Major League Baseball front offices are on the clock.
With the 2024 MLB trade deadline just a few weeks away, time is running out for clubs hoping to make a final trade addition to their roster with a postseason ambitions.
Two aces moved teams before last year’s deadline, with Justin Verlander returning to the Houston Astros and Max Scherzer going to the eventual champion Texas Rangers. Could even more big names be on the way this year?
From the date to the top trade candidates, here’s what you need to know about the 2024 MLB trade deadline.
When is the MLB trade deadline?
The 2024 trade deadline is Tuesday, July 30th.
When is the MLB trade deadline?
The exact deadline for the transaction is July 30th at 6pm ET.
Who are the top traders at the MLB trade deadline?
Here are some of the top players. did it Players making moves before the deadline (players listed alphabetically by last name, full statistics through July 10):
Pete Alonso, first baseman, New York Mets
Contract Status: Free agency after the 2024 season
An Alonso trade seems less likely than it was in early June when the Mets were 11 games below .500. That’s because New York is now in the thick of the National League Wild Card race and FanGraphs projects the team to have a 40.4% chance of making the playoffs. So how the Mets perform at the deadline could determine whether Alonso is available.
The 29-year-old Alonso is set to become a free agent this offseason. A four-time All-Star and two-time Home Run Derby winner, he is batting .240/.320/.454 with 18 home runs and 48 RBIs.
Tyler Anderson, left-handed pitcher, Los Angeles Angels
Contract Status: He has one year, $13 million, remaining on his contract after the 2024 season.
Anderson, 34, has been a bright spot in yet another generally tough season in Anaheim. After struggling in his first season with the Angels, Anderson bounced back with a 2.81 ERA in 18 starts.
Randy Arozarena, outfielder, Tampa Bay Rays
Contract Status: Under club control until the 2026 season
Arozarena had the worst season of his career following his first All-Star appearance. The 29-year-old is batting just .203/.311/.360 with 11 home runs and 29 RBIs. The Rays, who have an 11.9% chance of making the postseason according to FanGraphs, are in no rush to trade Arozarena, who remains under team control for two more seasons beyond 2024.
Chris Bassitt, RHP, Toronto Blue Jays
Contract Status: He has one year, $22 million, remaining on his contract after the 2024 season.
The most interesting team at this year’s trade deadline may be the struggling Blue Jays. Toronto, a team with a very slim chance of making the playoffs, has several attractive trade candidates, including Bassitt, if they decide to sell. The 35-year-old right-hander boasts a sub-4.00 ERA (3.52), just as he has the past few seasons, but his WHIP has jumped to 1.44.
Cody Bellinger, outfielder, Chicago Cubs
Contract Status: He still has two years and $52.5 million remaining on his contract after 2024 (players can opt out after 2024).
The Cubs decided not to trade Bellinger at last year’s deadline and then signed him to a three-year, $80 million contract during the offseason, but Chicago now has another decision to make about the 2019 National League MVP.
Bellinger, who turns 29 this month, hasn’t quite played up to the level he did in 2023, hitting .269/.331/.410 with nine home runs and 37 RBI. He also has the right to opt out of the two years and $52.5 million remaining on his contract after 2024.
Bo Bichette, SS, Toronto Blue Jays
Contract Status: He has one year, worth $17.6 million, remaining on his contract after 2024.
Blue Jays general manager Ross Atkins said in early June that trading Bichette or Vladimir Guerrero Jr. “wouldn’t make sense.” But Toronto’s ongoing struggles have led to speculation that the team could move either of its cornerstone players before their contract years. Jon Heyman of the New York Post reported in late June that Toronto has “never come close” to long-term deals with the two stars in past negotiations.
“And people who know both players think the Blue Jays have very little chance of acquiring Bichette and a slight chance of acquiring Guerrero,” Heyman added.
The 26-year-old Bichette said in late June that he wouldn’t be “at all” surprised if he was traded before the deadline. The two-time All-Star is batting .222/.275/.321 with four homers and 30 RBIs this season, the worst of his career. This is the first season he has posted an OPS below .800.
Jazz Chisholm Jr., outfielder, Miami Marlins
Contract Status: Under club control until 2026
The Marlins were one of the most active buyers at last year’s deadline, but they could be one of the most active sellers this time around.
Jim Bowden of The Athletic surveyed dozens of team executives and identified the 26-year-old Chisholm as the position player most likely to be traded before the trade deadline. Chisholm has struggled in recent seasons with few playing opportunities, but he will miss just a few games in 2024. A one-time All-Star, Chisholm is batting .256/.325/.414 with 11 home runs and 41 RBIs. He has also improved against left-handed pitchers, with his OPS increasing from .479 last year to .716 in 2024.
Garrett Crochette, left-handed pitcher, Chicago White Sox
Contract Status: Under club control until 2026
This time last year, Crochette was a full-time relief pitcher recovering from Tommy John surgery. Now, the 25-year-old left-hander leads the entire major leagues in strikeouts (146) and has a 3.08 ERA and 0.97 WHIP in 19 starts.
USA Today’s Bob Nightingale reported in late June that the White Sox were looking to trade the former 11th overall pick because they were “not optimistic” about reaching a contract extension agreement.
Elias Diaz, C, Colorado Rockies
Contract Status: Free agency after the 2024 season
The Rockies didn’t move Diaz at last year’s deadline, but it would be a surprise if they did so again this year when the 2023 All-Star Game MVP heads towards free agency. The 33-year-old Diaz is having an even better season than his first All-Star year, batting .296/.340/.417 with five home runs and 30 RBIs.
Carlos Estevez, RHP, Los Angeles Angels
Contract Status: Free agency after the 2024 season
Estevez is one of the top options for teams looking to bolster their bullpen, as the 31-year-old right-hander has a 2.79 ERA and 16 saves in 19 appearances.
Jack Flaherty, RHP, Detroit Tigers
Contract Status: Free agency after the 2024 season
The Baltimore Orioles acquired Flaherty at the deadline last year, but the right-hander struggled late in the season with a 6.75 ERA in nine appearances, but the 28-year-old right-hander bounced back after signing a one-year, $14 million deal with Detroit, posting a 3.24 ERA and 1.00 WHIP in 15 appearances.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr., first baseman, Toronto Blue Jays
Contract Status: Under club control until the 2025 season
Unlike Bichette, Vlad Jr. has continued to perform well offensively this season. The 25-year-old four-time All-Star is batting .290/.364/.454 with 13 home runs and 52 RBIs. Even if Toronto keeps Guerrero and Bichette after July 30, they’re both set to become free agents in 2025.
Yusei Kikuchi, RHP, Toronto Blue Jays
Contract Status: Free agency after the 2024 season
Along with Tyler Anderson and Jack Flaherty, Kikuchi is another rental option for a team in need of rotation bolsters. The 33-year-old right-hander has a 4.00 ERA and 1.27 WHIP in 19 starts this season.
J.D. Martinez, DH, New York Mets
Contract Status: Free agency after the 2024 season
Alonso isn’t the only Mets slugger that rivals are keeping an eye on, as Martinez is showing no signs of slowing in his age-36 season, batting .264/.349/.463 with 10 homers and 37 RBIs.
Mason Miller, RHP, Oakland Athletics
Contract Status: Under club control until the 2029 season
Miller has quickly become one of the best bullpen pitchers in all of baseball. The powerhouse, who turns 26 next month, has converted 15 of 17 save opportunities and has a 2.33 ERA. His fastball averages 100.9 mph and is the best in the MLB, and he pairs it with an 87.4 mph slider. This lethal combination has seen him strike out 68 batters in 38.2 innings.
Miller also isn’t scheduled to become a free agent until 2030, so it would take a significant amount of money to pry him away from the Athletics.
Luis Robert Jr., outfielder, Chicago White Sox
Contract Status: He has three years and $55 million remaining on his contract after the 2024 season (with $20 million club options for 2026 and 2027).
Robert, like Chisholm, is a center fielder who has been limited by injuries, missing more than 150 games combined in 2021-2022 before playing in 145 games during his first All-Star season in 2023. Robert missed more than 50 games earlier this season with a right hip flexor injury, an injury he also suffered in 2021.
While Robert’s health may be a concern, his ability as a hitter is not. Robert, who turns 27 next month, is a career .274/.324/.500 batting average with 38 home runs in 2023. This year, in 40 games, he is batting .220/.295/.493 with 11 home runs and 21 RBIs.
Nightingale reported earlier this month that rival general managers were skeptical that any team would be willing to pay the large fee Chicago would ask for Robert.
Brent Rooker, DH/OF, Oakland Athletics
Contract Status: Under club control until the 2027 season
Rooker is proving that his All-Star season in 2023 was no exception. The 29-year-old slugger is batting .282/.362/.544 with 18 home runs, 17 doubles and 55 RBIs. Rooker may not be the best fielder, but he can certainly hit the ball hard.
It would also make sense for the Athletics to offer a premium price for Rooker, who remains under franchise control for three more seasons beyond 2024.
Tanner Scott, left-handed pitcher, Miami Marlins
Contract Status: Free agency after the 2024 season
The Marlins closer continues to have a strong season in 2023. Scott, who turns 30 later this month, has posted a 1.42 ERA in 37 games. The first-time All-Star selection struck out 42 batters and converted 13 of his 15 save opportunities.
Jesse Winker, outfielder, Washington Nationals
Contract Status: Free agency after the 2024 season
Winker, who turns 31 next month, has rediscovered the form he showed early in his career with the Cincinnati Reds. After struggling seasons with the Seattle Mariners and Milwaukee Brewers, he joined the Nationals last offseason on a one-year, $1.5 million contract, and he’s more than lived up to his promise. Winker is batting .264/.379/.430 with 10 homers and 41 RBIs.
Kirby Yates, RHP, Texas Rangers
Contract Status: Free agency after the 2024 season
It’s fair to say this isn’t the type of title defense the Rangers envisioned: Texas remains in playoff contention, but the defending champions have just a 9.6% chance of making the playoffs, according to FanGraphs.
If the Rangers decide to sell, they could acquire Yates, one of the best rental bullpen pitchers on the trade market. The 37-year-old Yates signed with Texas in the offseason for one year, $4.5 million, and has posted a career-best 0.84 ERA in 32 games since, striking out 45 batters faced and earning no saves in 14 save opportunities.
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