3 Teams Who Need to Buy and 3 Who Need to Sell at the Trade Deadline
Who will control their destiny?
The 2024 Home Run Derby & All-Star game are over and we now enter the 2nd half of the MLB season. The next big event to unfold that fans look forward to is none other than the trade deadline! Here are the teams that I want to see be active at the deadline.
Honorable Mention Buyer
Yankees
It's boring to include them in this piece as this is an obvious choice, but I had to mention them. The time to win is now. The Yankees have Aaron Judge and need to win over Soto. What better way to do so than by winning a World Series title? Go and get some depth in the pitching department for the bullpen and maybe another starter. On top of those needs, the lineup needs reinforcements immediately. LeMahieu and Rizzo have been awful this season. Gleyber Torres and Alex Verdugo have been mid at best. If the Yankees are going to try and be serious contenders they need to make some major improvements to the hitting as Judge and Soto can’t carry the whole team and expect to win in October this year.
Names to Consider:
RHP Jack Flaherty
2B/OF Jazz Chisholm Jr.Â
UTIL Luis Rengifo
RHP Tanner Scott
RHP Mason Miller (I know this won’t happen)
Buyers
Orioles
This team is built to win now and for the next 10+ years. Why not make a few moves that give you the best odds to win this year and beyond? I keep saying that I want a mega deal between the White Sox and the Orioles to happen. Adding Luis Robert Jr. and Garrett Crochet to Baltimore’s roster would be a game-changer to the league and as a fan would love to see how that team would do in the playoffs. I am not saying have a fire sale on Jackson Holliday but due to the depth in the farm system, the Orioles can essentially go and get any piece they want over any other team in baseball right now. They have had a few arms go down and I think they can acquire an arm or two to make a serious run at a title.
Names to Consider:
LHP Garrett Crochet
OF Luis Robert Jr.Â
RHP Chris Bassitt
RHP Erick Fedde
RHP Frankie Montas
Braves
The Braves are another team like Baltimore set up to win now and for the future. Although the Braves do not have the farm system assets that Baltimore owns, I still think they can be effective at the deadline. They need outfield help which makes sense as they lost the reining MVP in Ronald Acuna. I could also see them adding another starter.Â
Names to Consider:
RHP Jack Flaherty
OF Jesse Winker
OF Miguel Andujar
OF Kevin Pillar
RHP Chris Bassitt
Twins
Minnesota is constantly shy of talent and health to make a serious post-season run. Byron Buxton is healthy…for now. Royce Lewis was just lost to the IL and the same with Jose Miranda. I think the Twins have put together a solid lineup even with those players missing between Castro, Santana, Correa, Kepler, Margot, Lee, Julien, and Larnach. They definitely could use another bat and a couple of arms
Names to Consider:
1B Pete Alonso
OF Miguel Andujar
RHP Cal Quantrill
UTIL Luis Rengifo
RHP Zach Eflin
Honorable Mention Seller
White Sox
No kidding? The White Sox MUST SELL EVERYTHING! This team’s core is just not there but the good news is that Chicago’s management has turned things around in its farm system and they are starting to amass a plethora of young talented arms like Noah Schultz, Drew Thorpe, Nick Nastrini, Jake Eder and Ky Bush. All of these arms are expected to be MLB-ready by 2025 except for Schultz who we may not see until 2026, time will tell. Maybe by that time, the lineup is somewhat competitive compared to what they are throwing out there now. If they decide to keep Robert Jr., they will have one player they can count on to hit in the middle of their lineup for 2025.
Players to Move:
LHP Garrett Crochet
RHP Erick Fedde
OF Luis Robert Jr. (highly unlikely)
OF Eloy Jimenez
OF Andrew Benintendi
Sellers
Mets
It is simply not the Mets' year. I do not care about the hopes of them making a Wild Card spot. There is not enough pitching depth in Queens to make a serious playoff run. The Mets have done a nice job of acquiring young talent and I think they should hold onto it and build for the future. Plus Francisco Alvarez looks like he might be the best catcher in baseball in a couple of years so you already have your main piece on the roster who is just 22 years old.Â
Players to Move:
OF Starling Marte (IL)
LHP Sean Manaea
LHP Jose Quintana
RHP Luis Severino
OF Harrison Bader
Rays
The Rays have nothing to prove this season. They just moved Aaron Civale to Milwaukee after just one season. Why not sell all tradable assets now and bolster the farm system to prepare for next year when they get their ace in Shane McClanahan back?
Players to Move:
RHP Zach Eflin
2B Brandon Lowe
3B Isaac Paredes
RHP Shawn Armstrong
SS Amed Rosario (if anyone wants to buy)
Marlins
Miami is a dumpster fire plain and simple. Get Eury Perez and Sandy Alcantara back to full health and build from there.Â
Players to Move:
2B/OF Jazz Chisholm Jr.Â
RHP Tanner Scott
1B Josh Bell
RHP J.T. Chargois
LHP Trevor Rogers