As the All-Star break wraps up, 22 teams find themselves within 5½ games of a playoff spot. This means a lot of chatter about potential trades—teams are more likely to buy than sell as the deadline approaches.
Among those in the hunt are the Rockies and the White Sox, and this competitive landscape is likely to complicate things as July 31 approaches. Many teams are in need of a limited pool of available players.
Looking for an ace? Well, outside of the surprising trades involving Paul Skenes and Jacob DeGrom, teams are going to need to offer substantial packages for top talents like Sandy Alcantara or solid options like Cessrugo. Both could command significant returns.
Then there’s Mitch Keller and Zach Eflin, who could further fuel a seller’s market. Most teams could benefit from an additional starter—take the Yankees, for example, who are likely feeling the impact of losing Clark Schmidt this season.
Do you need a high-caliber infielder? Be prepared to part with some prime prospects. The Diamondbacks are positioned to be the primary target for Eugenio Suarez, whose value is rising. Top teams like the Yankees, Tigers, and Cubs might vie for his services.
If you’re on the hunt for an outfielder, there are at least a few intriguing names. Jarren Duran could be a solid fit for teams like the Mets, Padres, and Phillies, especially if the Red Sox decide to cash in on him. Meanwhile, the struggling Orioles might find a taker for Cedric Mullins. And could this finally be the year Lewis Robert Jr. is traded from Chicago?
Status of potential relievers? It looks like nearly all of these 22 teams will be looking to secure a strong backend arm. The Guardians may consider parting with Emmanuel Clase, while others like Carlos Estevez from the Royals and David Bednar from the Pirates could also be on the move. Expect plenty of activity in the relief market this year.
Thanks to an extra wild card spot and an overall lack of dominant teams, the landscape is as unpredictable as ever. This trade deadline will challenge many front offices in assessing how aggressively they want to enhance their World Series odds.
The upcoming weeks promise to be intriguing. Here are some key storylines to keep an eye on:
Could there be another home run chase?
Home Run Derby Champion, Callowry, has already hit 38 homers in his first 96 games for the Mariners. To put that in perspective, Barry Bonds hit 39 while reaching 73 homers in the first half of 2001.
Aaron Judge is pacing himself for the Yankees with 35 home runs so far. Will he threaten the AL record of 62 home runs?
Will the Dodgers’ super team stay intact?
Even as the most expensive team, the Dodgers have managed to maintain a lead in the NL West, but their performance has been lackluster due to injuries. Fortunately, Tyler Glasnow is back, and key players like Shohei Ohtani and Blake Snell are working their way back to full strength.
In other news, Blake Treinen is nearing a return, but Michael Kopech’s timeline remains uncertain. Still, they may look to strengthen their bullpen at the deadline.
Will the Rockies fall apart further?
Currently, the Rockies find themselves struggling significantly—they may be on track to be one of the worst teams in history. With a record of 22-74, they’ve set a new low for losses since the All-Star break began in 1933. Last year, the White Sox recorded 41 losses before the break, and the Rockies could potentially surpass that.
With 125 losses on the horizon, it could be a tough few weeks ahead. Players like Bird and Ryan McMahon are potential trade candidates as the remaining opponents continue to challenge them.
