With the 2024 MLB All-Star Game now in the rearview mirror, the attention of the baseball world turns to the playoff chase. Some teams are starting to formulate very real World Series dreams. Other teams, because of injuries or inconsistent play, are banking on improvement to chase one of the wild card berths for a shot at the postseason dance.
Every team that wants to win it all has some needs to address, however. The good news for them is there are teams on the other end of the spectrum that will look to be sellers before the trade deadline. And some good, impactful bats and arms could be wearing a new uniform soon.
The Major League Baseball Trade Deadline is July 30 at 6 p.m. ET. Before that cutoff, teams will look to make the right move to take them to the promised land.
Baltimore Orioles
The Orioles backed into the all-star break losing five of their last six games, including a three-game sweep at home to the Cubs. But they arrived at the break with a one-game lead in the American League East and 20 games over 0.500 for the season.Baltimore has a young core that’s still growing at the big-league level. They also have one of the deepest, most impressive pipelines in the game. This means they have the organizational depth to make a deal of some significance if the right player becomes available.
When assessing the needs of the Orioles heading into the deadline, a big area is pitching—especially arms with control. Baltimore finished the first half of the season tied for ninth in MLB with 39 quality starts and seventh in WHIP (1.20).
Baltimore traded left-hander DL Hall, infield prospect Joey Ortiz, and a competitive balance round A pick to Milwaukee to get 2021 National League Cy Young Award winner Corbin Burnes in February, but he’s in the final year of his contract. Burnes started the 2024 All-Star Game in his first season in the AL. Keeping him at the top of their rotation should be a priority, but supporting him for the home stretch and beyond could be where the Orioles look to make a move.
New York Yankees
If the Orioles are going to buy, the Yankees should too. Their lineup has the wow factor, with Aaron Judge and Juan Soto, but they have struggled to consistently produce beyond those two players.Two areas of need are in the middle of their infield. Anthony Volpe started the year well at shortstop but has fallen off recently. Second baseman Gleyber Torres has underwhelmed this year and has been a fixture in fans’ rants on social media for a couple of years. An upgrade at both of those positions could become a very real need in the Bronx.
The Yankees have one other reality they have to own as they approach this trade deadline. Soto can hit free agency after this season. Will Hal Steinbrenner spend the big bucks like his father infamously did for decades to make sure Soto is in the middle of their lineup for a long time? Making a deep playoff run will affect those discussions, without question.
If the Yankees look to augment their middle infield, there have been talks that they might call the Miami Marlins about Jazz Chisholm. That’s an interesting play if it becomes more fire than smoke because Chisholm has been playing outfield for the past couple of seasons.
A few other names to watch for the Yankees are Luis Rengifo of the Angels, Aledmys Díaz in Oakland, and Paul DeJong of the White Sox. If the Yankees look to add a viable option at first base as well, switch-hitting first baseman Josh Bell in Miami could be a target.
Seattle Mariners
The Mariners have been pitching for days, which is why Hancock’s name has been floated recently. He was once the sixth-overall pick in the draft and has been a viable major league starter, but Seattle simply has more arms than rotation spots at this point.And Seattle needs to help their offense. In a competitive American League West in which the Astros have underperformed while the A’s and Angels continue to struggle, the Mariners have very legitimate postseason aspirations. But scoring runs hasn’t been as easy as they would have hoped.
A Baltimore connection for Hancock makes a lot of sense for both sides. If the Orioles look to add a controllable arm to their rotation and are willing to move a bat like Anthony Santander, there’s a deal that could happen benefitting both teams.
Seattle might also consider calling Colorado about Ryan McMahon and Elias Díaz, the White Sox about Tommy Pham or even an in-division deal for Angels outfielder Jo Adell.
Milwaukee Brewers
The National League Central is basically handing the division crown to the Brewers this year despite Milwaukee watching Craig Counsell leave to manage the Cubs and Corbin Burnes being traded to Baltimore last winter. So they don’t necessarily need to add at the deadline, but they should if their goal is more than just winning the division.The Brewers’ calling card over the past decade has been their rotation, but that area needs some help right now. How much Milwaukee is willing to pay in prospect capital is the biggest question, however. They already made a move to add starter Aaron Civale from the Rays but could use another steady, reliable arm whose acquisition cost isn’t high and who doesn’t make a lot of money.
A few intriguing names to consider for the Brewers to help their rotation could be Erick Fedde for the White Sox, Cal Quantrill and/or Austin Gomber of the Rockies, and Chris Bassitt and Yusei Kikuchi in Toronto.
