Landing Spots For MLB Trade Deadline's Most Wanted Hitters
If you're looking for a little trade deadline insight, here you go: There is nothing more valuable in baseball right now than a good right-handed hitter.
Seriously, it's bad out there for the righties. They're collectively hitting .239/.313/.386. That average is their lowest since 1972. That slugging percentage is their lowest since 1992. And overall, their 95 wRC+ pales in comparison to the 108 wRC+ of their left-handed brethren.
So, two big questions: Which teams have right-handed bats to offer in trades, and where might they fit?
We're going to two-birds, one-stone this thing by picking out the best landing spots for the top 10 righty bats that could be available ahead of the August 3 trade deadline. Eight are from our trade deadline big board, with the other two being special new entries.
10. C Ryan Jeffers, Minnesota Twins
1 of 10
Age: 29
2026 Stats: 37 G, 148 PA, 7 HR, .295 AVG, .408 OBP, .541 SLG
Contract: 1 year, $6.7 million
Best Landing Spot: New York Yankees
This, of course, is contingent on Ryan Jeffers making a timely and effective recovery from a broken hamate. He's been out almost a month now, and he isn't expected back until July.
The other caveat here is that midseason trades involving catchers are tricky, especially when the expectation is that they'll take over everyday duties with their new team. It's not exactly a plug-and-play job.
But given what they've gotten from their catchers, the Yankees have more cause than most to consider that kind of Hail Mary. Their 44 wRC+ from the catching position is second-worst ahead of only the Philadelphia Phillies, and there's no way they're bumping J.T. Realmuto.
Even assuming he's healthy in his own right, the Yankees absolutely can do that with Austin Wells. Worst-case scenario, Jeffers would work in a platoon with the lefty-hitting Wells.
Other Landing Spots: Chicago White Sox, Pittsburgh Pirates, San Diego Padres
9. 3B Isaac Paredes, Houston Astros
2 of 10
Age: 27
2026 Stats: 64 G, 265 PA, 9 HR, .236 AVG, .322 OBP, .406 SLG
Contract: 1 year, $9.35 million (2027 team option)
Best Landing Spot: Cincinnati Reds
There are only 10 teams getting an above-average wRC+ (i.e., over 100) out of third base, but no team has sunk as low as the Reds at 41.
This is the echo of Ke'Bryan Hayes, who was so bad offensively at the outset that he made John Sadak have a meltdown. He shouldn't have a starting job once he comes off the IL, but playing a 34-year-old Eugenio Suárez at the hot corner isn't ideal, either.
Whereas Isaac Paredes is merely a safe option for most teams, he would represent a monumental upgrade for the Reds at third base. The two things he does well are put the ball in play and pull fly balls in the air, both of which would play just fine at Great American Ball Park.
Better yet, he wouldn't be a one-year rental. If the Reds can't salvage this season, they can try again with Paredes next season.
Other Landing Spots: Milwaukee Brewers, Philadelphia Phillies, Pittsburgh Pirates
8. 2B Gleyber Torres, Detroit Tigers
3 of 10
Age: 29
2026 Stats: 39 G, 176 PA, 3 HR, .283 AVG, .398 OBP, .379 SLG
Contract: 1 year, $22.03 million
Best Landing Spot: Los Angeles Dodgers
For a team that has literally everything else, second base has been an undeniable sore spot for the Dodgers this year.
It's been a four-player revolving door at the keystone, and the four have hit to the tune of a combined .249 average and 87 wRC+. Tommy Edman could be the solution when he returns from ankle surgery, but his best role is as a utility plug-in against lefty pitching.
For his part, Gleyber Torres has arguably become underrated as an everyday regular. He's notably thrown his weight behind getting on base by working tough at-bats, which is kind of a prerequisite for joining this Dodgers offense.
Plus, he's quietly playing a good second base in 2026. Even despite missing a month with an oblique strain, his +6 Defensive Runs Saved are tied for third among second basemen.
Other Landing Spots: Philadelphia Phillies, Cincinnati Reds, Tampa Bay Rays
7. RF Jo Adell, Los Angeles Angels
4 of 10
Age: 27
2026 Stats: 69 G, 286 PA, 10 HR, .240 AVG, .283 OBP, .386 SLG
Contract: 1 year, $5.2 million (free agent after 2027)
Best Landing Spot: San Diego Padres
At this point in his career, Jo Adell is the kind of guy you buy low on and hope that there's something there.
It's been a long time since he was counted among MLB's elite prospects, and he only has 0.5 rWAR to show for 529 career games in the majors. But then again, he hit 37 home runs just last year, and that one Jose Canseco-style blooper obscures how he's come pretty far on defense.
As for the Padres, it's honestly unclear whether they need more pop or more of a spark.
An offense that has produced only 67 home runs could use more power, and specifically for a right field spot that has yielded a 60 wRC+ and four homers. More broadly, their league-low .651 OPS shows they just plain need a vibe shift.
Other Landing Spots: Cincinnati Reds, Milwaukee Brewers, Toronto Blue Jays
6. LF Taylor Ward, Baltimore Orioles
5 of 10
Age: 32
2026 Stats: 68 G, 313 PA, 3 HR, .261 AVG, .404 OBP, .361 SLG
Contract: 1 year, $12.18 million
Best Landing Spot: Tampa Bay Rays
It'll be a happy day if Chandler Simpson ever puts it all together. It's been too long since MLB had a pesky Juan Pierre type, and that's the mold Simpson fits on paper.
In reality, his .286 average for the last two seasons is unfortunately quite hollow. His OBP and slugging skills are basically nonexistent, and he's weirdly bad at stealing bases despite his excellent speed.
All this is the long way around to explaining how the Rays are getting a league-low 73 wRC+ from left field. Taylor Ward is at 127 in that department this year, and it's almost entirely thanks to his knack for getting on base.
This makes him an ideal Rays hitter. Getting 'em on, over and in is their whole style of offense, so they might as well double down on it in pursuit of the AL East title.
Other Landing Spots: Atlanta Braves, Philadelphia Phillies, Chicago White Sox
5. 1B Christian Walker, Houston Astros
6 of 10
Age: 35
2026 Stats: 69 G, 285 PA, 16 HR, .249 AVG, .319 OBP, .494 SLG
Contract: Year 2 of 3-year, $60 million
Best Landing Spot: Arizona Diamondbacks
We'll get to the reunion aspect in a second. But for now, consider where Diamondbacks first basemen rank in terms of wRC+:
This is a weakness Arizona should want to shore up, as the potential prize is nothing less than a playoff spot. They're in third in the NL West right now, and they can surely see how fast the San Diego Padres are fading.
It was as a D-back that Christian Walker made a name for himself between 2017 and 2024. He's proving this year that he's still got it, and getting him back could be as simple as doing a back contract swap with Houston. One involving Lourdes Gurriel Jr. could conceivably work.
Other Landing Spots: Cleveland Guardians, Miami Marlins, Texas Rangers
4. RF Seiya Suzuki, Chicago Cubs
7 of 10
Age: 31
2026 Stats: 54 G, 225 PA, 9 HR, .247 AVG, .333 OBP, .409 SLG
Contract: Year 5 of 5-year, $85 million
Best Landing Spot: Seattle Mariners
A trade of Seiya Suzuki was not on our Bingo card until Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic pitched it on Thursday, under the guise of such a move being a means for the Cubs to add starting pitching.
This part alone mostly explains what the Mariners are doing here, as they're one of very few teams in MLB with too much starting pitching. Luis Castillo is their weak link, but he would be a godsend for a battered and bruised Cubs rotation.
Castillo is owed $24.15 million this year and next, while Suzuki is making $19 million in the last year of his contract. So albeit with some other trimmings, there's a swap to be made here.
Otherwise, the Mariners could use another right-handed bat, and there's a reasonably clean fit for him as either a platoon or full-time player in right field and DH.
Other Landing Spots: Philadelphia Phillies, San Diego Padres, Cincinnati Reds
3. 1B Willson Contreras, Boston Red Sox
8 of 10
Age: 34
2026 Stats: 64 G, 265 PA, 13 HR, .284 AVG, .381 OBP, .516 SLG
Contract: Year 4 of 5-year, $87.5 million (2028 team option)
Best Landing Spot: Texas Rangers
As a power-hitting first baseman, Willson Contreras occupies basically the same niche as Christian Walker. The difference is that Contreras is also a reliable on-base machine, with a career OBP of .354.
This is where the Rangers fit comes into focus. They're generally doing better at getting on base than they did in 2025, but they're still only getting a .293 OBP from their first basemen. That's the fourth-worst mark in the league.
If the Rangers were to add Contreras as their new everyday first baseman, they could shift Jake Burger into a platoon role. It's the best thing for him, given his career 119 wRC+ against lefties.
The catch with Contreras is that he doesn't come cheap, but the Rangers would be well short of the luxury tax threshold even with him. To boot, it helps that $8 million of his $35 million in salaries for 2026 and 2027 is on the St. Louis Cardinals.
Other Landing Spots: Arizona Diamondbacks, Cleveland Guardians, Miami Marlins
2. SS Jeremy Peña, Houston Astros
9 of 10
Age: 28
2026 Stats: 32 G, 135 PA, 3 HR, .281 AVG, .348 OBP, .413 SLG
Contract: 1-year, $9.48 million (free agent after 2027)
Best Landing Spot: Atlanta Braves
This might be the biggest long-shot on this list. Because as Astros GM Dana Brown told Matt Kawahara of The Houston Chronicle, the team has had " zero discussions" about trading Jeremy Peña.
If he says so, but the Astros are at a point where they need to at least retool for the future. And since he's represented by Scott Boras, the chances of Peña signing an extension this close to free agency are slim.
As for the Braves, they've been winging it at shortstop ever since Dansby Swanson left for Chicago. It generally hasn't worked, and they're surely aware that Jorge Mateo is punching way above his weight with a 132 wRC+.
A team with World Series aspirations deserves a better shortstop, and Peña is probably the best the Braves can feasibly get this summer.
Other Landing Spots: Boston Red Sox, Milwaukee Brewers, Tampa Bay Rays
1. CF Byron Buxton, Minnesota Twins
10 of 10
Age: 32
2026 Stats: 57 G, 258 PA, 20 HR, .260 AVG, .322 OBP, .566 SLG
Contract: Year 5 of 7-year, $100 million
Best Landing Spot: Philadelphia Phillies
This is one of those trade concepts that has been mocked about a million times by about a million people. So, apologies for the lack of originality.
But since Byron Buxton has a no-trade clause, it's vital that his prospective suitors have a real chance at not just winning, but going as far as the World Series. And right now, the Phillies check both boxes even without a high-functioning offense.
They're in the bottom 10 in scoring and 39 of their 86 total home runs have come from two gentlemen named Schwarber and Harper. A third slugger to carry the load would be ideal, especially if he swings right-handed.
Buxton is ideal for the Phillies just on this account, and then there's the matter of center field. The hope was that Justin Crawford would provide stability out there, but he's instead performed like yet another replacement-level slacker.
Other Landing Spots: New York Yankees, Arizona Diamondbacks, Texas Rangers
Stats courtesy of Baseball Reference, FanGraphs and Baseball Savant.
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