 28 attempts; he’s been caught stealing nine times, which leads the majors). Defensively, he ranks in the 89th percentile in outs above average (range) and in the 78th percentile in arm strength, according to Statcast. Garcia, 25, is under team control through the 2029 season.
In return, the Royals would get Domínguez and could lock in the rookie as their future left fielder. Domínguez, 22, has slashed .253/.328/.406 with nine homers, 15 doubles and 14 steals (in 16 attempts). He is not fully developed but should eventually be a 20-to-25-homer corner outfielder. Domínguez, 22, is under team control through 2030. The Yankees could afford to trade him because outfield prospect Spencer Jones is major-league-ready and they would still have Aaron Judge in right, Trent Grisham in center and Cody Bellinger in left.
4. Dodgers land Twins’ two best relievers in blockbuster deal
Dodgers get: RHP Jhoan Duran, RHP Griffin Jax, UTIL Willi Castro
Twins get: OF Josue De Paula, LHP Jackson Ferris, RHP Bobby Miller, OF Jaron Elkins
When they constructed this roster, the Dodgers probably didn’t think they’d need to improve the bullpen at the trade deadline. They spent the offseason loading up on relievers, but their plans were foiled by injuries. So, with an opportunity to go back-to-back as World Series champions, perhaps they push their chips in for two impact relievers in one deal.
Duran has 15 saves and a 1.94 ERA over 46 appearances thanks to his overpowering triple-digit fastball. He would immediately become the Dodgers’ closer. Jax has 68 strikeouts in 44 innings with a 4.09 ERA and 1.23 WHIP, after logging a 2.03 ERA and 0.87 WHIP last season. Both are under team control through 2027.
In addition, the Dodgers would land Castro, a valuable utilityman who can play all over the field and protect them against future injuries. Los Angeles always looks to acquire positional flexibility. Castro has a 112 OPS+ and will be a free agent after this season.
In return, the Twins would land a haul. They’d get a future middle-of-the-order impact bat in De Paula, who needs a lot of work defensively but has a chance to develop into an All-Star bat with power. De Paula, 20, is No. 17 in Keith Law’s new ranking of the game’s top prospects. They’d also get Ferris, who profiles as a mid-rotation starter but is still a couple of years away, and Miller, 26, a reclamation project who could benefit from a change of scenery. Elkins, a 20-year-old outfielder at High A, would be a throw-in to close the deal. But the key to the trade for the Twins would be De Paula, who has slashed .262/.409/.416 with 10 homers and 28 steals this season in High A.
5. Reds reunite with their former third baseman
Reds get: 3B Eugenio Suárez
Diamondbacks get: 3B Cam Collier, RHP Chase Petty, LHP Adam Serwinowski
The Reds have the pitching to make the playoffs as a wild-card team but lack that one power hitter to get them there. Acquiring Suárez would be a game-changer for their lineup and drastically improve their chances of playing in October.
Suárez looks like he’ll be the biggest bat traded at the deadline, and contenders are lining up in hopes of landing him. He has slashed .252/.325/.593 with 36 home runs and a majors-leading 86 RBIs. Only Cal Raleigh, Aaron Judge and Shohei Ohtani have hit more home runs than Suárez, who will be a free agent after this season.
In return, the D-Backs would add vital pitching depth to their roster in Petty, a 100-mph arm who has posted a 4.14 ERA over 15 Triple-A starts this season, and Serwinowski, who has struck out 86 in 70 innings this year in High A. Petty, 22, allowed 14 runs in six innings over three appearances with the Reds this season.
Collier should eventually end up being the headliner in the deal for Arizona. He has slashed .299/.422/.414 with 12 doubles and two homers in 211 plate appearances this season across three minor-league levels. Last season, he hit 20 homers with 74 RBIs in High A and was named MVP of the Futures Game. Collier, 20, was sidelined to begin this season due to a left thumb injury, sustained in spring training, that required surgery.
(Top photo of Jarren Duran: Michael Reaves / Getty Images)
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