The MLB trade deadline is a little more than six weeks away and every team knows their biggest needs by now, subject to change based on future injuries and/or performance. This type of information is critical as teams begin to engage in trade talks. Once front office leaders know exactly what the other teams need the most, it’s easier to find out which teams are the best trade fits for them.
Most years, the biggest focus of the trade deadline is which teams are the buyers (contenders) and which ones are the sellers (non-contenders). However, this year, only the San Francisco Giants and Colorado Rockies are truly out of the race, so it’s probably safe to say that most trades made will be between two teams with some path to the postseason.
Deals don’t generally happen overnight. It takes time for clubs to assess what each team is looking for and what surpluses exist so that the groundwork for a deal can be laid. Understanding what each team needs is usually the first step.
I contacted all 30 clubs over the weekend to get their most pressing needs and here is what I found out.
National League East
Atlanta Braves
Needs: Starting pitching; another hitter
The recent Spencer Strider injury news has pushed the Braves’ need for starting pitching to the front of the line, with another hitter being a secondary need. In terms of a bat, left field or shortstop are likely their two target areas.
Adolis García’s injury leaves a big void for the Phillies in right field. (Chris Young / The Canadian Press via Associated Press)
Philadelphia Phillies
Need: Outfielder
Acquiring another outfielder is the Phillies’ top priority after the significant injury to Adolis García. Although fans would love to see a Mike Trout trade, that seems extremely unlikely at this point due to his contract and the historical unwillingness of Angels ownership to trade their superstars.
Washington Nationals
Need: Bullpen arms
Relief pitching will be the Nationals’ top trade target. They lead the major leagues in runs scored and they’re happy with the performances of Cade Cavalli, Foster Griffin, Zack Littell and Miles Mikolas in starting and/or bulk roles. Acquiring multiple relievers to piece together the backend of games is their strategy.
Miami Marlins
Need: More offense
The Marlins continue to have hitters at the top of their trade target list and are willing to trade from their strong cabinet of pitching prospects to get more bats. If they fall out of the race, look for them to deal veteran starter Sandy Alcantara for multiple hitting prospects.
New York Mets
Needs: More offense; better health
The Mets are hoping the return of Francisco Lindor will help them score more runs. The lack of offensive consistency is their biggest concern right now. Having to deal with the extended injuries of Lindor, Jorge Polanco and Luis Robert Jr. has cost them. Trading for more offense in addition to getting Lindor back is on their checklist of things to do.
National League Central
Milwaukee Brewers
Needs: Bullpen; another bat
The Brewers are clearly the team to beat in the NL Central and most of their needs can be solved by just texting their farm system and promoting the next prospect. However, they believe that the bullpen is their biggest need and another big bat is their secondary one.
St. Louis Cardinals
Need: Pitching
The Cardinals have been the biggest surprise team in the NL, and they believe that their biggest needs are on the pitching side — both starting and relieving. They think many of their pitching needs can be filled through promoting prospects. That said, if they stay in the race, they’ll be a threat for one of the starting pitchers on the market.
Defense has been an issue for the Pirates this season. (John E. Sokolowski / Imagn Images)
Pittsburgh Pirates
Needs: Bullpen; better defenders
The Pirates are concentrating on improving their run prevention and that includes improvements to both their defense and bullpen quality and depth. The Pirates believe they have some internal solutions but are open-minded to trades, as well.
Chicago Cubs
Need: Starting pitching
The Cubs have made it clear to opposing front offices that trading for starting pitching is their top priority and they’ve been making those calls and texts for weeks. They have a strong enough roster at both the major- and minor-leagues levels to make another significant trade between now and the deadline similar to their offseason deal for Edward Cabrera. If only their rotation could have stayed healthy.
Cincinnati Reds
Need: Bullpen
The Reds are focused on improving their bullpen and have significant minor-league infield depth to make that happen. They prefer to trade for relievers with control beyond this year rather than rentals, if possible.
National League West
Los Angeles Dodgers
Need: Better health
When I reached out to the Dodgers, they responded “just get healthy” and I’m actually in agreement. They really have no obvious needs. If they can get Blake Snell, Tyler Glasnow and Edwin Díaz all back at some point, they still have the best team in the sport. However, don’t count them out if the Tigers deal Tarik Skubal.
San Diego Padres
Needs: Pitching; outfielders; left-handed hitters; catchers
The Padres are all over the place. They continue to search for starting pitching upgrades, corner outfield help, left-handed power bats and more catching, like they always do. San Diego will be opportunistic any way that it can to get better and make yet another playoff push.
Many of the recent Diamondbacks to be promoted from the minor leagues are right-handed. They could use some left-handed balance in their lineup. (Christian Petersen / Getty Images)
Arizona Diamondbacks
Needs: Left-handed power; bullpen
General manager Mike Hazen has made it clear to teams that Arizona’s biggest needs are a left-handed power bat and more bullpen help. Almost all of their prospects recently promoted to the big leagues have been right-handed hitters, so if the Diamondbacks can swap one of their right-handed hitters for a left-handed bat and then add a few bullpen arms, they think they can stay in the wild-card race all season.
San Francisco Giants
Need: Trades to get younger
The Giants are probably going to be sellers at this point, with left-hander Robbie Ray the most likely to be dealt. However, they’ll likely listen on most of their veteran players and could be an intriguing team to watch on the trade front.
Colorado Rockies
Need: Trading bullpen arms to improve depth
The Rockies will be sellers at this year’s deadline, but they don’t have a lot to sell outside of catcher Hunter Goodman, who they’re not planning on dealing. Therefore, the most sought-after Rockies could end up coming from their bullpen, with pitchers such as Antonio Senzatela and Seth Halvorsen generating the most interest from other teams.
American League East
New York Yankees
Needs: Bullpen; right-handed hitting catcher
The Yankees bullpen has been great this year, but that’s an area they’re still going to try to improve on. One potential upgrade could come from their own farm system with Carlos Lagrange and his 100-mph fastball.
They also have been searching for a right-handed hitting catcher, with the Twins’ Ryan Jeffers being a name that’s been bandied about. They’d love to be able to find a way to trade for Adley Rutschman of the Orioles, but a blockbuster like that is unlikely. Other possibilities include Keibert Ruiz of the Nationals and Agustín Ramírez of the Marlins.
The Yankees will also be monitoring infield prospect George Lombard Jr., who could be a left side of the infield upgrade in August and September. I’d like to see them get one more right-handed power bat, as well.
Tampa Bay Rays
Needs: Outfield; bullpen; top starter
The Rays’ top trade priority is an impact position player, preferably an outfielder. They’re also looking to upgrade their bullpen and, like all contending teams, are looking for an impact arm. Don’t be surprised if they’re stealth players on the top starting pitchers who are moved at this year’s deadline.
Getting Shane Bieber back in the mix will help the Blue Jays make a run. (Megan Briggs / Getty Images)
Toronto Blue Jays
Needs: Get healthy; pitching; outfield bat
The Blue Jays just want to get healthy, as they have not been at full strength all season and they believe once they are that they’ll be right back in the race. They just got catcher Alejandro Kirk back and they hope to get Shane Bieber back next, as he is presently on a rehab assignment. More pitching and an outfield bat are the two biggest needs besides getting healthy.
Baltimore Orioles
Need: Starting pitching
The Orioles have made it clear to opposing front offices that starting pitching continues to be their top priority in all trade discussions. They certainly have enough position players in the minors and majors to dangle. They’ll be an interesting team to monitor during this trade season, as they are operating with a real sense of urgency.
Boston Red Sox
Need: Offense
The Red Sox are looking for offense in all of their trade discussions at this point and are open-minded in terms of what they have to deal.
If they don’t legitimately jump back into the race between now and the end of July, however, they could become one of the trade deadline’s best sellers. With a starting pitcher like Sonny Gray, a closer like Aroldis Chapman and an outfielder like either Jarren Duran or Wilyer Abreu, they could make significant deals to rebuild the organization.
American League Central
Chicago White Sox
Need: Starting pitching
The White Sox were the only AL team to lose 100 games last year, going 60-102, and now they’re the best story in baseball. They have the position player core to be perennial contenders. When they are all healthy, Munetaka Murakami, Colson Montgomery, Braden Montgomery, Miguel Vargas and Kyle Teel are a strong core and they have gamers and grinders surrounding them like second baseman Chase Meidroth and left fielder Sam Antonacci. Starter Davis Martin should make the All-Star team.
If they stay in the race, GM Chris Getz is prepared to be a buyer, with starting pitching being his top target.
Even when José Ramírez and Angel Martínez return from the injured list, the Guardians will need another power bat. (Ishika Samant / Getty Images)
Cleveland Guardians
Need: Power bat
The Guardians ideally need another impact power bat with first base or designated hitter the most logical spots. If the Astros decide to trade first baseman Christian Walker, Cleveland would be the perfect fit in a deal.
Detroit Tigers
Need: Get healthy
The Tigers’ biggest need is to just get healthy, as they’ve had 27 players on the injured list on their 40-man roster this year. With Tarik Skubal back, the Tigers front office will give this team right up to the trade deadline to see what it can do when healthy. If they don’t get back in the race by Aug. 3, then Skubal will be the biggest name to watch as the deadline approaches. In the meantime, they’re trusting and believing in this roster.
Minnesota Twins
Need: Bullpen
The Twins are searching for bullpen help and believe if they can keep their star players like Byron Buxton and Royce Lewis healthy that they can stay in the race all season.
Kansas City Royals
Need: Offense
The Royals have been one of the most disappointing teams in baseball as they just don’t have the offense to compete on a nightly basis. If they can’t acquire bats and turn things around, then they could become sellers at the deadline with veteran starters Michael Wacha and Seth Lugo their most valuable trade bait. In the meantime, they hope young players like Jac Caglianone and Carter Jensen can continue to develop into future core players to go along with Bobby Witt Jr. and Maikel Garcia.
American League West
Seattle Mariners
Need: Get healthy; backend bullpen arm
The Mariners believe that health is their most important need, which makes sense when you consider last year’s runner-up for the AL MVP, Cal Raleigh, hit just .161 before landing on the IL with an oblique strain and may have been hurt all season. He and J.P. Crawford are now back from the IL and relievers Matt Brash and Gabe Speier should return at some point this season. If all of them can get back on track, the Mariners should be able to win the AL West.
They also have two elite pitching prospects in southpaw Kade Anderson and right-hander Ryan Sloan, both of whom could help them down the stretch if needed. Promoting prospects can have more impact than trades.
Andrés Muñoz’s slow start could leave the Mariners in need of a backend reliever. (Steph Chambers / Getty Images)
That being said, if closer Andrés Muñoz doesn’t turn things around soon, don’t be surprised if the Mariners make a run for another proven closer like the Red Sox’s Aroldis Chapman.
Texas Rangers
Needs: Offense; bullpen
The Rangers are looking to trade to improve their offensive production and as always are looking for more high-leverage bullpen arms. Expect the Rangers to be aggressive at the trade deadline.
Athletics
Need: Pitching
The Athletics are targeting pitching, pitching and more pitching and rightfully so, with both starting and relief pitching their biggest needs and biggest obstacles for making the playoffs this year.
Houston Astros
Need: Left-handed power bat; bullpen
The Astros are searching for a left-handed hitting outfielder with pop to improve and better balance their lineup. They’re also targeting more bullpen quality and depth.
Los Angeles Angels
Needs: Trade assets
The Angels did not respond to my text or phone call when I inquired, so I don’t have a line to their current thinking. In my opinion, they should clearly be sellers and should be open-minded to every trade opportunity to help this team improve for the long-term. There should be no untouchables.
