Every MLB Team's Top Priority at the 2024 Trade Deadline
Every MLB team has a different set of priorities at the trade deadline.
For a contending club, it might be plugging a glaring hole in the lineup, adding a major piece of the starting rotation or solidifying the bullpen with a proven, late-inning arm.
For a non-contending team, it's all about maximizing their trade chips without selling themselves short or setting the asking price so high that it scares teams off from even negotiating.
Ahead we've broken down what should be the top deadline priority for all 30 teams, and when the second half kicks off on Thursday, we will be less than two weeks from the annual flurry of activity that is the MLB trade deadline.
American League East
1 of 6
Baltimore Orioles: Add a controllable No. 2 starter
The Orioles have been one of the best teams in baseball, despite an alarming amount of fluidity behind ace Corbin Burnes in the starting rotation. Young right-hander Grayson Rodriguez is good enough to take the ball in a playoff series, but finding a quality No. 2 guy to slot between those two might be the missing piece of the puzzle in a title run. With Burnes headed for free agency this offseason, focusing on controllable arms over rentals is the logical move.
Boston Red Sox: Add a veteran starter and a proven late-inning reliever
If the MLB postseason started today, who would take the ball for the Red Sox in Game 2 of a playoff series behind All-Star Tanner Houck? Who would they hand the ball to in the eighth inning to protect a one-run lead and bridge the gap to closer Kenley Jansen? Those are two huge questions that will need to be answered if this team is going to make any real noise in October.
New York Yankees: Trade for Luis Rengifo and Tanner Scott
These two players are exactly what the Yankees need to fortify their roster. Rengifo gives them an offensive upgrade on the infield capable of playing second base and third base, and with another year of control he could also serve as an insurance policy for 2025 if Gleyber Torres walks in free agency. Scott is the high-leverage reliever the team is lacking alongside Clay Holmes in the late innings, and he should come at a reasonable price since he's a rental.
Tampa Bay Rays: Acquire a Top 100 prospect for Isaac Paredes
With a $3.4 million salary in 2024 and a price that is set to grow exponentially in his second year of arbitration, Isaac Paredes is going to price himself out of Tampa Bay in the not-too-distant future. The 25-year-old is controllable through 2027 and has a 136 OPS+ with 18 doubles, 15 home runs and 50 RBI this year en route to his first All-Star selection. Selling high now and securing a top-tier prospect would maximize his value and clear a path for Junior Caminero in the second half.
Toronto Blue Jays: Move all rental pieces, don't sell low on Bo Bichette
Yusei Kikuchi, Danny Jansen, Yimi García and Trevor Richards should all be playing elsewhere next month. The same goes for Justin Turner, Kevin Kiermaier and Chris Bassitt if the Blue Jays can find a taker. The question is what happens with Bo Bichette. The two-time All-Star is having a down year, but the Blue Jays need to set a high asking price and stick to it. Selling low would be a mistake, as a strong second half and his team-friendly $17.6 million salary for 2025 could quickly restore his peak value.
American League Central
2 of 6
Chicago White Sox: Sell high on Garrett Crochet, Erick Fedde
Garrett Crochet (20 GS, 3.02 ERA, 150 K, 107.1 IP) and Erick Fedde (19 GS, 2.99 ERA, 111.1 IP) have been a major bright spot on a White Sox team that is shaping up to be one of the worst in MLB history. Considering Crochet had never started a MLB game before this year and Fedde was pitching in the KBO in 2023 after flaming out with the Washington Nationals, selling high on both guys is the obvious move even with control beyond 2024.
Cleveland Guardians: Add a playoff-caliber starting pitcher
With Shane Bieber injured and both Triston McKenzie and Logan Allen demoted to the minors, the Guardians starting rotation will undoubtedly be the focal point of any trade deadline maneuvering. This is a notoriously quiet team on the summer trade market, but finding a starter who they could trust to take the ball in a playoff game would stabilize the patchwork staff.
Detroit Tigers: Test the market on Tarik Skubal
There is no reason to trade Skubal just for the sake of trading him, but the Tigers need to approach the deadline with open ears. The 27-year-old is a bona fide Cy Young contender with club control through 2026, and if a team is willing to offer up a franchise-altering prospect haul, the Tigers would have to at least consider it. Skubal has an AL-leading 2.41 ERA and 140 strikeouts in 116 innings.
Kansas City Royals: Add a controllable run producer
If the Royals are going to take the next step toward contention, they need to find someone other than Bobby Witt Jr. and Salvador Perez who can provide consistent run production. This team is not ready to be shopping for rental pieces just yet, but adding someone like Oakland Athletics slugger Brent Rooker or Miami Marlins center fielder Jazz Chisholm Jr. would bolster the lineup now and moving forward.
Minnesota Twins: Add a playoff-caliber starting pitcher
Can the Twins win a best-of-seven playoff series with Joe Ryan, Pablo López, Bailey Ober and Simeon Woods Richardson as the four-man postseason rotation? That's the question they will need to ask as the trade deadline approaches, and if they don't think the answer is yes, finding a playoff-caliber starter will be their top priority. Unlike some other teams on this list, a rental arm might actually make the most sense.
American League West
3 of 6
Houston Astros: Add a veteran starting pitcher who can eat innings
With Cristian Javier, José Urquidy and J.P. France all out for the year, Lance McCullers Jr. suffering a setback in his recovery, Luis García still working his way back from Tommy John surgery and Justin Verlander sidelined with a neck issue, the Astros starting pitching has been stretched thin. Assuming Verlander and García eventually return to join Framber Valdez, Hunter Brown and Ronel Blanco on the five-man staff, they could still use some quality depth to help chew through innings.
Los Angeles Angels: Sell high on Tyler Anderson
The three-year, $39 million deal that Anderson signed prior to the 2023 season looked like a sunk cost when he struggled to a 5.43 ERA in 141 innings last year, but he has rebounded with a 2.97 ERA and 1.17 WHIP in 118 innings to earn an All-Star nod. However, the 34-year-old looks like a regression candidate with a 4.60 FIP backing that strong ERA, and flipping him now to offload his $13 million salary for next year should be a no-brainer.
Oakland Athletics: Test the market on Mason Miller, Brent Rooker
Flame-throwing closer Mason Miller (33 G, 15 SV, 2.27 ERA, 15.9 K/9) and slugger Brent Rooker (169 OPS+, 21 HR, 62 RBI) would both generate huge interest from contenders if they were shopped at the deadline, but the A's have no rush to trade either player. Miller is controllable through 2029 and will be making the league minimum for several more years, while Rooker will be arbitration-eligible for the first time this winter. Aggressively shop them, but only move them if a team is willing to meet the asking price.
Seattle Mariners: Add an impact, middle-of-the-order bat
The Mariners have one of the best starting rotations in baseball, but a lackluster offense currently stands in the way of their title hopes. There is ample room for in-house improvements, starting with Julio Rodríguez, but they have to do something to significantly upgrade their offensive firepower. A corner outfield bat might be the easiest place to upgrade with Luke Raley and Mitch Haniger both underperforming.
Texas Rangers: Commit to selling, shed payroll
The Rangers were hesitant to make any major additions this offseason due to the uncertainty of their TV contract and an already hefty payroll. Things have not gone as hoped for the defending champions, and rather than hanging around to try to claw back into a wild-card spot, they might be better served committing to a short-term sell and offloading some payroll. Even with Max Scherzer unwilling to waive his no-trade clause, Nathan Eovaldi, Andrew Heaney, Michael Lorenzen, Kirby Yates, José Leclerc and David Robertson are all veteran arms headed for free agency that could help a contender.
National League East
4 of 6
Atlanta Braves: Add a corner outfielder
With rookie Spencer Schwellenbach bringing to a halt what had been a revolving door in the No. 5 starter spot, the clear top priority for the Braves will be to bolster their outfield contingent. Ronald Acuña Jr. is out for the season, Michael Harris II is sidelined with a hamstring strain and scrapheap pickup Ramon Laureano is also nursing an injury. That has left the underperforming veteran duo of Adam Duvall and Eddie Rosario to man the corners outfielder spots while Jarred Kelenic has shifted to center field.
Miami Marlins: Commit to a full-blown fire sale
The Marlins announced their position as sellers with the May deal that sent Luis Arraez to the San Diego Padres, and there's no reason to stop there. Center fielder Jazz Chisholm Jr. is the team's most appealing trade chip, while All-Star reliever Tanner Scott is a no-brainer to be moved as a rental arm. Beyond those two, anyone of value should be shopped and no one should be untouchable.
New York Mets: Do not trade away any quality prospect talent
The Mets have clawed their way back into the playoffs picture with a 21-9 record in their last 30 games, but is this really a team worth mortgaging top prospect talent for a short-term upgrade? Keeping slugger Pete Alonso now seems like the right move as they try to chase a playoff berth, but any major outside additions should be tabled until the offseason when they can use their spending power rather than their prospect capital.
Philadelphia Phillies: Figure out center field
It's hard to poke holes in the Phillies roster, but if there's one ongoing issue it's finding consistent production in center field. Johan Rojas has taken a significant step backward from his stellar rookie performance, while Cristian Pache fits best as a fourth outfielder. The team could pursue a blockbuster addition like Jazz Chisholm Jr. or Luis Robert Jr., or they could shift Brandon Marsh back to center field and target a corner outfielder instead.
Washington Nationals: Sell high on Kyle Finnegan
The Nationals already shipped out one of their best trade chips when they sent setup man Hunter Harvey to the Kansas City Royals, but they still have standout closer Kyle Finnegan as a potential piece to flip. The 32-year-old has converted 25 of 29 save opportunities with a 2.45 ERA, 1.02 WHIP and 9.4 K/9, and he is more than just a rental with club control through 2025. Do the Nationals think they will be ready to legitimately contend by next year? If not, selling high on Finnegan now is the right move.
National League Central
5 of 6
Chicago Cubs: Move any short-term pieces with value
Do the Cubs even have any tradeable pieces? The uncertainty of a $27.5 million player option for next year already made moving Cody Bellinger difficult to navigate, and that was before he was sidelined with a fractured finger. Beyond that, veteran reliever Héctor Neris and swingman Drew Smyly might be the closest thing they have to a trade chip.
Cincinnati Reds: Sell high on Jonathan India
India was a popular speculative trade candidate during the offseason due to a crowded infield picture. With Matt McLain and Noelvi Marte back from his PED suspension things are getting crowded once again, and India has rebuilt some value with a 124 OPS+ and .377 on-base percentage in 366 plate appearances. If they can get a MLB-ready arm, now might be the best time to deal him.
Milwaukee Brewers: Add a controllable, playoff-caliber starter
Quick, name a starting pitcher other than Freddy Peralta for the first-place Brewers. Colin Rea, Tobias Myers and the recently acquired Aaron Civale will line up behind him in the starting rotation to begin the second half, and while their mix-and-match approach has worked well enough so far, the postseason is a different animal. The Brewers generally don't swing for the fences at the deadline, but a controllable starter who fits into the No. 2 slot would go a long way.
Pittsburgh Pirates: Shop for low-cost additions, push for a winning record
For the first time in years, there's a legitimate argument to be made for the Pirates buying at the deadline. Now they should absolutely not be parting with any prospects of significance, but making a few under-the-radar additions to chase a winning record could help their young core take the next step toward legitimate contention in 2025. Playing games that matter in September is a valuable experience for up-and-coming talent.
St. Louis Cardinals: Add a right-handed hitting outfielder
The Cardinals could really use a right-handed hitting outfielder to bring some balance to their lineup alongside left-handed hitting outfielders Brendan Donovan, Alec Burleson and Lars Nootbaar, with Burleson also seeing semi-regular action at designated hitter. Ironically, Tyler O'Neill would be the perfect player to plug that hole, but he was shipped to the Red Sox during the offseason. Anyone up for a reunion with Tommy Pham?
National League West
6 of 6
Arizona Diamondbacks: Test the market on Christian Walker
With a 49-48 record at the All-Star break, the D-backs are only five games off their pace from a year ago when they turned an unexpected wild-card berth into a World Series run. Simply holding and hoping for in-house improvements is probably their best deadline strategy, but they should at least see what teams are willing to offer for first baseman Christian Walker. The 33-year-old is a free agent this coming offseason and is having another terrific year with a 136 OPS+ and 22 home runs.
Colorado Rockies: Move all rental pieces
The Rockies plan to hold onto third baseman Ryan McMahon, but all of their rental pieces should be up for grabs at the deadline. Catcher Elias Díaz and right-hander Cal Quantrill are the most obvious trade chips, and both should simply be moved to the highest bidder ahead of the deadline. Too often, this team has been inactive at the deadline for no reason other than seemingly indifference.
Los Angeles Dodgers: Add a durable, veteran starting pitcher
There are a lot of moving parts on the Dodgers pitching staff with all the injuries they have sustained and all the rehabbing talent set to return at some point, so while they might not end up needing to make a blockbuster addition, an innings-eating veteran who they can lean on every fifth day would be a welcome pickup. Michael Lorenzen might be the ideal target, as he could also shift into a bullpen role if not needed in the rotation.
San Diego Padres: Add starting pitching depth
With Joe Musgrove sidelined with elbow inflammation and Yu Darvish currently away from the team, the Padres need some help in the starting rotation behind Dylan Cease, Michael King and Matt Waldron. Right-hander Randy Vásquez has been serviceable at the back of the rotation, but prospect Adam Mazur has a 7.84 ERA in seven starts and he is the only other pitcher who has started a game this year.
San Francisco Giants: Do not trade away any quality prospect talent
The Giants forfeited their second- and third-round picks in the 2024 draft to sign Blake Snell and Matt Chapman in free agency, and the idea of mortgaging further prospect talent on a flawed roster is one they should not consider. With a 47-50 record, a minus-27 run differential and a 29-37 record against clubs with a winning record, this just isn't a very good team. Hold at the deadline, ride out the season and regroup.
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