The MLB trade deadline is approaching fast, occurring July 31st at 4PM eastern. It can be hard to keep track of who has moved and who is still available. It can be difficult to find a list of who is available, and more so who is likely to be moved. A common theme you’ll notice throughout the article is the emergence of the same teams having players available. This usually happens every year, as certain teams start selling, and the majority of their players get mentioned in rumors. There will be players who are traded that aren’t on this list as well, as it would turn into a novel if we were to list them all.
Not all of these players are going to be traded, but all of them have been mentioned in rumors. Some of them are much higher profile, and aren’t likely to be traded. This doesn’t mean they won’t be, which is why they are being included. Although we won’t be providing explanations for all of the players listed, this should help you keep an eye out for certain players who may be moved within the next 24 hours and counting. That being said, here are some potential deadline acquisitions at the 2018 trade deadline to watch for.
Potential Deadline Acquisitions At the 2018 MLB Trade Deadline
Catcher
Wilson Ramos – Tampa Bay Rays – 30 years old
J.T. Realmuto – Miami Marlins – 27 years old
A.J. Ellis – San Diego Padres – 37 years old
Realmuto is the least likely to be traded, although Derek Jeter and the Marlins shouldn’t ever be counted out. The Rays have never been shy about trading in the past, and could look to get a nice return on Ramos. Ellis would be a great fill-in for the remainder of the year, and any prospect in return would be worth it for the Padres.
First Base
Justin Smoak – Toronto Blue Jays – 31
Justin Bour – Miami Marlins – 30
Jose Abreu – Chicago White Sox – 31
Jose Abreu could easily be moved by the White Sox if they continue to embrace the rebuild. Abreu is also unlikely to be an impact player by the time the team builds enough talent to compete. If the team truly is looking towards the future, they could find a few decent level prospects in return.
Second Base
Scooter Gennett – Cincinnati Reds – 28
Whit Merrifield – Kansas City Royals – 29
Jonathan Schoop – Baltimore Orioles – 26
Merrifield has turned into a fantastic asset, showing ability to play multiple positions. Although Royals GM Dayton Moore stated he wouldn’t be traded, a good enough offer could easily sway him. The Reds are actively looking to offload Gennett, who is currently top ten in the national league in home runs and RBI. A team looking for a solid second baseman for the next five years could scoop up Gennett if they provide a reasonable offer. Jonathan Schoop is less likely to move than Gennett, but is still on the block. The Orioles are a long way from competing in the AL East, so keep an eye on Schoop to be in a new locale.
Third Base
Todd Frazier – New York Mets – 32
Adrian Beltre – Texas Rangers – 39
Beltre is nearing the end of his career, but could be a worthy asset for any playoff team. The power and the eye are slowly fading, but with a .292 average, he is showing he can still hit. The arm isn’t what it once was either, but he still has one of the stronger arms of any 3rd baseman.
Shortstop
Elvis Andrus – Texas Rangers – 29
Jordy Mercer – Pittsburgh Pirates – 31
Pittsburgh is still caught in the decision of becoming buyers or sellers. The likelihood is they will start trading their guys to restock the team. If that happens, look for Mercer to move. Normally pretty solid with his glove work, it has slipped a bit this season. If a team is willing to take Andrus’ salary of nearly $75 million over the next five years, he can easily be had. The question becomes, will he continue to produce and be worth the price.
Outfield
Cameron Maybin – Miami Marlins – 31
Carlos Gomez – Tampa Bay Rays – 32
Mark Trumbo – Baltimore Orioles – 32
Scott Schebler – Cincinnati Reds – 27
Adam Jones – Baltimore Orioles – 32
Starling Marte – Pittsburgh Pirates – 29
Corey Dickerson – Pittsburgh Pirates – 29
Adam Jones could easily be moved for the same reason as Jose Abreu. He isn’t likely to be impactful the next time the team is good. The Orioles could net a decent return, as Jones is still a good player. One of the two Pirates outfielders are likely to move. Marte was suspended in 2017, whereas Dickerson was DFA after an all-star season with the Rays. Both players are having a good season, and could earn some nice prospects from any interested parties.
Starting Pitcher
Jacob deGrom – New York Mets – 30
Tyson Ross – San Diego Padres – 31
Matt Harvey – Cincinnati Reds – 29
Zack Wheeler – New York Mets – 28
Lance Lynn – Minnesota Twins – 31
Jake Odorizzi – Minnesota Twins – 28
Michael Fulmer – Detroit Tigers – 25
Noah Syndergaard – New York Mets – 25
Chris Archer – Tampa Bay Rays – 29
DeGrom has been one of the best pitchers in baseball recently, and could get the Mets some solid prospects as a result. Harvey and Wheeler both sound likely to be traded. Lynn and Odorizzi could be obtained from the Twins as rentals, both being on one year deals. The trio of Fulmer, Syndergaard, and Archer aren’t likely to be moved. If they are, they could get some incredible return for their teams, and would likely be the right move going forward.
Relief Pitcher
Jeurys Familia – New York Mets – 28
Raisel Iglesias – Cincinnati Reds – 28
Felipe Vazquez – Pittsburgh Pirates – 27
Tyler Clippard – Toronto Blue Jays – 30
John Axford – Toronto Blue Jays – 35
Jake Petricka – Toronto Blue Jays – 30
Roberto Osuna – Toronto Blue Jays – 23
Craig Stammen – San Diego Padres – 34
Jared Hughes – Cincinnati Reds – 33
David Hernandez – Cincinnati Reds – 33
There are a multitude of relievers to be had across the league. This list keeps the number at the ten we think are likely to move. The Blue Jays are trying to offload anyone in their bullpen, and have already traded Seunghwan Oh. If a team is willing to part with a good enough prospect, impact arms are available for the bullpen this year.
The Last Word
Whether a team decides to buy or sell, almost every MLB team is going to make a deadline move. Some of the teams that continuously pop up in this list are building towards the future. Others that continue to pop-up in the rumors are making a race for October. As the deadline nears, these team’s paths continue to become clearer. As a fan, after reading this list, hopefully your idea of the deadline becomes clearer as well.
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