The Most Likely Player to Be Traded for Every MLB Team in 2024
There is still more than two months until the 2024 MLB trade deadline arrives, but already the rumor mill is starting to churn out some interesting nuggets.
From Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Bo Bichette potentially being shipped out by the Toronto Blue Jays, to Oakland Athletics flame-throwing closer Mason Miller being available for the right price, to a potential Houston Astros fire sale if they can't claw back into contention, it's shaping up to be a busy trade season.
Ahead we've highlighted the most likely player to be traded for each MLB team at this year's deadline, focusing on potentially available veterans for non-contenders and prospects for teams in a clear position to buy.
More names will undoubtedly emerge in the coming weeks, but for now this should help set the landscape of the 2024 trade market.
Arizona Diamondbacks: RHP Paul Sewald
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Paul Sewald was a surprise trade chip by a contending Mariners team at the deadline a year ago, but this time around it would be no shock to see him on the move if the D-backs are unable to climb into contention.
The 33-year-old is a free agent at the end of the season, and late-inning relief help is always in demand in July. His $7.35 million salary won't deter contenders looking to bolster their late-inning contingent, especially when his track record includes a 34-save season in 2023.
After opening the season on the injured list with an oblique strain, Sewald has a 1.50 ERA, 0.67 WHIP and 9.0 K/9 with three saves in six appearances since returning to action on May 7.
Atlanta Braves: LHP Dylan Dodd
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The Braves have not been shy about trading young, MLB-ready pitching in recent seasons, with guys like Kyle Wright, Kyle Muller, Bryce Wilson, Jared Shuster, Tucker Davidson, Freddy Tarnock and Cole Phillips all now pitching elsewhere after starting their career as top prospect in the Atlanta organization.
Left-hander Dylan Dodd is currently on the 40-man roster pitching at Triple-A Gwinnett, and they also have Bryce Elder, AJ Smith-Shawver, Huascar Ynoa and Allan Winans seemingly ahead of him on the pecking order.
Dodd, 25, made seven starts in the majors last year, and while he is not going to be the centerpiece in a huge blockbuster deal, that's not the type of trade the Braves are likely to make anyway. Controllable pitching is always in-demand for non-contenders, and he could bring back a piece that can help immediately.
Baltimore Orioles: 2B/OF Connor Norby
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The Orioles' cup runneth over with high-ceiling offensive prospects in the upper levels of the minors, and already we've seen the likes of Jackson Holliday, Heston Kjerstad and Kyle Stowers called up to the big leagues along with rookie standout Colton Cowser.
Connor Norby is playing alongside some of those guys now at Triple-A, and while he has little left to prove in the minors, there is also no clear path to playing time for him at second base or in the outfield.
The 23-year-old posted an .842 OPS with 40 doubles, 21 home runs and 92 RBI in 138 games at Triple-A last season, and he is batting .293/.379/.524 with 14 doubles, eight home runs and 29 RBI in 39 games back at that level to open the year.
Boston Red Sox: OF Tyler O'Neill
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Despite a better-than-expected starting rotation, the Red Sox are still hovering around the .500 mark this year and facing an uphill battle to contend in the AL East race.
If they do end up selling at the deadline, outfielder Tyler O'Neill and starter Nick Pivetta are the team's top upcoming free agents, and flipping both guys for more prospect depth would be a logical approach to the deadline.
O'Neill sports a 150 OPS+ with 11 home runs in 161 plate appearances after coming over in a buy-low trade from the St. Louis Cardinals during the offseason, and he is setting himself up for a lucrative multi-year deal in his first trip to free agency.
Chicago Cubs: 2B James Triantos
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An intriguing high-ceiling bat who was given a $2.1 million above-slot deal as a second-round pick in 2021, James Triantos turned potential into production last year to send his prospect stock soaring.
After a solid 2023 regular season spent mostly at the High-A level, he hit .417/.495/.679 with 11 extra-base hits and nine steals in 22 games in the Arizona Fall League to win Offensive Player of the Year honors.
He is continuing to put up strong numbers at Double-A this year and his bat should carry him to the big leagues in the near future, but the question remains of where he fits defensively. His best spot is second base, but that figures to be occupied by Nico Hoerner for the foreseeable future.
The Cubs already have one bat-only defensive liability in Christopher Morel, so they might be open to dealing Triantos in the right deal this summer.
Chicago White Sox: RHP Erick Fedde
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The White Sox are going to be open for business at the trade deadline, and they could at least entertain offers for star center fielder Luis Robert Jr., but it would be a stretch to call him the most likely trade candidate on the roster given what will almost certainly be a sky-high asking price.
Instead, veteran starter Erick Fedde looks like a clear candidate to be moved to a contender as he has found a new level of success in his return from a 2023 season spent pitching in the KBO where he went 20-6 with a 2.00 ERA, 0.95 WHIP and 209 strikeouts in 180.1 innings.
The 31-year-old inked a two-year, $15 million deal to return stateside during the offseason, and he has a 3.10 ERA, 1.09 WHIP and 52 strikeouts in 58 innings over his first 10 starts with the White Sox. A team-friendly $7.5 million salary for next year makes him more than just a two-month rental and further adds to his trade appeal.
Cincinnati Reds: RHP Frankie Montas
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The Reds have not taken the step toward contention that many were expecting this year, and while there is no reason to think they will blow up a promising young roster, they will be shopping upcoming free agents if things don't improve.
Right-hander Frankie Montas signed a one-year, $14 million deal during the offseason that includes a $20 million mutual option and $2 million buyouts in 2025, so while he is not an outright free agent, he will almost certainly be hitting the open market again next winter.
The team's Opening Day starter has a 4.37 ERA and 1.37 WHIP in 35 innings over eight starts, and he is not far removed from finishing sixth in AL Cy Young voting during the 2021 season, so he offers a bit more upside than some of the other potential rental arms.
Cleveland Guardians: OF George Valera
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Once viewed as a potential long-term fixture in the middle of the Guardians lineup, outfielder George Valera now looks like a prime candidate for a change of scenery as he has yet to break through at the MLB level.
The 23-year-old earned a spot on the Baseball America Top 100 prospect list prior to the 2022 (No. 68) and 2023 (No. 72) seasons, but he hit just .211/.343/.375 with 10 home runs and 35 RBI in 73 games at Triple-A last season and his prospect star has faded a bit as a result.
His power potential makes him an intriguing buy-low target on the trade market, and flipping him could help the Guardians improve a roster that already looks like the best in the AL Central so far this year.
Colorado Rockies: RHP Cal Quantrill
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Cal Quantrill was designated for assignment and traded to the Rockies at the start of the offseason after struggling to a 5.24 ERA in 99.2 innings last year, but that is quickly shaping up to be a rare misstep by a Cleveland front office that generally does a great job with talent management.
Just a year removed from going 15-5 with a 3.38 ERA and 1.21 WHIP over 186.1 innings during the 2022 season, Quantrill settled for a one-year, $6.55 million deal from the Rockies in free agency.
The 29-year-old is enjoying a quiet resurgence with a 3.66 ERA in 51.2 innings over nine starts, and he comes with the added value of being arbitration-eligible in 2025, so he is more than just a rental. If they're smart, a Rockies team going nowhere will sell high.
Detroit Tigers: RHP Jack Flaherty
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The Tigers have crashed back to earth a bit this month after entering May with a 17-13 record, and while a winning season is still not out of the question, they are currently below .500 and in fourth place in the AL Central, so selling looks more likely than buying.
After hitting on Michael Lorenzen with a one-year deal last season, they have seemingly found one of the steals of the offseason market once again this year with the one-year, $14 million deal they gave Jack Flaherty.
The 28-year-old finished fourth in NL Cy Young voting in 2019 and looked like a rising ace for the St. Louis Cardinals, but in the years since he has batted injuries and inconsistent command.
With a 3.79 ERA, 1.06 WHIP and a terrific 72-to-8 strikeout-to-walk ratio over 54.2 innings, he is once again pitching like a frontline starter.
Houston Astros: 3B Alex Bregman
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With a 9-3 record in their last 12 games, including a six-game winning streak last week, the Astros could be on their way to righting the ship after a surprisingly awful start to the season dug them a big early hole.
However, for the time being, they still belong in the "sellers" category and that's a place they have not been in quite some time racking up seven straight ALCS appearances and winning a pair of World Series titles.
If they do end up selling, third baseman Alex Bregman will be the most talked about player on the roster as he is headed for free agency this offseason and there has seemingly been no traction on extension talks. The Astros moved on from George Springer and Carlos Correa, and they appear ready to do the same with their homegrown star at third base.
Kansas City Royals: C Carter Jensen
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With a starting rotation that ranks fourth in the majors with a 3.09 ERA and a superstar on the rise in Bobby Witt Jr. anchoring the offense, the Royals just might have the staying power to be this season's dark-horse contender.
If they decide to buy, slugger Carter Jensen is a prospect who should hold plenty of appeal to potential trade partners. The 20-year-old is hitting .297/.446/.471 with 15 extra-base hits in 39 games at High-A to start the year, and he has as much raw power as any prospect in the Royals system.
However, with Salvador Pérez currently occupying the catcher position in the majors and 2023 first-round pick Blake Mitchell now viewed as the catcher of the future, Jensen could be viewed as expendable in the right trade.
Los Angeles Angels: LHP Tyler Anderson
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In the second season of a three-year, $39 million deal, left-hander Tyler Anderson is showing his 2022 All-Star selection as a member of the Dodgers was no fluke.
After struggling to a 5.43 ERA over 141 innings in his first year with the Angels, he has rebounded with a 2.72 ERA, 1.07 WHIP and 40 strikeouts in 56.1 innings to start the year for an Angels team that is quickly falling out of the AL West race once again.
His $13 million salary this year and matching figure for 2025 could be a bit rich for teams already wading into the luxury tax threshold, but if he continues to pitch at a frontline level teams will be lining up for his services in July.
Los Angeles Dodgers: C/1B Dalton Rushing
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With catcher Will Smith inked to a 10-year, $140 million extension during the offseason and first baseman Freddie Freeman under contract through 2027, there is no clear path to playing time for Dalton Rushing.
The team's top pick in 2022 has put up impressive offensive numbers while climbing the minor league ladder, posting an .856 OPS with 18 doubles, 15 home runs and 53 RBI in 89 games at High-A last year.
The 23-year-old has an .830 OPS in 28 games at Double-A to start the year and he could be knocking on the MLB door by this time next year, so flipping him to fill a more pressing roster need is a logical move.
Miami Marlins: LHP Tanner Scott
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It's clear the Marlins are going to be open for business after Luis Arraez was traded to the Padres this month, and outfielder Jazz Chisholm Jr. has become a popular speculative trade candidate in the wake of that deal.
However, the most likely trade candidate on the roster is undoubtedly left-handed reliever Tanner Scott.
The 29-year-old enjoyed a breakout 2023 season, posting a 2.31 ERA, 0.99 WHIP and 12.0 K/9 with 12 saves and 24 holds in 74 appearances, and despite battling some command issues he has been every bit as effective this year.
With free agency on deck this offseason, he is a lock to be traded to a contender in July.
Milwaukee Brewers: OF Luis Lara
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Don't rule out the Milwaukee Brewers trading shortstop Willy Adames if they slip down the standings at all, but for now they look like the team to beat in the NL Central and obvious buyers, even if they generally shy away from blockbuster moves.
With Jackson Chourio, Sal Frelick, Joey Wiemer and Blake Perkins all vying for playing time alongside veteran Christian Yelich, the club is loaded with outfield talent, and that could make high-ceiling teenager Luis Lara a potential trade centerpiece.
The 19-year-old has a 55-hit, 60-speed offensive profile and the defensive tools to stick in center field, giving him a solid long-term outlook even if there is little in the way of power packed into his 5'8", 155-pound frame.
Minnesota Twins: IF/OF Luke Keaschall
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The Twins have a knack for drafting and developing offensive-minded utility players, and Luke Keaschall is shaping up to be their next success story.
The 2023 second-round pick is hitting .319/.442/.514 with 12 doubles, five home runs, 16 RBI and 13 steals while tallying the same number of walks (25) and strikeouts (25) in 39 games at High-A to start the year, and he has seen time at second base and in left field.
If the Twins fall out of the AL Central race, outfielder Max Kepler will be an obvious trade chip ahead of free agency, but for now they look like buyers and Keaschall could be the centerpiece of a deal to upgrade the starting rotation.
New York Mets: 1B Pete Alonso
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"While the Mets say they still have intentions of being a playoff team this year, GMs remain convinced the Mets will still make first baseman Pete Alonso and DH J.D. Martinez available in talks before the July 30 trade deadline," wrote Bob Nightengale of USA Today.
Alonso reportedly turned down a seven-year, $158 million extension last summer, and if that wasn't enough to get a deal done it's unlikely a long-term contract is going to be hammered out before he reaches free agency this coming offseason.
The 29-year-old has a 122 OPS+ with 10 doubles, 10 home runs and 23 RBI in 47 games, and while he has become increasingly one-dimensional in his contributions, he is still one of the game's elite power hitters.
New York Yankees: OF Everson Pereira
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With Aaron Judge, Juan Soto and Alex Verdugo as the starting outfield and top prospect Jasson Dominguez on the recovery trail after undergoing Tommy John surgery, the Yankees are going to have a crowded outfield in the near future.
Everson Pereira made his MLB debut last season and he is hitting .265/.346/.512 with eight doubles, 10 home runs and 27 RBI in 40 games back at Triple-A to open the year, so he has little left to prove in the minors.
Even with Soto and Verdugo both ticketed for free agency, the Yankees also have Spencer Jones as one of the headliners of their farm system, and trading from their abundance of outfielders would give Pereira a clear path to playing time elsewhere and address a more pressing roster need.
Oakland Athletics: RHP Paul Blackburn
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Flame-throwing closer Mason Miller is by far Oakland's most intriguing trade chip, but far from the most likely to be moved this summer given what is expected to be a sky-high asking price for his remaining club control through the 2029 season.
They don't have much in the way of appealing rental pieces unless Ross Stripling or Alex Wood put together a run of capable production in the coming months, but controllable starter Paul Blackburn could be shopped.
The 30-year-old was an All-Star in 2022, and he had a 4.11 ERA and 1.15 WHIP in eight starts before landing on the injured list with a stress reaction in his foot. With a team-friendly $3.45 million salary in 2024 and one remaining year of club control in 2025, he could be a nice low-cost target for contenders if he returns to action soon.
Philadelphia Phillies: SS Starlyn Caba
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Signed for $3 million as one of the top players in the 2023 international class, Starlyn Caba is quickly emerging as one of baseball's top low-level minor leaguers, and he moved onto the B/R Top 100 prospect list in our latest update at No. 81 overall.
The 18-year-old is hitting .256/.431/.410 with four extra-base hits, three steals and more walks (12) than strikeouts (5) over the first 12 games of his stateside debut in rookie ball, and his combination of hit tool, speed and standout defense at shortstop gives him an extremely high ceiling.
With Trea Turner signed through 2033 and Bryson Stott emerging as a core piece at second base, Caba could be the centerpiece in a blockbuster deal to bolster the roster for a team with legitimate World Series aspirations.
Pittsburgh Pirates: LHP Martín Pérez
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The Pirates signed Martín Pérez to a one-year, $8 million deal during the offseason to shore up their starting rotation and help take some pressure off their young pitchers, and he has filled that role effectively in the early going.
His 4.80 ERA doesn't jump off the page, but that figure is inflated by one awful start against the Brewers on May 15 when he allowed 11 hits and nine earned runs over five innings of work.
Over his other nine starts, he has a 3.65 ERA in 49.1 innings, and he comes with a long track record of being a serviceable back-of-the-rotation starter capable of pitching a notch above that level for stretches.
San Diego Padres: RHP Adam Mazur
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The Padres have not been shy about trading their top-tier prospects in recent years, and earlier this month they sent 2023 first-round pick Dillon Head to the Marlins in the deal to acquire Luis Arraez.
That said, it still feels like catcher Ethan Salas and pitchers Robby Snelling and Dylan Lesko will be off-limits in trade talks, along with prized 2024 international signing Leodalis De Vries who signed for $4.2 million in January.
That leaves right-hander Adam Mazur as the team's top remaining prospect if they decide to make another big move. The 23-year-old was a second-round pick in 2022, and he earned a quick promotion to Triple-A after starting the season with a 1.95 ERA, 0.87 WHIP and 32 strikeouts in 32.1 innings over six starts at Double-A.
San Francisco Giants: OF Michael Conforto
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After missing the 2022 season recovering from shoulder surgery, Michael Conforto signed a two-year, $36 million deal with the Giants, but his return to action was lackluster at best with a .239/.334/.384 line and 15 home runs in 125 games.
The 31-year-old got off to a much better start this year, hitting .280/.331/.490 for a 138 OPS+ with seven doubles, seven home runs and 20 RBI in 154 plate appearances before landing on the injured list with a strained hamstring.
He will need to pick up where he left off once he returns, and the Giants might need to include some cash to pay down his $18 million salary if they want a solid prospect return, but he is a potential impact bat in a market thin on offensive upgrades.
Seattle Mariners: 1B Ty France
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Honestly, who knows what the Mariners are going to do at the deadline.
No one would have pegged closer Paul Sewald as the team's most likely trade candidate a year ago, especially with the team hanging around in wild-card contention, but team president Jerry Dipoto has never shied away from an outside-the-box move.
First baseman Ty France saw his name surface in trade rumors at the deadline in 2023, and with Tyler Locklear rising the minor league ranks as the presumptive first baseman of the future, flipping him this summer might still make sense.
The 2022 All-Star has one more year of arbitration control beyond the 2024 season, and while he is off to a slow start this season, he has a 114 OPS+ for his career and a solid track record of production.
St. Louis Cardinals: RHP Andrew Kittredge
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First baseman Paul Goldschmidt is going to be the Cardinals' most talked-about trade candidate since he's in the final year of his contract, but he also has full veto rights as a 10-and-5 player and a $26 million salary that won't be easy to fit on the books.
With that in mind, the most likely trade candidate on the roster is reliever Andrew Kittredge.
Acquired from the Rays in the offseason deal that sent Richie Palacios the other way, Kittredge has a 2.37 ERA, 1.00 WHIP and 9.5 K/9 with 13 holds in 21 appearances serving as the primary setup man for closer Ryan Helsley.
The 34-year-old was an All-Star in 2021 and he is earning $2.63 million in his final year of arbitration eligibility before hitting the open market this offseason. He will be one of the better rental relievers on the trade block this summer if the Cardinals don't make a climb up the standings.
Tampa Bay Rays: IF/OF Amed Rosario
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The Rays have climbed back into contention in the AL East after a slow start, but they are always a team that takes an opportunistic approach to the trade deadline, often doing a mix of buying and selling while focusing one eye on the future even when they are in the playoff hunt.
Selling high on Amed Rosario in a thin market for middle infield help could prove to be in their best interest.
Despite his solid start, it's not out of the question to think that Curtis Mead and Junior Caminero will eventually stake a bigger claim to playing time on the infield, while the emergence of Jonny DeLuca has already cut into Rosario's outfield at-bats.
The Rays have already gotten their money's worth on the one-year, $1.5 million deal Rosario signed during the offseason, and flipping him for a decent prospect in July would be icing on the cake.
Texas Rangers: IF/OF Dustin Harris
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What prospect pieces would the Rangers realistically consider moving?
Sebastian Walcott is likely off-limits, while Justin Foscue is more likely to stay put and be a contributor to this year's team once he returns from the injured list. None of the team's pitching prospects will be dubbed untouchable, but draining the system of arms seems counterproductive.
That leaves Dustin Harris as perhaps the most likely centerpiece in a deadline trade, and while he does not have a path to playing time in Texas, he could help another team out immediately.
The 24-year-old is hitting .269/.358/.416 with 11 extra-base hits and 12 steals in 41 games at Triple-A, and he is capable of lining up at first base, third base or in left field. He lacks the prototypical power for a corner spot, but has an advanced hit tool and good on-base skills.
Toronto Blue Jays: LHP Yusei Kikuchi
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"I don't think they're opposed to it," was the take from Mark Feinsand of MLB.com on whether the Blue Jays might be willing to move Vladimir Guerrero Jr. or Bo Bichette if they ultimately decide to sell at the deadline.
While one or both of those homegrown stars being dealt is certainly more likely than it was a year ago, they are still under club control through 2025 and it's going to take a massive haul to pry them loose.
Instead, upcoming free agents Yusei Kikuchi, Justin Turner, Danny Jansen, Kevin Kiermaier and Yimi Garcia are the more likely chips to be dealt if the team sells in July.
Kikuchi, 32, has a 2.64 ERA, 1.12 WHIP and 61 strikeouts in 58 innings in the final season of a three-year, $36 million contract, and he could be one of the market's top rental starters.
Washington Nationals: RHP Trevor Williams
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Trevor Williams was one of the more surprising recipients of a multi-year deal in free agency during the 2022-23 offseason, signing a two-year, $13 million deal with the Nationals to fill a spot in the starting rotation.
The 32-year-old struggled to a 5.55 ERA and 1.60 WHIP last season, but chewed through 144.1 innings and made 30 starts, and now the Nationals are reaping the rewards of sticking with him.
Through nine starts, he has gone 4-0 with a 2.35 ERA and 1.09 WHIP in 46 innings, and his 2.82 FIP suggests there is no massive regression lurking around the corner. His $7 million salary makes him one of the more cost-effective rental options on the market, and if he continues to pitch like he has he could be the team's representative at the All-Star Game.
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