Yankees, Mets, Red Sox's Top 2025 MLB Trade Targets After Vlad Jr.'s Jays Contract
Any MLB contender who eyed a future move for Vladimir Guerrero Jr. will have to look elsewhere after the first baseman agreed to a 14-year, $500 million extension with the Toronto Blue Jays, according to multiple reports.
The four-time All-Star was in his last year of team control with Toronto. In the absence of a long-term deal, it stood to reason there was at least a chance he could get shipped out before the trade deadline if the Blue Jays were totally out of the race.
Now, Guerrero is off the board entirely, and this could have a domino effect with teammate Bo Bichette also due to be a free agent. The Jays will presumably be less inclined to trade the veteran shortstop.
With that in mind, here's an overview of the landscape for three teams, the New York Yankees, New York Mets and Boston Red Sox, that could look to add midseason reinforcements.
New York Yankees
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Gerrit Cole is out for the year after undergoing Tommy John surgery. Luis Gil has yet to make his season debut thanks to a lat strain. Clarke Schmidt is at least nearing his return to the mound after being sidelined with right rotator cuff tendinitis.
There's a reason the Yankees made a reported run at San Diego Padres starting pitcher Dylan Cease.
Cease has allowed four earned runs and struck out 14 batters through 10.2 innings. The 29-year-old is on his way to a big payday if he keeps this performance up.
The same is true for Michael King, who has a $15 million mutual option for 2026. King was filthy in his last start, fanning 11 batters and walking just one in five innings.
By keeping Cease in particular through Opening Day, San Diego showed it's aiming for the postseason, and an 8-2 start justifies that belief. Should the Padres fortunes take a turn, the Yankees could seemingly try to re-open negotiations over Cease or pursue a reunion with King.
New York Mets
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When they already have a payroll eclipsing $300 million, the Mets might be a little wary of acquiring a player with a big contract or due to receive one next winter. With that in mind, Brandon Woodruff would be a more cost-effective stopgap should New York's starting pitching regress.
The two-time All-Star has yet to complete his full return from shoulder surgery, which kept him out for all of 2024. If he can maintain his usual production (3.10 career ERA and a 3.19 FIP) once he's back, he'll be a valuable trade chip for the Milwaukee Brewers if they're sellers at the deadline.
In terms of the Mets offense, the early returns from Jose Siri aren't great. He's batting .059 and slugging .118 through six games. Those numbers are bound to improve, but this is also a player with a career OPS (87) that's below the league average, per Baseball Reference.
Maybe the stars align to where Luis Robert Jr. becomes a more attainable target for New York.
Boston Red Sox
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Especially if Walker Buehler's production is any indication, more pitching will be needed for Boston.
The team already made its big move for the rotation by landing Garrett Crochet and then giving him a $170 million extension, so the odds they go for another proven No. 1 or 2 starter are probably low.
The Red Sox could be another candidate for Woodruff or even King because the cost, in terms of raw dollars and trade assets, for either is going to be less than with Cease.
The issue for Boston on the trade front is less about finding upgrades and more about identifying targets who won't disrupt the franchise's long-term plans. The continued fallout from signing Alex Bregman showed how one notable move can cause a ripple effect.
As something around the margins, Andrew Vaughn makes sense as a right-handed alternative at first base. The 2019 first-round pick hasn't lived up to expectations, but a change of scenery could do him wonders.
Gavin Sheets certainly looks like a different hitter after leaving the Chicago White Sox.
