Comparing MLB to the NBA is like comparing apples and pomegranates, but the NBA, with its frenetic pace of trades and star signings, certainly makes us wish that MLB front office executives operated with the same audacity as their basketball counterparts.
The conservative nature of baseball is understandable. Nobody wants to end up like the general manager who trades Pete Crow-Armstrong for two months of Javier Báez and a failed playoff bid.
But every now and then, we come across a shocking deal. At the 2022 MLB trade deadline, the San Diego Padres gave up five high-level young players to acquire Juan Soto, who still had more than two seasons of team control. Three of those young players — James Wood, MacKenzie Gore, and CJ Abrams — now form the core of the Washington Nationals. And a few weeks ago came the surprising mid-June trade of Rafael Devers, in his second year of a 10-year contract, from the Boston Red Sox to the San Francisco Giants.
Could another equally entertaining mega-treatment occur this month before the July 31st deadline? Probably not, but we can dream.
Let’s consider three players that we surely won’t see on the transfer market this year, but whose names have been the subject of (unlikely) transfer scenarios by the fans. If the right offer came along, the player’s organization would have to at least consider making the deal… right?
Let’s call them “Godfather” offers. Let’s see what it would take to get three star players in 2025.
(All prospect rankings are from Kiley McDaniel’s late-May Top 50 update.)
Paul Skenes, Pittsburgh Pirates
Why they’ll likely keep him: He’s possibly the best pitcher in baseball, maybe on his way to a Cy Young award in his first full season. He’s one of the biggest names in the sport — despite playing for the modest Pirates — and a player around whom you can build not just a pitching staff, but a championship contender. He’s under team control until 2029 and won’t even be arbitration-eligible until 2027, so the Pirates still have years before they have to pay him a fair salary.
But Skenes is a pitcher — and pitchers get injured. So, if the Pirates are willing to listen…
Offer No. 1: The New York Mets offer SS/CF Jett Williams (No. 20), RHP Jonah Tong (No. 50), RHP Nolan McLean, IF Ronny Mauricio, and OF Carson Benge.
Offer No. 2: The Los Angeles Dodgers offer C/OF Dalton Rushing (No. 14), OF Josue De Paula (No. 17), IF Alex Freeland, RHP Emmet Sheehan, and LHP Jackson Ferris.
Offer No. 3: The Detroit Tigers offer OF Max Clark (No. 8), SS Kevin McGonigle (No. 11), RHP Jackson Jobe, IF Colt Keith, and RHP Sawyer Gipson-Long.
The one who could achieve it: Tigers.
A playoff rotation with Skenes and Tarik Skubal? Thank you very much. Reminder: The Tigers haven’t won the World Series since 1984.
One of the sport’s top farm systems will be needed to acquire Skenes, and Detroit is incredibly well-positioned to make this type of deal, with depth at both the Major League and minor league levels, not to mention a roster with only one expensive long-term commitment in Javier Báez. Two of the sport’s top prospects in Clark and McGonigle headline this trade, and both are currently excelling in the High-A class. Clark, a speedy center fielder, has a .429 OBP with more walks than strikeouts, and McGonigle is batting .373 with a high contact rate and an OPS over 1.100. Former pitching prospect Jobe underwent Tommy John surgery in June and would be a good inclusion for the Pirates to bet on him.
For the Tigers, the deal wouldn’t even decimate their farm system. They would still have shortstop Bryce Rainer (No. 22), first baseman/catcher Josue Briceno, and a host of promising, solid pitchers. For the Pirates, Clark and McGonigle project as solutions in two problem areas in center field (where Oneil Cruz has struggled defensively) and at shortstop (interim Isiah Kiner-Falefa is the current starter), in addition to getting a solid major league player in Keith and a back-of-the-rotation type in Gipson-Long.
As much as the Mets could use a staff ace, their system is deeper in pitching prospects, which doesn’t align best with the Pirates’ needs. As the Dodgers’ injuries have piled up again, Skenes could be a good option. Rushing is blocked at catcher by Will Smith, and he and De Paula likely have more power potential (De Paula has been compared to Yordan Alvarez) than Clark and McGonigle. The Pirates could, understandably, ask for Roki Sasaki, and that could be the deciding factor for the Dodgers.
Ronald Acuña Jr., Atlanta Braves
Why they’ll probably keep him: Acuña has been one of the best hitters in the majors since returning at the end of May from his second ACL surgery and has been the best hitter on a Braves team that is near the bottom of the National League in runs scored. He is under contract until 2028 with an incredibly team-friendly deal that pays him only $17 million per season, making it one of the best contracts in the sport for a team. At just 27 years old, he’s still in the middle of his prime and is one of the most dynamic talents in the sport.
But Acuña’s knees are a long-term concern, Atlanta lacks depth in both the lineup and the pitching staff, and this seems like a lost season.
So, if the Braves are willing to listen…
Offer No. 1: The Milwaukee Brewers offer SS Jesus Made (No. 5), SS Luis Pena, OF Sal Frelick, RHP Logan Henderson, and RHP Abner Uribe.
Offer no. 2: The Seattle Mariners offer SS Colt Emerson (no. 10), RHP Bryce Miller, C Harry Ford, OF Lazaro Montes, and LHP Brandyn Garcia.
Offer no. 3: The Tampa Bay Rays offer SS Carson Willliams (no. 27), RHP Shane Baz, OF Theo Gillen, RHP Yoniel Curet, and RHP Brody Hopkins.
The one who could achieve it: Sailors.
The Mariners have never played in a World Series. Their production in right field is among the worst in Major League Baseball. Oh, and they have a farm system loaded with nine prospects in the top 100 of MLB.com’s recently updated rankings, more than any other team. On that list, Emerson came in at no. 18, Montes at no. 29, and Ford at no. 56. Miller’s value has temporarily decreased, as he is out with inflammation in his right elbow, but he had a 2.94 ERA for the Mariners in 2024 and could give the Braves a top-of-the-line starter if healthy.
Ford might not be the perfect option for Atlanta with Drake Baldwin (plus Sean Murphy) at catcher, but Cal Raleigh blocks Ford in Seattle. The Braves could trade Murphy in the offseason, and Ford has the athletic ability to play in the outfield, although he has played exclusively behind the plate in Triple-A, where he is batting over .300 with an OBP over .400. Emerson is a scout favorite with his hard contact and ability to play shortstop, although he is still learning to lift the ball more, while Montes recently earned a promotion to Double-A after batting .572 in High-A at age 20.
For the Mariners, Acuña would fit well at the top of the order or batting second in front of Raleigh, allowing them to slide Julio Rodríguez down in the lineup — and perhaps Acuña’s presence would also help take some pressure off Rodríguez. Most importantly: Acuña’s salary is realistic even for the Mariners, who don’t like to spend. And despite giving up three excellent prospects and a young starting pitcher, their farm system would still be strong. In addition, they have the third pick in this year’s draft.
Milwaukee’s offer is tempting with two promising, high-quality hitters in Made and Pena, but it’s a riskier package, as the 18-year-olds are a long way from the majors and neither is assured of the shortstop position, a big offensive hole in the Braves’ lineup. Williams would be the key to the Tampa Bay trade, but his very high strikeout rate in Triple-A has caused him to drop in the rankings and limits his offensive potential.
Byron Buxton, Minnesota Twins
Why they’ll likely keep him: The Twins are below .500, but that doesn’t mean they’re out of the playoff race. Buxton has been their best player and best hitter, as he’s on pace to achieve a career high in WAR. Although he hasn’t reached Acuña’s heights in his prime, Buxton’s contract is also favorable for the team, as he’s under contract through 2028 and earns $15.1 million per season. He’s 31, but he’s still one of the best defensive center fielders in the game.
But Buxton, although healthy in 2025, is often affected by injuries. So, if the Twins are willing to listen…
Offer no. 1: The Philadelphia Phillies offer RHP Andrew Painter (no. 23) and OF Justin Crawford.
Offer no. 2: The Cincinnati Reds offer RHP Rhett Lowder (no. 48), RHP Chase Petty (no. 49) and 3B Sal Stewart.
Offer no. 3: The Kansas City Royals offer LHP Cole Ragans and LHP David Shields.
The one who could achieve it: Phillies.
The Phillies, Reds, and Royals could use an outfielder to add some power to their lineups, although in Cincinnati’s case, their biggest hole is at third base. Philadelphia has a lot at stake in 2025 given the age of their lineup, and executive Dave Dombrowski knows how to bet big. In this case, that would mean parting with one of the best pitching prospects in the game in Painter, as well as a promising young outfielder who is hitting well in Triple-A.
Switching to Painter would be painful, but the Phillies still have rotation depth with Zack Wheeler (under contract until 2027), Cristopher Sanchez (under contract until 2030), Aaron Nola (under contract until 2030), and Jesus Luzardo (under team control until 2026). Ranger Suarez, who is having an excellent season, is about to become a free agent, so he’s the only arm they could lose. But center field has been a weak spot in recent seasons, with the Phillies in the bottom third of the Major Leagues in OPS this year, and the team’s overall power production has been below average, even with Kyle Schwarber. Adding Buxton adds more power to the middle of the order.
Painter gives the Twins a potential ace, and they have top prospect Emmanuel Rodriguez ready to take over in center field anyway. Crawford, 21, is a divisive prospect (he’s No. 49 in MLB.com’s rankings) because, although he’s hitting for a high average in Triple-A Lehigh Valley, he hits the ball too much on the ground and only has two home runs. Still, there’s a chance he’ll produce a good OBP and excellent defense with his speed.
The Royals’ trade challenge with Ragans is intriguing but risky for Minnesota, given that he is on the injured list at the moment due to a rotator cuff strain. Furthermore, trades within the division are difficult to execute. The Twins would want Chase Burns from the Reds, but that’s probably not a start for Cincinnati.
Will we have some spicy surprise agreements on this trade deadline? Will it just be the usual list of free agents and relief pitchers? In a season that is still so open, the time could be right for some unusual movement.
