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5. Vladimir Guerrero Jr., 1B, Blue Jays

Positional ranking: No. 3 Bat
Age: 25
Contract status: Owed $6.6 million in 2024, then arbitration eligible through 2025
First-half stats: .288/.361/.456/.816, 14 HR, 55 RBI, 1.5 WAR
Likelihood of being dealt:

As with Bichette, Toronto can happily hold on to Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and try again next year. Or the Jays can dive headfirst into a rebuild by landing a haul of prospects for a four-time All-Star who's still only 25. While Guerrero hasn't repeated the 2021 numbers that garnered him an MVP runner-up, he looked close to that version of himself in May and June. He's a game-changing bat with a chunk of his prime still to go.

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10. Pete Alonso, 1B, Mets

Positional ranking: No. 6 Bat
Age: 29
Contract status: Owed $6.5 million in 2024, then a free agent
First-half stats: .240/.319/.454/.772, 19 HR, 51 RBI, 1.1 WAR
Likelihood of being dealt:

At the end of May, Pete Alonso stood a good chance of being the biggest name on the move this deadline. Now, with the Mets back in the wild-card hunt, trading the face of the franchise is a lot less palatable for president of baseball operations David Stearns. In the event things go suddenly and significantly south for New York, well, Alonso could still fetch a nice return in his walk year. It hasn't been a vintage season for the first baseman; after averaging 44 homers and 111 RBIs in his first five years, he's on pace for 32 dingers and 86 driven in.

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11. Nathan Eovaldi, RHP, Rangers
Positional ranking: No. 4 SP
Age: 34
Contract status: Owed $5.3 million in 2024 with vesting player option for 2025

First-half stats: 6-3, 2.97 ERA, 24.5 K%, 6.9 BB%, 1.7 WAR
Likelihood of being dealt:

Nathan Eovaldi has aged remarkably well, pitching as well as ever at 34, and his extensive, excellent playoff track record could make him especially attractive. Of course, it's also why the Rangers may be hesitant to trade him if they haven't totally given up on their title defense. Further complicating things is his contract, which adds a $20 million player option for 2025 if he throws at least 160 innings this season, although he's pitched well enough to possibly turn that down anyway.

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12. Jack Flaherty, RHP, Tigers

Positional ranking: No. 5 SP
Age: 28
Contract status: Owed $4.7 million in 2024, then a free agent
First-half stats: 6-5, 3.13 ERA, 32.1 K%, 4.3 BB%, 2.1 WAR
Likelihood of being dealt:

Far less complicated than the Skubal decision, trading Jack Flaherty should come down to the Tigers being offered more than the draft pick compensation they'd get if he leaves as a free agent. He's been a brilliant one-year signing, resurrecting his career and looking every bit as good as he did as a young phenom in St. Louis. Even with some injury question marks, Flaherty will be one of the most sought-after pitching rentals on the market.

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13. Yandy Daz, 1B, Rays

Positional ranking: No. 7 Bat
Age: 32
Contract status: Owed $12.7 million through 2025 with club option for 2026
First-half stats: .273/.329/.396/.726, 8 HR, 46 RBI, 0.8 WAR
Likelihood of being dealt:

Yandy Daz isn't a prototypical slugging first baseman, but he's produced a 130 OPS+ in six seasons with the Rays, including winning the batting title in 2023. His first-half numbers were down, a possible concern with a 32-year-old owed $10 million in 2025, but Daz is an underrated player who crushes left-handed pitching and has the flexibility to bounce over to third base in a pinch if needed.

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14. Jess Luzardo, LHP, Marlins

Positional ranking: No. 6 SP
Age: 26
Contract status: Owed $1.8 million in 2024, then arbitration eligible through 2026
First-half stats: 3-6, 5.00 ERA, 21.2 K%, 8.0 BB%, 0.6 WAR
Likelihood of being dealt:

After his full-season breakout in 2023, Jess Luzardo's year has been, like everything for the 2024 Marlins, a disappointment. He's made just a dozen uneven starts, and he's currently on the 60-day IL with a back issue. Nevertheless, Luzardo, 26, has top-of-the-rotation stuff and is under team control for two seasons beyond this one.

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15. Christian Walker, 1B, Diamondbacks

Positional ranking: No. 8 Bat
Age: 33
Contract status: Owed $3.6 million in 2024, then a free agent
First-half stats: .264/.373/.495/.837, 22 HR, 66 RBI, 2.9 WAR
Likelihood of being dealt:

Few players in the game have been as overlooked in the last few years as Christian Walker, who ranks fourth in WAR at first base dating to 2020. He brings power at the plate and a slick glove at first. He's a guy who can help deepen the middle of most any order from the right side. Like more than half the National League, the Diamondbacks currently straddle the buy/sell line.

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17. Yusei Kikuchi, LHP, Blue Jays

Positional ranking: No. 7 SP
Age: 33
Contract status: Owed $3.3 million in 2024, then a free agent
First-half stats: 4-8, 4.42 ERA, 26.0 K%, 5.8 BB%, 2.0 WAR
Likelihood of being dealt:

Yusei Kikuchi has been good rather than great in three seasons with the Blue Jays, putting together dominant stretches only to struggle for weeks at a time. Still, his high strikeout rate and demonstrated ability to pitch like an All-Star for stretches is likely enough to make him one of the most sought-after rental starters available. He would fit nicely in the No. 3 or No. 4 spot of most contending rotations, but might not appeal to every team as a reliable playoff rotation option against righty-heavy lineups.

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21. Erick Fedde, RHP, White Sox

Positional ranking: No. 8 SP
Age: 31
Contract status: Owed $10 million through 2025
First-half stats: 7-3, 2.99 ERA, 21.6 K%, 6.6 BB%, 2.7 WAR
Likelihood of being dealt:

Erick Fedde reinvented himself in South Korea, winning MVP honors and then returning to MLB on a two-year, $15 million deal that now has the last-place White Sox primed to get some real value in exchange. While not quite a front-line arm, this version of Fedde looks like a solid mid-rotation starter and next year's $7.5 million salary is a bargain even if he regresses a bit.

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24. Jason Adam, RHP, Rays

Positional ranking: No. 4 RP
Age: 32
Contract status: Owed $900,000 in 2024, then arbitration eligible through 2026
First-half stats: 1.67 ERA, 27.5 K%, 8.8 BB%, 130 Stuff+
Likelihood of being dealt:

Jason Adam is the latest in a long line of journeyman pitchers to find success in the Rays' bullpen. And, like many of those before him, he could become trade bait now that he's 32 and starting to get costly. Adam's strikeout rate is down a bit this season, but he's throwing harder than ever and his ERA is under 2.00 for the second time in three years with Tampa Bay.

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26. Zach Eflin, RHP, Rays

Positional ranking: No. 9 SP
Age: 30
Contract status: Owed $22.7 million through 2025
First-half stats: 5-6, 3.99 ERA, 18.9 K%. 2.2 BB%, 1.6 WAR
Likelihood of being dealt:

As usual in Tampa Bay, money could be a factor with Zach Eflin set to make $18 million in 2025. In fact, it's possible the Rays backloaded his three-year contract with the intention of shopping him before then, not unlike what they did with Tyler Glasnow. Teams with decent-sized payrolls could simply see Eflin as a solid, strike-throwing mid-rotation starter with a market-rate contract, making him enticing.

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27. Pete Fairbanks, RHP, Rays

Positional ranking: No. 5 RP
Age: 30
Contract status: Owed $5.9 million through 2025 with a club option for 2026
First-half stats: 3.21 ERA, 23.0 K%, 10.8 BB%, 124 Stuff+, 0.5 WAR
Likelihood of being dealt:

Another product of Tampa Bay's reliever factory, Pete Fairbanks has served as the Rays' primary closer for the past two-plus seasons. His durability has been an issue and his strikeout rate has declined sharply this season along with a 2 mph drop in fastball velocity. Even if he's more of a setup-caliber reliever at this point, his $3.7 million salary for 2025 and $7 million team option for 2026 would be attractive.

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30. Chris Bassitt, RHP, Blue Jays

Positional ranking: No. 10 SP
Age: 35
Contract status: Owed $30 million through 2025
First-half stats: 8-7, 3.52 ERA, 21.3 K%, 9.6 BB%, 1.0 WAR
Likelihood of being dealt:

Assuming the Blue Jays decide to deal away more than just impending free agents, the 35-year-old Chris Bassitt, who has a limited no-trade clause, is a no-brainer to cash in. This is his seventh straight year with a sub-3.85 ERA, and next season's $22 million salary is roughly the going rate for a second or third starter in free agency, without requiring a long commitment.

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33. Blake Snell, LHP, Giants
Positional ranking: No. 11 SP
Age: 31
Contract status: Owed $5 million in 2024, then a player option for 2025
First-half stats: 0-3, 6.31 ERA, 26.6 K%, 10.8 BB%, 0.5 WAR
Likelihood of being dealt:

All offseason, teams balked at Snell's asking price off a Cy Young Award-winning season, forcing him to accept a less-than-expected offer from the Giants. After he posted an ERA above 6.00 in the first half, why would anyone decide he's now worth the contract? Well, Snell does have an established track record of pitching much better after the All-Star break each year, and the deadline inspires some creative read: desperate machinations.

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37. Lucas Erceg, RHP, Athletics

Positional ranking: No. 8 RP
Age: 29
Contract status: Owed $300,000 in 2024, then controllable through 2029
First-half stats: 2.94 ERA, 26.8 K%, 8.5 BB%, 111 Stuff+, 0.3 WAR
Likelihood of being dealt:

Based on his remaining team control, the A's shouldn't be motivated to trade Lucas Erceg, but the converted infielder is already 29 years old and Oakland selling on an ascending reliever would make plenty of sense. Erceg has electric raw stuff, led by a triple-digit sinker, and he's made big strides with control in his first full season as a big-league reliever.

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47. Michael Kopech, RHP, White Sox

Positional ranking: No. 11 RP
Age: 28
Contract status: Owed $1 million in 2024, then arbitration eligible through 2025
First-half stats: 5.05 ERA, 30.9 K%, 12.7 BB%, 143 Stuff+, -0.3 WAR
Likelihood of being dealt:

It's just not going to happen for Michael Kopech in Chicago, but surely some team is convinced it can fix a former top-20 prospect with a triple-digit fastball and 12 strikeouts per nine innings. Whether starting or relieving, he's been doomed by too many homers and walks, but Kopech is an obvious buy-low candidate with another full season of team control remaining.

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49. Tyler Anderson, LHP, Angels

Positional ranking: No. 15 SP
Age: 34
Contract status: Owed $17.3 million through 2025
First-half stats: 8-8, 2.97 ERA, 16.8 K%, 9.8 BB%, 1.2 WAR
Likelihood of being dealt:

Tyler Anderson has made an All-Star team and posted a sub-3.00 ERA in two of the past three seasons despite below-average strikeout rates and so-so underlying metrics. He shouldn't be counted on at the top of any contender's rotation, but the soft-tossing southpaw is a solid mid-rotation option with a reasonably priced deal through 2025 and the Angels should be motivated to get what they can for him.

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50. Jordan Montgomery, LHP, Diamondbacks

Positional ranking: No. 16 SP
Age: 31
Contract status: Owed $8.3 million in 2024, then a player option for 2025
First-half stats: 6-5, 6.44 ERA, 15.1 K%, 7.7 BB%, 0.5 WAR
Likelihood of being dealt:

Like Blake Snell, Jordan Montgomery's regular season has been as much of a nightmare as his offseason. He's still a short time removed from being a Game 1 starter for a World Series winner, and the 2025 player option that maxes out at $25 million isn't inherently disqualifying for a player of his caliber. It's just tough to see someone pulling this specific lever now, especially with the Diamondbacks in the hunt and Montgomery out for most of the last month with knee inflammation.

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Marvin said:

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Wonder if France is even a thought as a situational bat to pair with Singleton? He has decent splits, right?

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agdaddy04 said:

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Mr.Bond said:

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Spaghetti needs to go...... period. Dudes not a major league pitcher

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I keep seeing this talked about on the board, but outside of a typical one bad inning per start, has he been that bad? He's been serviceable for sure and has shown signs of being good. 6 innings last night and w/o the error by Dubon he definitely pitched good enough to win. Even with giving up 4, I'd still have expected to score more with how many the Astros left on base.

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This is what @Joelsherman1 thinks the Orioles would have to give up to get Tarik Skubal and Jason Foley.

What do you think? pic.twitter.com/a9fNjcycAy

— MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) July 23, 2024

EastCoastAgNc said:

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This is what @Joelsherman1 thinks the Orioles would have to give up to get Tarik Skubal and Jason Foley.

What do you think? pic.twitter.com/a9fNjcycAy

— MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) July 23, 2024

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As the Astros reconfigure their bench, Chas McCormick’s struggles are magnified - https://t.co/31zbKFyPnX

— Chandler Rome (@Chandler_Rome) July 23, 2024

Farmer1906 said:

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Quick offseason talk, but could be relevant to the trade deadline.

Our luxury tax payroll is 256 M. If we assume no JV, Bregman, Pressly, & Graveman next year and factor in raises to Yordan & Javier, along with all the arbitration increases THEN our 2025 payroll should be around 233 M before adding anyone. The luxury tax threshold is 241 next year. Anyone we add who has multiple years of control needs to cost less than 8 M if we want to reset our tax without getting rid of anyone else (Montero!). That is just a quick estimate on my part. I wonder how Dana and Crane feel about being in the tax repeat years.

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BCEDAg said:

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Farmer1906 said:

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Quick offseason talk, but could be relevant to the trade deadline.

Our luxury tax payroll is 256 M. If we assume no JV, Bregman, Pressly, & Graveman next year and factor in raises to Yordan & Javier, along with all the arbitration increases THEN our 2025 payroll should be around 233 M before adding anyone. The luxury tax threshold is 241 next year. Anyone we add who has multiple years of control needs to cost less than 8 M if we want to reset our tax without getting rid of anyone else (Montero!). That is just a quick estimate on my part. I wonder how Dana and Crane feel about being in the tax repeat years.

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What is Graveman's status? Thought I read a few weeks ago he could be back in September?

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Lastly, righty Kendall Graveman tells Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle that he's not giving up hope of a late-season return following his January shoulder surgery. While Graveman acknowledged the possibility is "remote," he's midway through a throwing program and could begin throwing off a mound sometime in early August. He's currently throwing on flat ground from a distance of 90 feet.

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Farmer1906 said:

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EastCoastAgNc said:

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This is what @Joelsherman1 thinks the Orioles would have to give up to get Tarik Skubal and Jason Foley.

What do you think? pic.twitter.com/a9fNjcycAy

— MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) July 23, 2024

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That is an enormous asking price.

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redline248 said:

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1B with at least 200 PA at the position: Singleton is square in the middle, which as I said last night, is fine. However, why the team has refused to find an actual platoon for him vs LHP is a head scratcher. Is Aledmys cheaper than other guys that became available and have actually hit this year?



edit: sorry, min 140 PA, I think

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#Astros prospect Zach Dezenzo has been promoted to Triple-A. The 24-year-old had a .789 OPS with 16 HR, 18 SB in 85 Double-A games. #Relentless pic.twitter.com/9bgWdeDSpU

— Astros Future (@AstrosFuture) July 23, 2024

Farmer1906 said:

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#Astros prospect Zach Dezenzo has been promoted to Triple-A. The 24-year-old had a .789 OPS with 16 HR, 18 SB in 85 Double-A games. #Relentless pic.twitter.com/9bgWdeDSpU

— Astros Future (@AstrosFuture) July 23, 2024

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tylhair said:

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Propping him up as trade bait?

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tylhair said:

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Propping him up as trade bait?

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