MLB’s Trade Deadline Season Finale Accelerates
The MLB’s trade season is in its final stretch, and the excitement is building as the deadline approaches. Although the pace of deals has been slow, interesting moves have already been made. The Seattle Mariners acquired Josh Naylor, while the New York Yankees added Ryan McMahon. With less than 48 hours remaining before the Thursday 6 p.m. ET deadline, conversations about prominent figures like Eugenio Suárez, Dylan Cease, and Luis Robert Jr. continue to generate excitement. What players will change teams in the last few days? Which teams will make important moves to add the best players available? Which transfers will have the greatest impact on the remainder of the season? We analyze the latest news with the experts.The scarcity of high-caliber relief pitchers on the market is evident. The main “rentals” stand out: David Bednar from Pittsburgh and Ryan Helsley from St. Louis. In addition, there is a group of controllable arms that could be traded, such as Jhoan Duran and Griffin Jax from Minnesota, and Pete Fairbanks from Tampa Bay.The New York Mets’ effort to improve is notable. The Arizona Diamondbacks are the epicenter of teams looking to shed players, but between now and the deadline, the Mets could be the most aggressive club in acquiring players, seeking a starter who can pitch in games 1, 2, or 3 of a postseason series. Relief pitching and an outfielder, perhaps Cedric Mullins of the Baltimore Orioles, are also among their needs.
Buster Olney
Considering the demand for help in the bullpen from teams like the Philadelphia Phillies, Toronto Blue Jays, Texas Rangers, Detroit Tigers, both New York teams, and the Los Angeles Dodgers, the teams with those pitchers are expecting good compensation. Although there are second and third-tier relievers, there is not enough elite talent to satisfy the existing demand. Therefore, San Diego is considering trading Robert Suarez, San Francisco is listening to offers for its relievers, and, possibly, the A’s could receive an irresistible offer for…
We have seen different levels of activity from the favorites for the World Series. The Blue Jays are looking for at least one more reliever, the Tigers want to reinforce their bullpen, and the Astros are looking for a starting pitcher. The New York Mets will get an arm and a center hitter, while the Brewers won’t do much unless a valuable opportunity arises. The Dodgers will go big game hunting, with a reliever as a top priority. In the American League, the favorite for the World Series is… everyone. The league seems very open, which boosts enthusiasm for the Mariners, Texas Rangers, and even the Yankees. A reasonable path to the World Series can be traced for about seven American League teams, which could spur bold moves in the final hours before the deadline. The wild card races are tightening. The Cubs, Phillies, Yankees, and Mariners could do the following to maintain their leadership positions.Everything depends on the willingness of teams to trade players with several years of control. The market for imminent free agents ranges from mediocre to disappointing. But, what if Joe Ryan or MacKenzie Gore were traded? Duran or Jax? Steven Kwan? Anything is possible. The cost, at this moment, is prohibitive, but the deadline does strange things to front offices. Discomfort may be the most underestimated tool at a deadline.
Jeff Passan
The Yankees are focused on adding bullpen help and a right-handed hitting outfielder, like Harrison Bader. The Phillies need a high-level bullpen pitcher, but they are also in the mix for Luis Robert. And the Mariners will do something for their bullpen; in addition, some rival executives still see them as the favorites to sign Eugenio Suárez. Shane Bieber is another option for the Cubs. The Phillies are one of the most aggressive teams in the reliever market and will add an arm. The Yankees are not as enthusiastic as they were two weeks ago, but they are going to reinforce with at least one solid reliever. The Mariners are the wildcard of the deadline. They have a group of top-tier prospects and the question they will ask themselves is: Are we comfortable moving someone like Harry Ford for a “rental” like Suárez? So far, the answer has been no. But strange things happen in the last 40 hours before a deadline. The names most discussed by the offices are Eugenio Suarez, Merrill Kelly, Zac Gallen, Luis Robert Jr., Bednar, Helsley and Bieber, all with great interest, and most, if not all, will be traded. I would guess that 75% of the players traded between now and the deadline will be relievers. This will be like a game of musical chairs, as front offices evaluate options like Danny Coulombe and Griffin Jax of the Minnesota Twins, Pete Fairbanks of the Rays, Seth Halvorsen of the Rockies, etc. All contenders are looking to add relievers, and they are looking at the same players. The Rays and Diamondbacks are the teams that will trade the most players, and the Padres will do something to improve their offense and try to return to the postseason.The Cubs would be thrilled to add a front-line starting pitcher, someone who could effectively replace Justin Steele in their rotation. But perhaps more than any team, they could be limited by how thin the market is unless they value the cost of acquiring Joe Ryan or Cease, or if they reach an agreement for Merrill Kelly.
Buster Olney
A lot of frustration because the teams looking to transfer outstanding players, knowing how the market is this year, are keeping their selling prices high, and the teams that want to add are trying to wait. “It’s a slow-moving market,” said an executive on Tuesday night. But at some point, rest assured that the dam will break, and deals, mainly for relievers, will happen fast and furiously. The Padres, as always, are playing with the idea of doing something big. The Twins continue to have exceptionally high asking prices for their bullpen arms. The possibility of the Guardians trading Kwan is greater than teams believed a week ago. The Phillies and Mets are being very aggressive. Some teams are considering players controlled through 2027 and taking into account the possibility that labor discord could significantly affect that season. And the lack of star power that could move will be offset by the volume of deals.The Orioles, even after trading Dominguez and Gregory Soto, have a great inventory. The D-backs will be busy. The Marlins, with Sandy Alcantara, Edward Cabrera, and a group of relievers, could play an important role. The Twins have a lot to offer. Beyond Duran and Jax, the left-hander Coulombe and the right-hander Stewart are two relievers with market value, and the super-utility player Willi Castro could also be traded. The Pirates will be busy. And the Guardians have many cards with Kwan and Bieber.
Jeff Passan
