The MLB trade deadline is two weeks away on August third at 6 p.m. ET. The postseason picture has never been more muddled than it is right now, where we are seeing teams like the Boston Red Sox or the Baltimore Orioles that seemed dead in the water become real threats in the American League.
Is it a fluke? Is it real? Only time will tell, but it’s making the team believe, and all of a sudden both have gone from sellers at the deadline to buyers. That leaves just a few teams that are clear sellers at the deadline, and three of them could control the entire deadline if they decide to pull a 2025 Twins and tear down.
Three teams that can change the MLB trade deadline
New York Mets
The Mets have been one of the biggest disappointments probably in baseball history. The Mets came into the season with the third-best odds in the National League (6.0%) to win the World Series according to FanGraphs. Now, they sit in the basement in the division and have the second-worst record in the NL, only behind the Rockies.
The Mets do have pieces that they could move. Freddy Peralta is firmly expected to be moved at the deadline. While Peralta has not had the best of seasons, starting pitching around the league is coveted, and Peralta should net a decent enough return.
The Mets will certainly move their relief corps of Brooks Raley and AJ Minter and could look to move Luke Weaver, whom they signed this offseason and turned into one of the league’s best setup relievers. Weaver would give the Mets the biggest return of anyone but could be someone they hold on to, looking to compete in 2027.
The Mets are not expected to move Fransisco Lindor, though the team will listen to offers. The same with Bo Bichette, who owns a no-trade clause and has a complicated contract to move. The Mets could move Clay Holmes, though reports are that he will begin extension talks with the team over the coming days.
The Mets have an opportunity to make some big noise at the deadline and make their future brighter if they bring the right prospects back for their assets.
San Francisco Giants
After firing Bob Melvin in favor of the first NCAA coach to plunge into managing Tony Vitello in the offseason, the Giants had some sort of expectations. They started 3-0 and never recovered and could be one of the bigger sellers at the deadline.
The Giants have already begun the sell-off, trading catcher Patrick Bailey to the Guardians in May, but now Buster Posey and his staff have a lot of heavy lifting to do. With the bloated contracts of Matt Chapman, Rafael Devers, and Willy Adames on the books, the Giants will look to move some other options with teams unlikely to bid on those players due to the money.
Two of the most likely players that might be moved by the Giants at this deadline will be Luis Arraez and Jung Hoo Lee. Both players are putting up solid offensive seasons and could contribute to another roster in a positive way. Another player that is almost a certainty to be moved is lefty pitcher Robbie Ray. Ray has not had his best season thus far, but Ray is a veteran starter who will come with experience and log innings, which certainly has value.
The one thing the Giants lack that the market likes is solid relief pitching. Their bullpen ranks 26th in baseball in fWAR, -0.3 this season. Their bullpen has posted a losing record this season and on the whole just does not have names that big-time contenders are going to be all in on.
Los Angeles Angels
MLB’s most dysfunctional team has some pieces that could be moved to other teams. With the surprise firing of Perry Minasian last month, John Mozeliak has taken over the Angels’ baseball operations, and he and Molly Jolly will look to now start a retool.
The best thing the Angels could do for the future of their team is completely tear the roster apart and start new. Getting back a lot of capital at the deadline would be in the best interest, and it seems that owner Arte Moreno has given the green light to move the likes of Reid Detmers and Jose Soriano. Both starters have multiple years of control and would net huge returns because teams in rebuilds but are contenders, like the White Sox or Nationals, are teams that would fit.
The Angels could also explore moving players on the position side. Outfielder Jo Adell, Jorge Soler, and even catcher Logan O’Hoppe could be players the Angels move that would net a big return. The Angels need prospects, and those players could bring some solid ones in because of how valuable the players are to other teams, and the teams that would be bidding are going to be the big contenders.
Main Image Credit: Benny Sieu-Imagn Images
