MLB trade season is here!
World Series hopefuls will start loading up for the stretch run and the playoffs, while teams out of contention will target top prospects to help them build for a brighter future.
[Related: MLB Power Rankings; MLB Trade Deadline Rumors]
Which stars and potential October difference-makers could be on the move before the July 30 deadline? Follow every deal here, with analysis and grades from Rowan Kavner and Deesha Thosar on the biggest trades.
July 29
Braves acquire DH/OF Jorge Soler and reliever Luke Jackson from Giants
Key stats:
– Soler: 12 home runs, 40 RBIs, .240/.330/.419
– Jackson: 5.40 ERA, 1.429 WHIP, 33 strikeouts, 35 innings
Who else is involved: The Giants received minor-league infielder Sabin Ceballos and lefty Tyler Matzek
What it means: The Braves needed more outfield help to try to replicate their magical 2021 run. So, they went and got outfield help from their magical 2021 run.
Soler, one of the major difference-making deadline moves for Atlanta three years ago, is going back to the Braves along with Jackson, who was also part of that 2021 Braves team. Soler, the Braves’ 2021 World Series MVP, currently sports a .749 OPS, more than 100 points down from the .853 mark he posted last year in an All-Star season. However, he has turned things around the past two months and represents a clear power upgrade for an Atlanta outfield that has been one of MLB’s least productive this year without Ronald Acuña Jr.
The Braves’ commitment to Soler is significant, not in terms of what they gave up to acquire him but in their willingness to take on the two years and $32 million left on the backloaded three-year deal he signed this offseason. In addition, with Marcell Ozuna occupying the Braves’ DH spot, Soler will have to play the outfield for the first time this year, where the slugger does not offer much help.
For the Giants, the move seems to be primarily financial, though it does open up the DH spot to potentially allow some of their young players to more easily contribute (Marco Luciano, perhaps?) and nets them a prospect in Ceballos, a third-round pick last season who was widely considered one of the Braves’ top 20 prospects.
The question now is, what’s next in San Francisco? Do the Giants still want to try to contend this year, or is it time to look to the future? In Blake Snell, Matt Chapman, LaMonte Wade Jr., Camilo Doval and others, they have plenty of intriguing trade chips should they decide to go into a more aggressive sell mode. This is a tough one to grade in a vacuum until we know more about their plan, but it’s hard to give a glowing grade for a salary dump. — Kavner
Braves grade: B
Giants grade: C+
Brewers acquire RHP Frankie Montas from Reds
Key stats: 4-8, 5.01 ERA, 1.436 WHIP, 78 strikeouts, 93.1 innings pitched, 19 starts
Pirates acquire LHP Jalen Beeks from Rockies for LHP Luis Peralta
Key stats: 6-4, 4.74 ERA, 1.358 WHIP, 38 strikeouts, 49.1 innings pitched
Dodgers acquire RF Amed Rosario from Rays for RHP Michael Flynn
Key stats: 2 home runs, 26 RBIs, .307/.331/.417 slash line
Astros acquire LHP Yusei Kikuchi from Blue Jays for three prospects
Key stats: 4-9, 4.75 ERA, 1.340 WHIP, 130 strikeouts, 115.2 innings pitched, 22 starts
Who else is involved: RHP Jake Bloss, 1B/OF Joey Loperfido and IF Will Wagne
What it means: If we were to rank the most likely players to go before the deadline, Kikuchi would’ve been somewhere near the top. That the Blue Jays got such a quality prospect return speaks to how thin the market was for rental starters.
Kikuchi’s peripherals are better than his counting stats would indicate. While he allows hard contact, he also can miss bats, a valuable trait for an Astros team surging toward the postseason. That ability was on display earlier this month, when he struck out 13 Giants batters on July 9 in San Francisco. Most importantly, though, he can serve as a stabilizing force as the depleted Astros rotation waits for the return of Justin Verlander while attempting to hold off the Mariners and Rangers in the division. We mentioned before the deadline that Houston had a clear need for a low-cost innings eater who could help against left-handed hitters, and Kikuchi, who is tied for the MLB lead with 22 starts and is holding lefties to a .683 OPS this year, fits the bill.
Still, the cost was significant for a veteran rental with a 4.75 ERA.
Most notably, Kikuchi will be replacing the person he was traded for in a depleted Houston rotation that currently has six starters on the injured list. Bloss, one of the top pitching prospects in the Houston system, ascended from high-A all the way to the majors this year after getting picked in the third round last season. If it were just him and a lower-level prospect the Blue Jays were getting back, it seemed like a fair price to pay. That the Blue Jays also got Loperfido and Wagner, two 25-year-olds who thrived at Triple-A this year and can help Toronto quickly, represents quite the haul. — Kavner
Astros grade: C+
Blue Jays grade: A+
Guardians acquire OF Lane Thomas from Nationals for pitching prospect Alex Clemmey, shortstop prospect José Tena, infield prospect Rafael Ramirez
Key stats: 8 home runs, 40 RBIs, .253/.331/.407 slash line
Mariners acquire DH/1B Justin Turner from Blue Jays
Key stats: 6 home runs, 31 RBIs, .254/.349/.371 slash line
Cardinals acquire RHP Erick Fedde and OF Tommy Pham, Dodgers get IF/OF Tommy Edman and RHP Michael Kopech and White Sox get IF/OF Miguel Vargas
Key stats:
– Edman: 13 home runs, 37 RBIs, .248/.307/.399 slash line (2023 stats)
– Fedde: 7-4, 3.11 ERA, 1.142 WHIP, 108 strikeouts, 121.2 innings pitched, 21 starts
– Pham: 5 home runs, 19 RBIs, .266/.330/.380 slash line
– Kopech: 2-6, 4.74 ERA, 1.351 WHIP, 59 strikeouts, 43.2 innings pitched, 26 relief appearances
– Vargas: 3 home runs, 9 RBIs, .239/.313/.423 slash line (30 games)
Who else is involved: Chicago gets Dodgers prospects Jaral Perez and Alexander Albertus while the Dodgers get Cardinals minor-league pitcher Oliver Gonzalez.
What it means: The Cardinals acquired Fedde, who reinvented himself after pitching last year in Korea to become one of the most sought-after pitchers on the trade block, and Pham, who last year was a vital cog in Arizona’s run to the World Series, without trading away a single top prospect or anyone who has played an inning in St. Louis this season.
That feels like a win.
They were able to do this because the Dodgers got involved, sending Vargas and two lower-level prospects to Chicago in exchange for Edman, who has yet to make his 2024 debut while recovering from wrist surgery, Kopech, a former first-round pick who should be additive to the Dodgers’ bullpen if he can limit free passes, and a 17-year-old prospect in Gonzalez.
Fedde suppresses hard contact and possesses the arsenal to handle both righties (.615 OPS) and lefties (.685). He does not have the swing-and-miss stuff to project as an October ace, but he provides a boost to a St. Louis rotation that needed it and could be the Cardinals’ No. 2 or 3 guy in the postseason should they get there. Pham has been a league-average hitter this year but tends to take his game to another level in October.
Meanwhile, considering the dearth of arms available, what other pitchers are going for and the fact that Fedde has another affordable year under contract (he’s set to make $7.5 million next year), it feels like a rather light return for the White Sox. Vargas’ bat made him one of the most highly-regarded talents in the Dodgers’ deep farm system last season, but he didn’t look particularly comfortable at the plate in his first call-up after injuring his hand last spring and has hit only slightly above league average for the Dodgers this year. His plate discipline should provide a high offensive floor, though his defensive future remains a major question. Perhaps a change of scenery will help the 24-year-old unlock his upside. Perez, who represented the Dodgers in the Futures Game, and Albertus are both 19-year-old infield prospects in low-A.
In dealing away Vargas, the Dodgers get the opposite player in Edman, who has been a league-average hitter over his five-year career but is capable of playing a variety of defensive spots at a high level. That’s an important trait for a Dodgers team that has gotten little production out of center field and is without both Mookie Betts and Miguel Rojas at shortstop.
The trade assumes some risk. Edman is still on a rehab assignment at Double-A and has yet to play the field this year as he recovers from wrist surgery and an ankle injury. Kopech throws 99 mph and misses bats at a high rate but yields hard contact and struggles with command. The Dodgers needed the bullpen help, and considering Kopech’s arm talent, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him become their latest reclamation success. — Kavner
Cardinals grade: A
Dodgers grade: B
White Sox grade: C+
Pirates trade RHP Quinn Priester to Red Sox for IF prospect Nick Yorke
Key stats: 2-6, 5.04 ERA, 1.455 WHIP, 31 strikeouts, 44.2 innings pitched, 10 games (6 starts)
Mariners trade 1B Ty France, cash to Reds for catching prospect Andrew Salcedo
Key stats: 8 home runs, 31 RBIs, .223/.312/.350 slash line
Rangers trade RHP Michael Lorenzen to Royals for LHP prospect Walter Pennington
Key stats:
– Lorenzen: 5-6, 3.81 ERA, 1.279 WHIP, 75 strikeouts, 101.2 innings pitched, 18 starts
– Pennington: 6-3, 2.26 ERA, 0.989 WHIP, 79 strikeouts, 59.2 innings pitched, 37 appearances with Triple-A Omaha
July 28
Tigers trade Carson Kelly to Rangers for catching prospect Liam Hicks and pitching prospect Tyler Owens
Key stats: 7 home runs, 29 RBIs, .242/.327/.393 slash line
Rays trade Isaac Paredes to Cubs for Christopher Morel and pitching prospects Ty Johnson and Hunter Bigge
Key stats:
– Paredes: 16 home runs, 55 RBIs, .247/.355/.438
– Morel: 18 home runs, 51 RBIs, .199/.302/.373
What it means: Despite the Rays being in sell mode, it always seemed like a long shot that Paredes would be dealt due to his productive bat (127 OPS+ in 100 games this year) and his remaining three years of control. And if he went anywhere, it seemed likely he would go to a top contender like the Dodgers, Yankees or Mariners in a market thin on third basemen, rather than a Chicago team that last in the NL Central. Yet, Tampa Bay found a trade partner in the Cubs, receiving another third baseman in Morel, though he doesn’t enter free agency until 2029, plus a couple of prospects in the deal.
The Cubs are disappointingly all but out of playoff contention for 2024, but they’re still aiming to go for it in 2025, so adding Paredes improves their future, particularly because the 25-year-old is an obvious defensive upgrade at third over Morel. A Wrigley Field infield of Michael Busch, Nico Hoerner, Dansby Swanson and Paredes should create some legitimate excitement for these next few years for the North Siders.
Due to the Rays’ track record of finding, developing and maximizing player value, it will be fascinating to see Morel’s future in Tampa unfold. But the Rays traded away more of a sure thing in Paredes for a question mark in Morel, who struggled to hit his ceiling with the Cubs. He slashed .199/.302/.373 in 102 games at third base and DH this year and logged nine errors at the hot corner, where his adventures became nightmarish at times. Cubs fans were ready to move on from Morel, and the Rays received major-league ready players who are now expected to be well-developed. — Thosar
Rays grade: B+
Cubs grade: A-
Rays trade reliever Jason Adam to Padres for three prospects
Key stats: 2.49 ERA, 0.89 WHIP, 50 strikeouts, 47.0 innings
Who else is involved: pitcher Dylan Lesko, center fielder Homer Bush Jr. and catcher J.D. Gonzalez
July 27
Nationals trade outfielder Jesse Winker to Mets for pitching prospect Tyler Stuart
Key stats: 11 home runs, 45 RBIs, .257/.374/.419
Angels trade relief pitcher Carlos Estevez to Phillies for George Klassen and Samuel Aldegheri
Key stats: 2.38 ERA, 0.87 WHIP, 32 strikeouts, 34.0 innings (34 appearances)
Blue Jays trade catcher Danny Jansen to Red Sox for Cutter Coffey
Key stats: six home runs, 18 RBIs, .212/.303/.369 slash line
Rockies trade Nick Mears to Brewers for Bradley Blalock and Yujanyer Herrera
Key stats: 5.56 ERA, 1.50 WHIP, 57 strikeouts, 45.1 innings (41 appearances)
Marlins trade infielder/outfielder Jazz Chisholm to Yankees for Agustin Ramirez, Jared Serna and Abrahan Ramirez
Key stats: 13 home runs, 50 RBIs, .249/.323/.407 slash line
What it means: The Yankees desperately needed an offensive spark, and Chisholm has the potential to shake things up in the Bronx. It’s a bit of a mystery where exactly Chisholm will get playing time — particularly once DH Giancarlo Stanton returns from the IL, and if/when No. 1 prospect Jasson Dominguez gets the call-up — so there’s an outfield logjam for the Yanks at the moment. But Chisholm has experience playing in the outfield, at second base and shortstop, so that provides some roster flexibility for New York.
I’m expecting him to bat leadoff once he gets comfortable in pinstripes, as the Yankees have been searching for a fit there all year. He can give Verdugo a break by playing left field, another position in need of better numbers at the plate. It will be interesting to see how Chisholm fits into the big picture; he’s under team control through 2026, and with Gleyber Torres entering free agency after this season, Chisholm could be the Yankees starting second baseman on Opening Day 2025.
As for who the Yankees gave up — catcher Agustin Ramirez and infielder Jared Serna are a couple of prospects among the organization’s Top 30, plus a third infield/outfield prospect in Abraham Ramirez. This was a good deal on New York’s side, since they had a surplus of catchers, anyway. Those three prospects were necessary to balance the years of control the Yanks will now get from Chisholm, and it’s still unclear how their futures will pan out. Overall, it’s a solid get for the Bronx Bombers, but now there are more questions than answers about Chisholm’s immediate, and postseason, impact. — Thosar
Yankees grade: B+
Marlins grade: B-
Blue Jays trade Nate Pearson to Cubs for Yohendrick Pinango and Josh Rivera
Key stats: 5.63 ERA, 1.55 WHIP, 51 strikeouts, 40.0 innings (41 appearances)
July 26
Rays trade starting pitcher Zach Eflin to Orioles
Key stats: 4.09 ERA, 1.16 WHIP, 87 strikeouts, 110.0 innings (19 starts)
Who else is involved: The Rays will receive outfielder Matthew Etzel, utility man Mac Horvath and right-hander Jackson Baumeister.
What it means: Teams interested in Yandy Diaz, Isaac Paredes, Brandon Lowe or Pete Fairbanks might not want to wait too long. The Rays are not messing around.
After sending Randy Arozarena to the Mariners Thursday night, Eflin seemed like one of the next logical guys to go, considering the right-hander’s ability to help a playoff rotation and the fact he was due $18 million next season, which is about $18 million more than the Rays probably wanted to spend.
The Orioles entered the deadline with a clear need for starting pitching. They were also one of the only teams that possessed the abundance of top prospects that might be able to entice the Tigers to trade Cy Young contender Tarik Skubal. That seems less likely to happen now, though Baltimore did not part with any of their best prospects to get Eflin and time remains for further action.
Eflin’s strikeout and groundball rates are down from his standout 2023 season in Tampa Bay, when he finished sixth in Cy Young Award voting and was the Rays’ Game 2 starter in the American League Wild Card series. His velocity is down a tick, too. Still, he has pitched better than his 4.09 ERA would indicate, and he remains a master of control. Eflin’s 2.8% walk rate trails only Seattle’s George Kirby for the best mark among qualified starters.
It made sense for Baltimore to get someone who can help them both this year and next in the rotation, particularly with Corbin Burnes set to hit free agency. Eflin will be a helpful piece for the Orioles’ stretch run alongside Burnes and Grayson Rodriguez, even if he is more of a mid-rotation piece than an ace on a contender.
The Rays, meanwhile, continue stockpiling 2023 draft picks. Aidan Smith and Brody Hopkins, the return from the Arozarena deal, were taken in the fourth and sixth rounds, respectively, last year. In this trade, all three players Tampa Bay got back were also drafted last season. Horvath and Baumeister were both taken in the second round, while Etzel was selected in the 10th. The Rays have collected a talented bevy of middle-tier prospects the last couple days, though none of the players they received for Arozarena and Eflin are top-100 types. That comes with risk, but the Rays tend to know what they’re doing when it comes to development. — Kavner
Orioles grade: B
Rays grade: B
Blue Jays trade Yimi Garcia to Mariners for Jonatan Clase and Jacob Sharpe
Key Garcia stats: 2.70 ERA, 0.80 WHIP, 42 strikeouts, 30.0 innings (29 appearances)
Key Clase stats: zero home runs, three RBIs, .195/.233/.220 slash line
Phillies trade reliever Seranthony Dominguez and outfielder Cristian Pache to Orioles for outfielder Austin Hays
Key Hays stats: Three home runs, 14 RBIs, .255/.316/.395 slash line
Key Dominguez stats: 4.75 ERA, 1.22 WHIP, 40 strikeouts, 36.0 innings (38 appearances)
Key Pache stats: Zero home runs, nine RBIs, .202/.288/.269 slash line
Boston Red Sox acquire starting pitcher James Paxton from the Los Angeles Dodgers
Key stats: 8-2, 4.43 ERA, 1.455 WHIP, 64 strikeouts, 89 ⅓ innings pitched, 18 starts
July 25
Seattle Mariners acquire OF Randy Arozarena from the Tampa Bay Rays
Key stats: .211/.318/.394, 15 home runs, 37 RBIs, 16 stolen bases, 105 OPS+
Who else is involved: The Rays will receive minor league outfielder Aidan Smith and minor league right-hander Brody Hopkins. They’ll also receive a player to be named later.
What it means: The free-falling Mariners desperately needed an offensive boost and found their answer five days ahead of the deadline in Arozarena, who might be the most dynamic outfielder who gets dealt at any point in the next week. While Arozarena’s production this year (.211/.318/.394 with 15 home runs) has not met his usual standards, you can bet on him figuring things out. And he is doing that. The 29-year-old, who hit at least 21% better than league average in each of his first five major-league seasons, has turned a corner the last couple months with a .920 OPS since the start of June.
Arozarena’s big breakout came during the shortened 2020 season, when he posted a 1.022 OPS before leading the Rays to the World Series behind one of the all-time great postseason runs. He blasted 10 homers over 20 playoff games and earned ALCS MVP honors. A year later, he was named Rookie of the Year. Arozarena’s 1.104 career postseason OPS is the third highest ever for a player with at least 100 playoff at-bats behind only Lou Gehrig and Babe Ruth. That’s a player any contender should covet but especially the Mariners, whose outfielders this year rank 20th in fWAR and 23rd in OPS and currently have star Julio Rodríguez on the injured list. It’s worth noting Arozarena has also hit well at T-Mobile Park, a place that can cause problems for hitters.
Tampa Bay, at 9.5 games back in the AL East despite a nearly identical record to Seattle, decided to part with Arozarena before his salary would jump in his second year of arbitration. That’s a gift for the Mariners, who get an outfield of Rodríguez and Arozarena for two more years after this.
I’m a bit surprised the Rays didn’t get more of a sure thing in a return for Arozarena, but both Smith and Hopkins offer upside as top-six round picks last year for Seattle. They were the 12th and 22nd ranked prospects, respectively, in the Mariners’ system. Smith is a 19-year-old outfield prospect who offers an intriguing all-around combination of skills with nine homers and 28 steals in 77 games at single-A. Hopkins has also performed well at that level. The former two-way player has a 2.90 ERA and is striking out more than 10 batters per nine innings. His control will go a long way in determining if his future is starting or relieving. The fact that the Rays did this with so much time left before the deadline makes me wonder if the player to be named later might be someone of significance, but it also makes grading this a little harder on their side. — Kavner
Mariners grade: A
Rays grade: B
Arizona Diamondbacks acquiring reliever A.J. Puk from the Miami Marlins
Key stats: 4-8, 4.30 ERA, 1.341 WHIP, 45 strikeouts, 44 innings pitched, 32 appearances
Who else is involved: The Marlins will receive minor league infielder Deyvison De Los Santos and minor league outfielder Andrew Pintar.
July 13
Kansas City Royals acquire RHP Hunter Harvey from the Washington Nationals
Key stats: 4.20 ERA, 1.22 WHIP, 50 strikeouts, 45.0 innings (43 appearances)
Who else is involved: Nationals receive 22-year-old infielder Cayden Wallace and a Competitive Balance A pick
July 9
New York Mets acquire RHP Phil Maton from the Tampa Bay Rays
Key Stats: 1-2, 4.58 ERA, 40 appearances
Who else is involved: A player to be named later or cash considerations
July 3
Milwaukee Brewers acquire RHP Aaron Civale from Tampa Bay Rays
Key stats: 2-6, 5.07 ERA, 87 IP, 84 strikeouts, 1.38 WHIP
Who else is involved: Rays receive 20-year-old middle infield prospect Gregory Barrios
June 25
Brewers acquire LHP Dallas Keuchel from Seattle Mariners
Key stats: 7-4, 3.93 ERA, 71.0 IP, 45 strikeouts, 1.211 WHIP
What else is involved: Cash considerations
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