Top MLB Teams' Most Desperate Trade-Deadline Needs
With just over a month until the MLB trade deadline, the biggest needs for contending teams are starting to come into focus.
There are more than 10 clubs currently in contention, but this piece encompasses every team leading their division, along with four others.
As we inch closer to the July 31 trade deadline, here are the most desperate trade-deadline needs for 10 contenders.
New York Yankees: An Infield Upgrade
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Jazz Chisholm Jr. plays an adequate third base (minus-2 defensive runs saved), but he grades out better at his natural position of second base (three DRS).
Acquiring a third base upgrade that allows the 27-year-old to just play second base would be a wise move for New York general manager Brian Cashman.
To that end, the Yankees—and just about every other contending team in baseball—will be hoping the Arizona Diamondbacks decide to become sellers. Can you imagine how much of an upgrade having Eugenio Suárez in this lineup would be over late-career DJ LeMahieu or Oswald Peraza?
One infield alternative, according to Bob Nightengale of USA Today, could be a reunion with Isiah Kiner-Falefa.
Nightengale reported over the weekend that both the Yankees and San Francisco Giants are "keeping a close eye on" the 30-year-old, who plays for the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Kiner-Falefa wasn't particularly popular in New York when he wore the pinstripes from 2022-2023, but he plays an excellent second base and also has the flexibility to play shortstop and third base.
Tampa Bay Rays: Left Fielder
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It's hard to know what to make of the Tampa Bay Rays.
In theory, it should be an issue that they have only 16 home games between July and August.
At the same time, they are 16-12 away from their temporary home of George M. Steinbrenner Field this year, and a 43-34 record puts them in control of the American League's top wild-card spot. So, it's hard to be dismissive of them as a contender.
If the Rays are buyers, the consistently-frustrating Christopher Morel has struggled as the primary left fielder with just six home runs and a .716 OPS this season.
Taylor Ward of the Los Angeles Angels would be a good fit, both because he would improve the team this year and has one more remaining year before free agency.
Detroit Tigers: Left Side of the Infield
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When discussing the Tigers, B/R's Zachary D. Rymer opined earlier this month that "left side of their infield is an obvious weakness calling out for upgrades at third base and/or shortstop."
It's hard to argue with that assessment, as Trey Sweeney has just a .596 OPS at shortstop. Zach McKinstry has been the primary third baseman, and to his credit, he has a .774 OPS.
Still, McKinstry's best value is his positional flexibility, so he shouldn't prevent anyone from making an upgrade at third base if one is available. He could shift to shortstop if president of baseball operations Scott Harris lands a better option at the hot corner.
The Tigers are one of the many teams who make sense as a possible landing spot for the aforementioned Suárez.
If this is the year the Colorado Rockies finally part with Ryan McMahon, he could also make sense for a Tigers team that appears to be a World Series contender in a wide-open AL.
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Houston Astros: A Controllable Starting Pitcher
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What the Astros need more than anything is for their established stars to start performing up to the back of their baseball cards.
- Not only has Jose Altuve struggled to adjust to left field, but the three-time batting champion is also hitting just .269.
- Offseason signee Christian Walker has been a bust to this point. He has a .642 OPS after posting an .813 OPS over his final three seasons with the Diamondbacks.
- Yordan Alvarez is on the IL with a right hand injury, but he had a minus-0.5 WAR in his first 29 games of the season.
In terms of external additions, though, general manager Dana Brown should look to add another starting pitcher to go with Hunter Brown and Framber Valdez, two All-Star candidates.
Ideally, this would be a controllable starter who could not only take the ball in a postseason game but would also offer insurance if Valdez departs in free agency in the offseason.
Edward Cabrera of the Miami Marlins is an interesting change-of-scenery candidate with great stuff and multiple years of control left.
Philadelphia Phillies: High-Leverage Reliever
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The bullpen was a need for the Phillies before José Alvarado failed a PED test, and it's certainly a priority for president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski as the team's top reliever continues to serve a suspension that will make him ineligible for the postseason.
Dombrowski has largely resisted utilizing major resources on the bullpen during his time leading the Philadelphia front office, but if the team wants to emerge from a deep National League this October, that's going to have to change.
While Orion Kerkering, Matt Strahm and Jordan Romano can be part of the solution—and there's a chance the Phillies could convert some of their excess starting pitching into bullpen help later in the year—this feels like a team that needs a bullpen anchor.
Obviously, Félix Bautista of the Orioles would be a great fit, but considering he can't become a free agent until after 2027, the price figures to be very high on him.
Dennis Santana of the Pirates, Kyle Finnegan of the Washington Nationals and Jake Bird of the Colorado Rockies are other potential options.
New York Mets: A Frontline Starting Pitcher
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New York Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns appears to have hit on converting Clay Holmes from a reliever to a starter, while Griffin Canning and Tylor Megill have given the team more than most expected coming into the year.
Still, this is a team clearly in need of another front-line arm, particularly with both Megill and Kodai Senga currently on the IL. Senga, Holmes and David Peterson can all start in the postseason, but the Mets would benefit from adding another arm that could take the ball in Game 1 or 2 of a playoff series. That's even when you factor in the returns of Sean Manaea and Frankie Montas, which seem likely to happen before the All-Star break.
Freddy Peralta would fit the bill, and he would be reuniting with Stearns from their time in Milwaukee. But are the Brewers going to trade their most accomplished starter while they are in the thick of the NL wild-card race?
Elsewhere, Sandy Alcántara of the Marlins and Zac Gallen of the Diamondbacks have pitched like aces in the past, but both have struggled for the most part this season.
With Senga's injury history and Holmes pitching more innings than he ever has, though, it's obvious the Mets need another arm to make a second straight deep playoff run.
Chicago Cubs: Starting pitching
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With the offseason addition of Kyle Tucker and the emergence of Pete Crow-Armstrong as a superstar, the Chicago Cubs have a lineup ready to compete for a World Series.
The same can't be said about their starting pitching, though.
Justin Steele has been lost for the season after undergoing Tommy John surgery. Shota Imanaga is currently on the IL with a left hamstring strain, and while he was an All-Star a year ago, he's probably better cast as a Game 2 or 3 starter in the playoffs than a Game 1 option.
The Cubs could go one of two ways at the deadline. Either president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer could take a big swing on someone like Alcántara or Gallen, hoping they catch fire and can carry them in the postseason. Alternatively, he could try to add a pair of starters that could take the ball in the playoffs, like Zach Eflin of the Baltimore Orioles and Merrill Kelly of the Diamondbacks.
A rotation of Imanaga, Eflin and Kelly might not have an obvious ace, but it would give you three pretty good options.
In any event, starting pitching is the biggest hole for the Cubbies.
Los Angeles Dodgers: Healthy Pitching
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This answer is evergreen.
Currently, Tyler Glasnow, Roki Sasaki, Tony Gonsolin, Blake Snell, Gavin Stone, Evan Phillips, Blake Treinen and Brusdar Graterol are on the IL for the Dodgers. Shohei Ohtani (the pitcher), Clayton Kershaw, Michael Kopech, Kirby Yates and Dustin May are healthy now, but have all missed time this season.
For all the Dodgers do well, they've failed badly in keeping their pitchers healthy the last few seasons. They managed to win a World Series piecing things together in the rotation last October, and it might have to be a similar formula this year.
There is a ton of internal talent in Los Angeles, but this is a team that also requires outside help. Would they take a big swing on the potential of Cabrera in a deal with the Marlins? Do they believe they could get Alcántara back on track? Would the Diamondbacks be willing to trade Gallen or Kelly to the Dodgers? Is president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman going to give up major resources to land a reliever like Bautista, or is the plan to bank on Tanner Scott bouncing back and the rest of the arm barn getting healthy?
One thing is for sure: There are a lot of moving parts with the pitching for the defending World Series champions, and that isn't a good thing when the playoffs come around.
San Francisco Giants: Another Pitcher Who Can Start a Postseason Game
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In his first year as president of baseball operations, Buster Posey has already completed what will be the biggest deal of this trade season: Acquiring Rafael Devers from the Boston Red Sox.
From here, it can be argued that some of the biggest upgrades need to come internally. Matt Chapman (right hand inflammation) needs to come back from the injured list. Willy Adames needs to start hitting like Willy Adames. Jung Hoo Lee needs to recapture the star form he showed in the first month of the season.
Externally, though, the Giants could benefit from adding a No. 3 starter for the postseason. Logan Webb and Robbie Ray give them a strong one-two punch, but after that, you're looking at either Landen Roupp or 42-year-old Justin Verlander.
If the division-rival D-backs wave the white flag, Kelly is a veteran who would make sense as a rental. Eflin is another playoff-tested arm on an expiring contract who could be a fit.
San Diego Padres: Left Fielder
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After going 13-13 in May, the Padres find themselves under .500 in June. Early in the season, it seemed like they might really push the Dodgers in the NL West, but now they seem to be the No. 3 team in their own division behind the Dodgers and Giants.
That's fine, this could still be a dangerous team if they get into the postseason. How many clubs have a better lineup trio than Manny Machado, Fernando Tatis Jr. and, when he returns from the IL, Jackson Merrill?
There's a lot to like about a bullpen anchored by Robert Suárez and Jason Adam. Plus, if Michael King does return this season, he, Dylan Cease and Nick Pivetta are a pretty strong top three in the rotation.
Still, this is a club that hasn't been able to replace Jurickson Profar's production in left field from a season ago. Veteran Jason Heyward was recently designated for assignment, making it evident that general manager A.J. Preller needs to add in the outfield.
We mentioned Ward in regards to the Rays, and he would also make sense for the Padres. So, too, would Luis Robert Jr. of the Chicago White Sox, who could benefit from a change of scenery.
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