MLB Trade Deadline: The 12 Best Players Contenders Could Target

Image credit: Tarik Skubal (Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images)

As teams gear up for a stretch run to the postseason, Tuesday’s MLB trade deadline looms large. Below is a closer look at 12 big leaguers who are getting buzz as potential targets.

More Trade Deadline Coverage

• 2024 MLB Trade Deadline Tracker
• How Many Top 100 Prospects Will Be Traded At The Deadline?
• Ranking MLB Teams With The Prospect Depth To Trade For Tarik Skubal Or Garrett Crochet
• Tiering All 499 MLB Prospects Traded At The Deadline Since 2015
• Who Made Our ‘All-Prospect’ MLB Trade Deadline Team From The Last Decade?

Noteworthy Trade Candidates

Garrett Crochet, LHP, Chicago White Sox

Crochet is one of the two most coveted starting pitchers on the market along with Tigers lefthander Tarik Skubal, and for good reason. Pull up Crochet’s Baseball Savant profile, and you’ll be seeing red. He’s also under team control through 2026. The White Sox moved Crochet to a starting role in 2024 despite no prior big league starting experience, and he responded by striking out 35.2% of batters compared to a 5.4% walk percentage through his first 20 starts. He attacks hitters with over seven feet of extension and a 97 mph fastball, upper-90s cutter, mid-80s sweeper and the occasional firm changeup. Crochet already has a 2022 Tommy John surgery on his ledger and will need to prove he can hold up in an expanded role, but he offers teams a frontline starter for years to come. 

Tarik Skubal, LHP, Detroit Tigers

No pitcher has produced more fWAR than Skubal (6.7 through July 22) since he returned last July from flexor tendon surgery. He has an electric upper-90s fastball that has topped out at 101 mph, and he pairs it with a mid-80s changeup that batters have missed nearly half the time this season. Skubal has worked to deepen and refine his pitch mix as a professional, also throwing a sinker, slider and curveball. That mix of ingredients resulted in Skubal’s first All-Star appearance this season, and he’s the favorite to win the American League Cy Young award as of late July. Skubal is under team control through 2026. 

Randy Arozarena, OF, Tampa Bay Rays

UPDATE: The Mariners acquired Arozarena on 7/26 for a pair of minor leaguers and a player to be named later

Landing Arozarena from the Cardinals in 2020 in a four-player deal that featured lefthander Matthew Liberatore now looks like a stroke of genius by the Rays. Will trading the 29-year-old outfielder with multiple years of team control remaining age the same way? Arozarena endured a woeful start to the season, but has reverted back to more typical production over the last two months. At his best, Arozarena is an above-average offensive performer capable of 20-20 production. His fWAR has hovered around 3-4 wins in each of his last three full seasons, even if advanced metrics don’t particularly love his defense in left field. Still, Arozarena has a lengthy track record of production, not to mention Playoff Randy’s career 1.104 OPS in the postseason.

Mason Miller, RHP, Oakland Athletics

The fireballing Miller, who turns 26 in August, emerged as a rookie phenom after settling into a high-leverage role at the back of Oakland’s bullpen. His fastball averages nearly 101 mph and has touched 104. He also has a deadly upper-80s slider, making for a combination that has been nearly unhittable all season. Miller ranks in the 100th percentile in expected ERA, batting average, fastball velocity, chase percentage, whiff percentage and strikeout percentage. He also has five more years of team control. Miller carries significant injury risk—he missed almost all of 2022 with a shoulder strain and sprained his UCL in 2023—that led Oakland to push him to the bullpen this year. Trying to value his combination of stuff, affordability and durability concerns creates a fascinating conundrum, but it’s clear he’s more valuable to a contender than an A’s team with a long way to go in their rebuild. 

Jazz Chisholm, CF/2B, Miami Marlins

UPDATE: The Yankees landed Chisholm in exchange for three prospects

Chisholm was already a buzzy name thanks to his youth and talent, and now a position switch from center field back to second base could stir the pot even more for the former All-Star. Despite some injury concerns and recent scuffles at the plate (.185 average in July), the 26-year-old provides both pop (13 home runs) and speed on the base paths (19 stolen bases). His whiff, strikeout and walk rates have all improved significantly from a year ago, too. Chisholm is arbitration-eligible again in 2025, meaning the Marlins will be keen to deal him before another spike in pay. Should he stick in the infield, Chisholm would provide added value on the trade market.

Isaac Paredes, 3B, Tampa Bay Rays

UPDATE: In a surprising deal, the Cubs acquired Paredes from the Rays in exchange for a package headlined by Christopher Morel.

Though his production has steadily slowed over the course of the season, Paredes is still Tampa Bay’s leader in home runs (16), RBIs (51), on-base percentage (.353) and fWAR (2.9). The perennially-competitive Rays haven’t been sellers in recent years, but it makes sense for them to try and move Paredes, who has three more years of arbitration eligibility coming up. If teams can get past the idea of being taken for a ride in another trade with the Rays, Paredes offers solid value. The 2024 All-Star is a big-time pull-hitter, and while his bat speed and exit velocities won’t drop any jaws, he hit 30 homers a year ago, and his .803 OPS will certainly play for a postseason hopeful.

Luis Robert, OF, Chicago White Sox

When healthy, Robert is the most talented hitter on the market. He has an impressive pedigree (BA’s No. 2 overall prospect in 2020) and prodigious power potential (38 home runs a year ago) that make him an appealing trade target. Add in a contract with team control options through 2027, and you have the makings of quite a return haul for the sell-now White Sox. An All-Star and Silver Slugger Award winner last year, Robert’s counting stats have been limited by a hip flexor injury so far in 2024. After missing two months on the IL, the 26-year-old returned to full-time play on June 4th, hitting .232 with nine home runs in 149 at bats. He’ll cost prospects and dollars—his salary jumps from $15 million to $20 million when those team options kick in—but Robert is a player with the star-studded upside for which it’s worth making a splash.

Yandy Diaz, 1B, Tampa Bay Rays

Another trade candidate whose Baseball Savant profile is painted red, Diaz’s deadline fortunes took an unexpected hit after being added to the restricted list on July 20 for personal reasons that Rays manager Kevin Cash described as “not disciplinary.” On the field, Diaz hasn’t quite replicated the breakout 2023 campaign in which he hit 22 home runs, totaled 5.0 fWAR and won the AL batting crown with a .330 average. Still, his offensive metrics are promising, highlighted by an average exit velocity of 92.5 mph and a sparklingly low whiff rate of 12.3 percent. His 160 hard-hit balls are also tied for fifth among MLB batters. Teams looking for a veteran bat with power to all fields and significant playoff experience will no doubt be interested in Diaz.

Tanner Scott, LHP, Miami Marlins

If teams find they’re being priced out of the Mason Miller trade negotiations, Scott could wind up being an appealing fallback. The 2024 all-star has posted sterling numbers out of the Marlins’ bullpen this season, headlined by a 1.27 ERA and 16 saves. Though he’s prone to issuing a few too many walks, the veteran reliever is one of the best in the big leagues this season at avoiding hard contact (28.9%), and he’s stranding base runners at nearly a career-high rate (82.1%). The Marlins appear to be leaning heavily into an “everything must go” mindset, and Scott will be one of their most sought after rental pieces. 

Cody Bellinger, 1B/OF, Chicago Cubs

Bellinger’s trade value was higher before a broken middle finger on his left hand led him to being added to the IL back on July 11. He has since resumed hitting and could be back on the field soon. When healthy, Bellinger, who is slashing .269/.331/.410, can still be a productive piece for a contender in need of a bat at first base or the outfield. Though he has homered only once since the start of June, the former MVP has a recent track record of getting hot down the stretch, as he mashed 17 home runs after the All-Star break last year. Bellinger is not the player he once was, but the Cubs will be sellers, and the veteran shouldn’t cost an arm and leg to acquire.

Brent Rooker, OF, Oakland Athletics

For those not accustomed to late nights spent grinding out A’s games on MLB.TV, the emergence of Rooker as one of baseball’s most productive hitters might come as a surprise. The trade deadline figures to change that, as competing teams are sure to come calling for one of the best bats on the market. After bouncing around several teams, Rooker found a full-time home in Oakland in 2023 and has taken advantage of the opportunity with 52 home runs, 136 RBIs and 5.3 fWAR over the past two seasons. He turns 30 this fall and figures to get big money in arbitration, but as a rental, Rooker’s pull-side power from the DH spot would be a major boon to any postseason hopeful.

Jack Flaherty, RHP, Detroit Tigers

Orioles fans will probably shake their heads at the idea of a team acquiring Flaherty at the deadline, but after struggling to the tune of a 6.75 ERA in just 34.2 innings last year following a trade from St. Louis to Baltimore, the talented righthander has rebuilt his stock with the Tigers in 2024. Flaherty doesn’t boast overpowering velocity, but has worked a highly-effective slider to the second highest K/9 in the American League this season (11.4) while dropping his walk rate below five percent (4.3). Signed to a 1-year “prove it” deal, Flaherty has been one of baseball’s best pitchers and is a fun redemption story. With last year’s post-deadline struggles in the rearview mirror, he is a productive, affordable option for teams looking to bolster a rotation down the stretch.

Additional Names To Monitor

Below, here are some teams outside of playoff contention with useful parts to spare at the deadline. 

Toronto Blue Jays

Recent reports seem to suggest the Blue Jays have more of an appetite to retool rather than orchestrate a full rebuild following a disappointing 2024 season. While that takes stars like Vlad Guerrero Jr. off the table, it brings players like 1B Justin Turner, LHP Yusei Kikuchi and perhaps even C Danny Jansen into play as useful veterans, among several options.  

Chicago White Sox

We covered Crochet and Robert above, but we’d expect RHP Erick Fedde and his 2.98 ERA to have a market as an inexpensive rotation option under team control through 2025. Andrew Vaughn is another player with multiple years of control remaining attached to White Sox trade rumors, although his value is a bit depressed right now. Outfielder Tommy Pham and SS Paul DeJong are other options for contenders looking to add on the margins. 

Los Angeles Angels

Among the Angels’ rental veterans, RHP Carlos Estevez could fetch the best return. The 31-year-old righty has 19 saves and could fit in a high-leverage role for a winning club. He isn’t missing as many bats as he did in 2023, but he’s walking fewer batters, and hitters haven’t enjoyed much success against his 96-mph heater so far. Luis Rengifo is another interesting option for a team—perhaps the Red Sox?—in need of middle infield help. 

Chicago Cubs 

Jed Hoyer indicated earlier this week that the Cubs may function as a seller and, at the very least, aren’t looking to add rentals for 2024. RHP Jameson Taillon is owed $18 million each of the next two seasons, but the 32-year-old may fit for a club with payroll flexibility seeking reliable mid-rotation innings. LHP Drew Smyly is another option that can provide lefthanded length out of a bullpen down the stretch. 

Cincinnati Reds 

The Reds haven’t quite lived up to expectations, partly due to injuries, but they still have a good young nucleus. They could function similarly to the Rays at the deadline as a team capable of simultaneously buying and selling. RHP Frankie Montas is an interesting option for another team seeking starting pitching help. He missed almost all of 2023 with a shoulder injury and appeared to be settling into a groove in June before a pair of recent clunkers. Still, his mid-90s velocity returned, and a contender could view him as a second half bounce-back candidate with the proper tweak or two. 

Colorado Rockies

Rockies 33-year-old catcher Elias Diaz seems like a clear trade candidate. Advanced metrics love his defense, and he makes plenty of contact, even if there isn’t a ton of power. His expiring contract should make him appealing, and he has been connected to the Yankees, Padres, Guardians and Pirates at various points this month.