This year’s trade deadline had been quiet, which was understandable with so few sellers in the market, but Wednesday there were signs of life. So what are the next dominoes to fall after yesterday’s Shohei Ohtani news, the Lucas Giolito trade, and the Guardians-Dodgers swap of Amed Rosario for Noah Syndergaard?
Advertisement
Let’s have some fun and look at some “buyer-to-buyer” type trades, a prospect-for-prospect proposal and then some more normal “buyer-seller” transactions in this anything but normal trade season. Here are six trades I’d like to see happen in the coming days. How about you?
Buyer to buyer
Mariners trade RHP Bryce Miller to Reds for 2B Jonathan India
The Mariners appear set to buy and sell at the deadline. They need to improve their offense, and India would provide power and speed to their lineup. He’s under team control through 2026 and will be eligible for arbitration before next season. India has slashed .251/.336/.410 this year with 14 home runs and 12 stolen bases. He won the National League Rookie of the Year Award in 2021 when he hit 21 home runs, drove in 69 runs and stole 12 bases. He is a high-energy, positive clubhouse presence.
The Reds need another young, controllable starter, and Miller fits the mold. He is 7-3 with a 3.96 ERA in 14 starts in his rookie season. He was a fourth-round pick in the 2021 MLB Draft. The 24-year-old righty has a mid-90s fastball and a hard slider (his best secondary pitch), and he mixes in a curveball and changeup.
Marlins trade RHP Edward Cabrera to Orioles for INF Jordan Westburg
In this proposed deal, the Orioles acquire a young, up-and-coming starter for their rotation while the Marlins improve their lineup with a young bat who provides positional versatility in the infield. Both teams fill a glaring need.
Adding Cabrera could help the Orioles now and in the future. The 25-year-old righty won’t be eligible for free agency until after the 2028 season. He has posted a 4.74 ERA in 16 starts this year, with an impressive 90 strikeouts but also 46 walks in 74 innings. He’s allowed four runs in seven innings in his two starts since returning from a stint on the injured list with a shoulder injury. In four of his past five starts, he’s given up three runs or fewer, and in three of them, he’s allowed one run or fewer.
Advertisement
In Westburg, the Marlins would get a much-needed bat and an infielder who can play second base, shortstop and third base. A first-round pick in the 2020 draft, Westburg slashed .295/.372/.567 at Triple A this season with 15 doubles, 18 home runs, 54 RBIs and six steals before being promoted to the majors in late June. The Orioles’ abundant infield depth would allow them to make a trade of this magnitude to bolster their pitching staff.
Prospect for prospect
Brewers trade OF Garrett Mitchell to A’s for 1B Tyler Soderstrom
The Brewers need a long-term solution at first base, preferably a left-handed hitter with 20- to 30-home run power, and Soderstom, a first-round pick in 2020, would be the perfect fit. Last year in the minors, the 21-year-old slashed .267/.324/.501 with 21 doubles, 29 home runs and 105 RBIs across three different levels. This year, he had already hit 20 home runs at Triple A when the A’s summoned him to the major leagues after the All-Star break.
In return, the A’s would get Mitchell, who is another first-rounder from the 2020 draft. The 24-year-old outfielder is on the injured list and working his way back after undergoing shoulder surgery in May. He is extremely athletic and can beat you with his speed, defense and range. But the Brewers could contemplate moving Mitchell because they also have outfielder Jackson Chourio, one of the game’s top prospects, on the way, and their outfield is currently set with Christian Yelich in left, Joey Wiemer in center and Sal Frelick in right.
Sellers selling, buyers buying
Nationals trade 3B Jeimer Candelario and OF Lane Thomas to Yankees for a package of four prospects
The Yankees need to improve their offense at third base and in left field, and this trade with the Nationals would address both areas in one fell swoop. An impending free agent, Candelario, 29, is having perhaps the best year of his career as he’s slashed .256/.336/.483 with 16 home runs and 52 RBIs. He has posted a 127 OPS+ and been worth 3.0 WAR, according to Baseball Reference. Thomas, 27, should have represented the Nationals in the All-Star Game as he’s having a breakout season, slashing .293/.341/.486 with 16 homers and 54 RBIs. He has logged a 130 OPS+ to go with 3.5 WAR and is under team control through 2025.
In return, the Nationals would receive four prospects, including pitchers Richard Fitts (a 23-year-old who’s at Double A) and Chase Hampton (21, Double A), outfielder Anthony Hall (22, Low A, currently on the IL) and shortstop Roderick Arias (18, rookie ball). A strong package of prospects that the Nationals can afford to wait on as their rebuild progresses.
Advertisement
The Yankees “win” this deal short term and the Nationals win it long term.
Cubs trade CF Cody Bellinger to Phillies for OF Gabriel Rincones Jr. and OF Carlos De La Cruz
The Cubs are hot, so perhaps they buy, but let’s still consider a selling option. Bellinger is the front-runner for NL Comeback Player of the Year. He’s having a resurgence this season on the North Side of Chicago, slashing .314/.360/.545 with 15 home runs, 12 stolen bases and a 141 OPS+. He plays above-average defense at several positions and would fit nicely on the Phillies as he could share first base, left field and DH with Bryce Harper and Kyle Schwarber. He would be the final position piece needed for the Phillies to get back to the playoffs.
Yes, the Cubs are only 6 games back in the division and 4 1/2 back in the wild-card race, but Bellinger is going to be an expensive free agent, and in the long term, one could argue Chicago is better off trading him now and then trying to re-sign him in the offseason. (If they don’t trade Bellinger, they could make him a qualifying offer after the season and receive draft-pick compensation should he sign elsewhere in free agency.) In this trade proposal, the Cubs would strengthen their farm system by adding two legitimate outfield prospects. A third-round pick in the 2022 draft, Rincones has a .357 on-base percentage this season between Low A and High A. De La Cruz has hit 18 homers and posted an .855 OPS at Double A. Earlier this season, the 23-year-old put together a 38-game on-base streak. The Cubs arguably have their future center fielder in their farm system in Pete Crow-Armstrong, who is a plus-plus defender in center, and they could promote him from Double A to replace Bellinger for the rest of the season.
Cardinals trade LHP Jordan Montgomery to Diamondbacks for RHP Dylan Ray and OF Wilderd Patiño
Montgomery would be an excellent acquisition for the Diamondbacks, who really need another veteran starting pitcher. The 30-year-old lefty has posted a 3.37 ERA in 20 starts, with 105 strikeouts in 115 innings. He’s been worth 2.1 WAR and will be a free agent after this season.
Ray, 22, was a fourth-round pick in the 2022 draft out of the University of Alabama. He’s logged a 4.11 ERA and a 1.161 WHIP in 16 starts this season at High A, with 86 strikeouts in 72 1/3 innings. Patiño, 21, profiles as a table-setter with blazing speed. He stole 67 bases in the minors last year and has already swiped 41 this year. He’s slashed a combined .259/.379/.344 this season with 12 doubles between rookie ball and High A.
GO DEEPER
MLB trade deadline cheat sheet: What to watch for all 30 teams and top targets by position
GO DEEPER
MLB trade deadline Q&A: Bowden on buyers, sellers, scenarios and the latest buzz
GO DEEPER
Braves trade scenarios: Jim Bowden assesses 4 proposals to help fill key needs
(Photo of Lane Thomas: Brad Mills / USA Today)
