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The MLB trade deadline is rapidly approaching. With so many teams still in the hunt for a playoff spot, there could be an abundance of buyers this year. That means that the few teams that have decided to be sellers could get significant returns for some of their players.
Whether a team is looking for a hitter, starting pitcher, or reliever, there are some excellent options on the board. While the White Sox, Marlins, and Athletics figure to be among the biggest sellers because of their bad records, they still have some players who are very appealing to title contenders.
Let’s dig into some of the more prominent names in trade rumors and discuss their potential landing spots.
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Tarik Skubal, Detroit Tigers (SP)
The Tigers are six games back of the final Wild Card spot in the American league. They would need to jump four teams to get to that spot, so their chances of making the playoffs are not great. That figures to put them in the seller’s market, with Skubal being the player for whom they could probably get the best return.
Skubal entered Monday with a 2.41 ERA, 2.56 FIP, and a 0.88 WHIP this season. He has shown excellent control, posting a 30.8% strikeout rate and a 4.6% walk rate. Contending teams like the Orioles, Yankees, and Dodgers would likely love to land Skubal in a trade. Skubal also won’t be a free agent until after the 2026 season. With that in mind, the Tigers might not be in a rush to deal their ace right now.
Pete Alonso, New York Mets (1B)
Alonso is one of the premier power-hitting first basemen in the league. While his ISO is down a bit this year at .210, he is still on pace to slug at least 30 home runs for the fourth straight year. He has never finished a full season with fewer than 37 home runs.
"I don't want to get traded, I love it, it's home"
Pete Alonso on the possibility of getting traded at the deadline. Plus, #Mets first half turnaround and aiming to join elite company tonight.
Read more: https://t.co/hYEpC1Mlc6 pic.twitter.com/Fq82r7l0cf
— New York Post Sports (@nypostsports) July 15, 2024
The Mets are right in the thick of the playoff hunt in the National League, so trading one of their best hitters might seem crazy. However, Alonso will be a free agent after the season, so the Mets could look to move him now if they don’t want to sign him long-term. If he were to be dealt, the Astros and Mariners would likely be among the teams in play for his services.
Garrett Crochet, Chicago White Sox (SP)
Crochet has been one of the most pleasant surprises in baseball this season. Through 20 starts, he has recorded a 3.02 ERA and an even better 2.35 FIP. He has been blowing hitters away, recording a 35.2% strikeout rate. Like Skubal, Crochet won’t be a free agent until after the 2026 season. However, with the White Sox in the very early stages of a rebuild, they might not even sniff the playoff hunt until after that.
Normally, a starter with his stats would be very appealing to just about any contending team. The Orioles and Dodgers could be two of the front runners for his services. However, Crochet had Tommy John surgery that forced him to miss all of the 2022 season. Last year, he logged a total of 25 innings in the minors and majors. With him already being at 107.1 innings this year, he might not be able to make a significant number of starts down the stretch, let alone be available for a potentially lengthy playoff run.
Jazz Chisholm Jr., Miami Marlins (2B/OF)
The Marlins figure to be among the most prominent sellers. They already dealt Luis Arraez to the Padres earlier this season. One of their most valuable hitters left is Chisholm, who also has some position flexibility with his ability to play second base and the outfield. He also won’t be a free agent until after the 2026 season.
This smooth swing from Jazz Chisholm Jr. gives the @Marlins the lead. 🎷 pic.twitter.com/mcneuFZUjK
— MLB (@MLB) July 21, 2024
One team that stands out as a possible destination for Chisholm is the Yankees. Gleyber Torres has really struggled at second base, both at the plate and in the field. They could also deploy Chisholm in the outfield with Alex Verdugo putting forth underwhelming numbers at the plate. The Mariners need all the hitting that they can get, so Chisholm could also be a top option for them.
Bo Bichette, Toronto Blue Jays (SS)
It has been a disappointing season for the Blue Jays, who have the fourth-worst record in the American League. They figure to be among the top sellers and they have some appealing players who might not have otherwise been available. Bichette, who has a career .290 batting average and .342 wOBA, could end up being on the move. After this season, Bichette only has one year left on his current contract.
Complicating matters a bit right now is that Bichette is currently on the IL with a calf injury that is expected to sideline him for multiple weeks. The Dodgers and Braves could have been potential landing spots for him, but his latest injury might keep him on the Blue Jays for at least the remainder of this season.
Luis Robert Jr., Chicago White Sox (OF)
Talent isn’t the question with Robert. He has a ton of power and he also stole 20 bases last season. His problem has been an inability to stay healthy. He has been limited to just 46 games this year and has appeared in more than 100 games in a season just one time during his career.
With the White Sox being so far away from contending, dealing Robert now while he is healthy could be a wise move. The Mariners could be among the teams interested in acquiring him, while another interesting landing spot could be the Dodgers. They have yet to lock down their center field position with Andy Pages posting just a .706 OPS.
Mason Miller, Oakland Athletics (RP)
Miller has become one of the most dominant closers in baseball with his whopping 46.7% strikeout rate. It has helped him generate a 2.27 ERA and an even better 1.67 FIP. If he were actually put on the trade block by the Athletics, they could get multiple top prospects for him.
The Athletics are bad and continue to be one of the cheapest teams in baseball. However, Miller is only 25 years old and is under team control through 2029. The Dodgers, Orioles, Phillies, and Yankees might be lining up to trade for him, but the Athletics probably aren’t in a hurry to move him right now, unless they receive an overwhelming offer.
Brent Rooker, Oakland Athletics (OF)
Rooker is likely far more available than Miller is right now. After slugging 30 home runs last season, he has already gone deep 22 times this year entering Monday. He has also increased his wOBA from .348 last year to .402 this season.
The home runs just keep on coming for the @Athletics!
Brent Rooker hits one 445 feet for No. 22. 💪 pic.twitter.com/WfNnuJ0Vue
— MLB (@MLB) July 20, 2024
Rooker turns 30 years old this offseason and doesn’t exactly have a lengthy track record of success in the majors. That might mean that it won’t take a significant haul to pry him away from the Athletics. He would be a good addition for the Royals, who rank inside the bottom 10 in baseball in home runs. The Braves, who have seen injuries deplete what should have been one of the deepest lineups in baseball, could also use the offensive firepower that Rooker can bring to a lineup.
Tanner Scott, Miami Marlins (RP)
Miller might not be available, but the Marlins are certainly willing to move on from Scott. He has 16 saves this year to go along with his sparkling 1.27 ERA. His FIP is higher at 3.27, and his 14.7% walk rate is a significant concern. However, he has a 28.2% strikeout rate this season and has limited batters to just a 28.9% hard-hit rate.
Scott could either close for a contending team or become one of their top setup men. Add in the fact that he is a lefty and there should be several teams calling the Marlins about him. The Yankees and Mets are both in desperate need of bullpen help, while the Orioles could also use another late-game option. Scott could even close games if he ends up on the Dodgers with Evan Phillips struggling.
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