There are only 43 days left until the MLB trade deadline, so let’s have some fun and look at trade concepts that could make sense for both contending and rebuilding teams. As of today, only five teams are considered definitive “sellers”: the White Sox, the Athletics, the Angels, the Rockies and the Marlins. Other teams like the Mets are likely to join that group between now and the July 30 deadline.
So, let’s look at those six teams and come up with trade scenarios that might work for them, as well as some teams who might want to “buy.” Feel free to share your thoughts on these trading ideas in the comments or offer your own trading proposals if you wish. With six weeks left until the deadline, let’s look at some trading ideas.
1. Dodgers acquire CF Luis Robert Jr., LHP Garrett Crochet and RHP Michael Kopech from the White Sox in exchange for RHP Nick Frasso, LHP Justin Wrobleski, RHP Kyle Hurt, RHP Payton Martin, C Dalton Rushing, OF Andy Pages and SS Emil Morales.
Could the Dodgers and White Sox reach a trade agreement on a deal involving Luis Robert Jr.? (Steven Bisig/USA Today)
This would be a surprise to the industry: a 10-player trade! – that would put the Dodgers in a much better position to lead the postseason and jump-start the White Sox’s rebuild. The Dodgers have a loaded farm system and the major league roster to win it all now, so why not finish the job with a gigantic deal? Luis Robert Jr. improves his defense in center field and adds length to the bottom half of the lineup. Garrett Crochet fits at the top of the rotation behind Tyler Glasnow and Yoshinobu Yamamoto once the latter returns from the injured list. Michael Kopech gives them another power arm option for the back end of their bullpen. Robert is under team control until 2027, Crochet is under team control until 2026, and Kopech is under team control until 2025.
The White Sox would get seven solid, good prospects in return, putting them on the path to a much faster rebuild. Andy Pages could replace Robert in the outfield immediately. Dalton Rushing would become their future starting catcher. Nick Frasso, Kyle Hurt, Justin Wrobleski and Payton Martin would make their future prospects on the mound that much brighter and would come with many years of team control. And the final piece of this deal, 17-year-old Emil Morales, would give the White Sox a high-risk, high-reward defensive genius at shortstop in the future if he develops as a hitter.
GO DEEPER
MLB trade goals for each contender, plus deadline priorities for all 30 teams
2. Twins acquire 1B Pete Alonso from Mets for 1B Alex Kirilloff, RHP David Festa and 2B/OF Luke Keaschall
It appears that the Mets will not be able to extend Pete Alonso’s contract and he will hit free agency in the offseason. Therefore, it makes sense for them to trade him at the deadline for prospects to help build the organization for the future and then try to re-sign him this winter. The Mets want to keep him long-term, and from all indications, the feeling is mutual. However, Alonso first needs to see how he is valued on the open market, as the Mets see him in the range of Freddie Freeman and Matt Olson deals, while the Alonso camp feels his value, including what he brings to the table as a leader. and embracing star. Playing in New York is worth more. (Freeman signed a six-year, $162 million deal with the Dodgers before the 2022 season; Olson signed an eight-year, $168 million deal with the Braves around the same time.) If the Mets (33-37), currently 1 1/2 games out of wild card position in the stagnant NL standings, decide to trade Alonso, teams like the Cubs, Brewers, Mariners, Giants and Twins make sense as landing spots, as they could all use improvements in the middle of their lineups and at first base or designated hitter.
In this proposed trade, Alonso goes to the Twins, who could put him in the middle of their lineup between Carlos Correa and Royce Lewis. Acquiring Polar Bear Pete would give Minnesota (40-32), currently in the third wild card spot in the American League, a much better chance to overtake the Guardians and Royals and prevail in the American League Central. In return, the Mets would get first baseman Alex Kirilloff, who has dealt with wrist and other nagging injuries during his career but still has a good swing and potential. Last year he hit .270/.348/.445 with 11 home runs and 41 RBIs in 88 games and 319 plate appearances. This year he has struggled, hitting .201 with five home runs before a recent demotion to Triple A. However, he is still only 26 years old. David Festa would be the key component of the trade for New York. The 24-year-old right-hander has posted a 3.50 ERA in 13 starts this year at Triple A, striking out a staggering 81 batters in 54 innings. The final piece of this deal would be infielder Luke Keaschall, who can play second, shortstop and third. The 21-year-old was drafted in the second round last year and is hitting .335 with eight home runs and 17 stolen bases this season between High A and Double A with a .447 on-base percentage.
GO DEEPER
Does the demoted Alex Kirilloff still fit into the Twins’ plans?
3. The Mariners acquired 3B Ryan McMahon from the Rockies for RHP Emerson Hancock and INF Michael Arroyo.
The Mariners need to improve their offense and Ryan McMahon would fit very well into their lineup. He is hitting .265/.344/.458 with 12 home runs and 37 RBIs while providing near-average defense at third base. However, he also offers positional flexibility (McMahon can play first, second or third), something the Mariners always value. The 29-year-old has power and getting on base, both needs for Seattle, which ranks 25th in the majors in OPS. The Mariners would control McMahon through 2027 under the six-year, $70 million contract he signed before the 2022 season.
In return, the Rockies would get what they need (a solid starting pitcher who could slot right into their rotation) in Emerson Hancock, who despite posting a 4.79 ERA in eight starts has allowed two or fewer earned runs in five of his last six. important matches. league appearances. (Hancock, 25, has a 2.17 ERA in five starts this season at Triple A.) Michael Arroyo, a 19-year-old middle infielder with a good combination of power and speed, is hitting .266/.392/. 489 with 11 home runs and eight stolen bases in 57 games with Low-A Modesto.
GO DEEPER
Which MLB contenders have the most prospect chips to offer in deals at the trade deadline?
4. The Cardinals acquire RHP Erick Fedde from the White Sox in exchange for LHP Cooper Hjerpe and RHP Gordon Graceffo.
The Cardinals appear committed to being buyers, not sellers at the trade deadline, and their front office is focused on adding another veteran starter. Erick Fedde fits what they are looking for as another pitcher to put behind Sonny Gray, Kyle Gibson, Miles Mikolas and Lance Lynn in the rotation. The 31-year-old signed a two-year, $15 million contract with the White Sox in the offseason after pitching in South Korea last year. He was a first-round pick by the Nationals in 2014, but didn’t live up to expectations until this year, when he went 5-1 with a 3.09 ERA in 15 starts with 83 strikeouts in 87 1/3 innings. . The Cardinals are 35-35, which is currently good enough to win the second wild card in the National League.
In exchange, the White Sox would acquire Cooper Hjerpe, a 23-year-old left-hander who was recently promoted to Double-A after posting a 3.35 ERA in 11 starts for High-A Peoria. Hjerpe, a 2022 first-round pick, has 59 strikeouts and 24 walks in 40 1/3 total innings this season. Gordon Graceffo was the Cardinals’ fifth-round pick in 2021 out of Villanova. He has posted a 4.11 ERA in 13 starts this season for Triple-A Memphis. Graceffo, 24, could take Fedde’s place in the White Sox rotation and finish the rest of his development in the majors. The White Sox would control both pitching prospects for at least six more years, while Fedde will be eligible for free agency after next season.
5. Orioles acquire RHP Luis Severino from Mets for RHP Trace Bright and OF Jud Fabian
Kyle Bradish is back on the injured list with a sprain in the Champions League, and that should make the Orioles move from the bullpen to the rotation as their top business priority. Luis Severino is a great fit based on his past experience in the American League East with the Yankees. Severino is having a solid comeback season with the Mets, going 4-2 with a 3.12 ERA and 1.179 WHIP in 13 starts. He will be a free agent after this season and should do well on the open market if he maintains this level.
In exchange, the Mets would acquire Trace Bright, a 2022 fifth-round pick out of Auburn, who is one of the Orioles’ top pitching prospects. He has a 3.91 ERA with 62 strikeouts in 53 innings this season with Double-A Bowie, but has work to do with his delivery, command and control (1.472 WHIP). Additionally, the Mets would land outfielder Jud Fabian, who has hit .241/.316/.462 with 12 home runs and 29 RBIs in 199 at-bats in Double A. He is expendable due to the plethora of outfield prospects that the Orioles have. rate above it.
GO DEEPER
30 things I’m hearing and watching at the MLB trade deadline with 50 days left
GO DEEPER
MLB trade deadline levels: Buyers, sellers and those in between, plus the needs of all 30 teams
GO DEEPER
MLB’s top 100 potential free agents for the 2024-25 offseason, with plenty of options
(Top photo by Pete Alonso: Jess Rapfogel//Keynote USA/Getty Images)
Keynote USA
For the Latest Sports News, Follow Keynote USA Sports on Twitter.