MLB Trade Deadline 2024: End Date and Fresh Rumors

The trade deadline in MLB is Tuesday, July 30 at 6:00 p.m. ET and until then, teams seeking missing pieces in their pursuit of the World Series will have the opportunity to acquire them from teams that may not be quite as in the hunt as them.

As always, the demand for pitchers will be high and there are three who will be hot commodities among playoff and World Series contenders.

They are at the center of rumors from MLB insiders.

Who are they and why are they expected to be as desired as they are?

Find out with this preview of the upcoming deadline.

Crochet at the Top of the Dodger's List

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ARLINGTON, TEXAS - JULY 15: Garrett Crochet #45 of Chicago White Sox speaks to media during Gatorade All-Star Workout Day at Globe Life Field on July 15, 2024 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Gene Wang/Getty Images)

White Sox lefty Garrett Crochet figures to be one of the most coveted players at the deadline and according to Aldan Gonzalez of ESPN, the NL West-leading Los Angeles Dodgers have him at the top of their list.

It's not particularly surprising as to why, either.

Crochet has more strikeouts through the first half of 2024 with 150 than his first three seasons in the bigs combined. He has a 6.5 strikeout-to-walk ratio, a 3.02 ERA, and a 0.95 WHIP.

He has been nothing short of spectacular for a White Sox team that has let him down, resulting in a 6-6 win-loss record.

The Dodgers' rotation and bullpen have not been as good as expected this season and injuries to high-priced offseason additions Tyler Glasnow and Yoshinobu Yamamoto did not help matters.

It is something that will ultimately prove costly for a team that is built to win now. Crochet would provide, if nothing else, superb bullpen help and could flirt with the occasional start if needed.

He thrives as a fastball pitcher and can sit opponents down in order. If the Dodgers can complete a deal for Crochet and bring him on board, the favorites in the National League would become even more of a threat to run away with the pennant, with a chance to win their first World Series since the COVID-shortened 2020 season.

Cubs Open to Dealing Jameson Taillon

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CHICAGO, IL - JULY 4: Jameson Taillon of the Chicago Cubs exits the field of play in a game against the Philadelphia Phillies at Wrigley Field on July 4, 2024 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Matt Dirksen/Chicago Cubs/Getty Images)

Cubs starter Jameson Taillon is 7-4 through 16 starts this season with the lowest ERA of his career at 3.10 in 93 innings pitched.

He has a 1.16 WHIP and a 1.8 WAR, making him the second-best pitcher on the team behind Shota Imanaga.

He is also available at the right price, per Bruce Levin of 670 The Score.

It has been a bounce-back season for Taillon, who underwhelmed and suffered an inflated ERA of 4.84 a year ago so it is not surprising that the team would be interested in getting all it could for him.

Clubs needing a quality starter can strike a deal with a Cubs team that has underwhelmed this season.

Teams such as the New York Yankees and the Mets, or the Baltimore Orioles, could use one more starter to bolster their bullpens and go on legitimate postseason runs.

Jack Flaherty Most Likely Tiger Traded

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DETROIT, MI - JULY 14: Jack Flaherty #9 of the Detroit Tigers looks on from the dugout with a Gatorade towel over his head during the game against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Comerica Park on July 14, 2024 in Detroit, Michigan. The Tigers defeated the Dodgers 4-3. (Photo by Mark Cunningham/MLB Photos via Getty Images)

Much attention has been paid to Tigers ace Tarik Skubal and the Cy Young-worthy season he has had.

Gonzalez reported, however, that Detroit is unlikely to trade the All-Star. This is despite interest from the Dodgers and Orioles, as Tom Verducci of Sports Illustrated reported.

The same cannot be said for Jack Flaherty.

The starter is having his best season since 2019, with his lowest ERA (3.13) since that season and a strikeout-to-walk ratio of 7.5.

He currently has a WAR of 2.5 and a WHIP of 0.96, rounding out a stat line that is understandably impressive to teams looking to add a quality arm in pursuit of the World Series.

Once a pitcher who looked like the future of the St. Louis Cardinals at that position, he is now a veteran arm who has had up and down seasons but is in the midst of one of the best of his career. On an expiring one-year, $14 million deal, he is a rental for any contending team looking to acquire a pitcher who can shut opponents down and, hopefully, not make the mistakes her did a year ago for the Orioles.

Teams on the fringe of playoff contention, like the Pittsburgh Pirates, should bear watching when it comes to potentially adding him to their roster.