Final Blockbuster Trade Predictions for 2024 MLB Deadline Day
Final Blockbuster Trade Predictions for 2024 MLB Deadline Day0 of 6
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The 2024 MLB trade deadline has arrived!
Teams have until 6 p.m. ET Tuesday to finalize any deals. With no more August waiver-trade window, this is the last opportunity for contenders to put the finishing touches on their rosters for the stretch run.
There has already been a flurry of activity the past few days, with high-profile trade candidates like Jazz Chisholm Jr. (MIA to NYY), Isaac Paredes (TB to CHC), Zach Eflin (TB to BAL), Randy Arozarena (TB to SEA) and several others already finding new homes.
Despite several of the market’s top dominoes already falling, there is still plenty of wheeling and dealing on tap for deadline day. Ahead, you’ll find one final round of predictions for the biggest deals that could still go down.
These are not the only trades we are expecting to see Tuesday, so don’t feel slighted if your team doesn’t get in on the action here, but these are the biggest moves we’re predicting will go down.
Quick-Hit Predictions1 of 6
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Here are a few other quick-hit predictions before we dive into some more fully formed trade proposals:
C Elias DÃaz from Colorado Rockies to Pittsburgh Pirates: The Pirates might not be ready to make a legitimate playoff push this season, but a soft buy at the deadline would be a nice show of confidence by the front office. The final two months could be used to see how DÃaz meshes with the pitching staff, and if it’s a good fit, a new deal in free agency could make sense for both sides.RHP Dylan Floro from Washington Nationals to Minnesota Twins: The Twins need a starting pitcher, but they could also be on the hunt for bullpen help with a relief corps that ranks 13th in the majors with a 3.75 ERA. Floro is a low-cost rental who has a 2.06 ERA in 51 appearances playing on a one-year, $2.25 million deal.OF Kevin Pillar from Los Angeles Angels to St. Louis Cardinals: The Cardinals rank 29th in the majors with a .633 OPS against left-handed pitching. Pillar is hitting .375/.416/.625 with 11 extra-base hits in 77 plate appearances against southpaws, and he can handle all three outfield spots as a veteran bench piece. Even after the Tommy Pham addition, he could be a fit.Jameson Taillon to the Boston Red Sox2 of 6
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To BOS: RHP Jameson Taillon
To CHC: OF Matthew Lugo
The Boston Red Sox took a step in the buying direction when they acquired catcher Danny Jansen from the Toronto Blue Jays over the weekend. Now they could turn their attention to finding another arm for the starting rotation.
Right-hander Jameson Taillon has been throwing the ball extremely well of late with a 2.47 ERA over 51.0 innings and seven quality starts in his last eight outings, and he could slot in as the No. 2 starter behind Tanner Houck.
The goal here for the Chicago Cubs would be to offload salary, with Taillon still owed another $18 million each in 2025 and 2026 to close out his back loaded, four-year, $68 million contract. If the Red Sox take on all of that remaining salary, it likely will not take more than a quality mid-level prospect to acquire him.
Matthew Lugo was a second-round pick in the 2019 draft. Originally drafted as a shortstop, he has slid down the defensive scale and now plays primarily corner outfield, but he is enjoying a breakout offensive season. The 23-year-old is hitting .285/.375/.567 with 20 doubles, 16 home runs and 54 RBI in 78 games between Double-A and Triple-A.
Tyler Anderson, Taylor Ward to the San Diego Padres3 of 6
Tyler AndersonGene Wang/Getty Images
To SD: LHP Tyler Anderson, OF Taylor Ward
To LAA: RHP Adam Mazur, RHP Bradgley Rodriguez
The San Diego Padres broke the ice on trade season back in May when they acquired All-Star infielder Luis Arraez from the Miami Marlins, and they made a splash over the weekend when they gave up three quality prospects to acquire reliever Jason Adam from the Tampa Bay Rays.
However, they have yet to address a thin starting rotation, and right field also remains a hole with Fernando Tatis Jr. sidelined and still expected to miss at least a few more weeks while he recovers from a femoral stress reaction.
Veteran left-hander Tyler Anderson would bring some balance to an entirely right-handed rotation that is currently without Yu Darvish and Joe Musgrove. The 34-year-old has a 2.96 ERA and 1.14 WHIP in 130.2 innings, and while his 4.35 FIP points to some potential regression, he is the type of crafty pitcher who has outperforms his peripherals in the past.
Taylor Ward has not been the same impact offensive player he was during a breakout 2022 season, but he does offer some useful pop with 18 doubles, 16 home runs and 51 RBI.
Both players are controllable through 2025, with Anderson owed $13 million in the final season of a three-year deal and Ward entering his final year of arbitration.
In return, the Angels get some useful salary relief, along with a MLB-ready pitching prospect in Adam Mazur who has made seven starts in the big leagues this year and profiles as a middle-of-the-rotation starter going forward. Right-hander Bradgley Rodriguez is a 20-year-old with a big, 70-grade fastball who likely fits at the back of the bullpen in the future.
Jack Flaherty to the Cleveland Guardians4 of 6
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To CLE: RHP Jack Flaherty
To DET: 1B C.J. Kayfus, RHP Andrew Walters
Right-hander Jack Flaherty is the best rental pitcher on the market thanks to a huge bounce-back season pitching on a one-year, $14 million deal with the Detroit Tigers.
A rising star when he finished fourth in 2019 NL Cy Young voting as a 23-year-old, injuries limited him to a combined 154.2 innings in the three years that followed. He was healthy last year, but a lackluster 4.99 ERA and 1.58 WHIP in 144.1 innings left him to settle for a one-year, prove-it deal in free agency.
Still only 28 years old, he has a 2.95 ERA, 0.96 WHIP and 133 strikeouts in 106.2 innings, and last time out the Cleveland Guardians got a first-hand look at him when he allowed just three hits and one unearned run over six strong innings.
The Guardians rotation has been in a state of flux for much of the year. Shane Bieber is out for the season, Gavin Williams also missed significant time, and both Triston McKenzie and Logan Allen both struggled to the point of demotion.
C.J. Kayfus, 22, has been a breakout performer in the Cleveland system this year after going in the third round of the 2023 draft. He is hitting .320/.425/.571 with 19 doubles, 15 home runs and 79 RBI in 77 games between High-A and Double-A.
Andrew Walters, 23, was a dominant closer at the University of Miami before going No. 62 overall in the 2023 draft, and he could be MLB ready in the not-too-distant future. He has a 3.11 ERA and 63 strikeouts in 37.2 innings over 35 appearances out of the bullpen between Double-A and Triple-A.
It’s a steep price to pay for a rental, but there will be a long list of contenders vying for Flaherty’s services, so it’s going to take a solid return to acquire him.
Luis Rengifo, Luis GarcÃa to the New York Yankees5 of 6
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To NYY: IF Luis Rengifo, RHP Luis GarcÃa
To LAA: IF Oswald Peraza, RHP Zach Messinger
It’s probably not the splash some New York Yankees fans are hoping for, but this is a deal that addresses two major holes on the roster in one fell swoop.
Luis Rengifo is hitting .300/.348/.421 for a 114 OPS+ with 20 extra-base hits and 23 steals in 75 games, and he would give the team a much-needed offensive upgrade where DJ LeMahieu (157 PA, 41 OPS+, .176 BA) has been a complete non-factor and could end up being designated for assignment.
The 27-year-old is controllable through 2025, so he could also serve as a potential replacement for Gleyber Torres at second base next year if he ends up departing in free agency.
Luis GarcÃa has been a solid setup arm for the Los Angeles Angels after signing a one-year, $4.25 million deal during the offseason, posting a 3.71 ERA, 1.17 WHIP and 8.2 K/9 with four saves and 11 holds in 45 appearances.
In return, the Angels buy low on former top prospect Oswald Peraza, who could potentially fill the same role that Rengifo has the past few seasons while coming with control through the 2029 season.
Pitching prospect Zach Messinger is a 6’6″, 225-pound right-hander with No. 4 starter upside and a high floor. The 24-year-old has a 3.76 ERA, 1.15 WHIP and 106 strikeouts in 107.2 innings at Double-A while limiting opposing hitters to a .218 average.
Blake Snell to the Houston Astros6 of 6
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To HOU: LHP Blake Snell
To SF: RHP Miguel Ullola, LHP Trey Dombrowski
The Houston Astros were linked to Blake Snell during the offseason before he ultimately signed a two-year, $62 million deal with the San Francisco Giants. That contract features an opt-out that would allow him to leave his $30 million salary for 2025 on the table to take another run at free agency.
The 2023 NL Cy Young winner has not pitched well this season at first glance with a 5.10 ERA and 1.28 WHIP in 47.2 innings over 10 starts, but he is hitting his stride at the perfect time for teams to take interest.
Over his last four starts, he has a 0.75 ERA and 0.63 WHIP while allowing just eight hits in 24 innings of work, and he racked up a career-high 15 strikeouts over six scoreless innings against the Colorado Rockies on Saturday.
From a trade value standpoint, he has to be treated like a rental since he has an opt-out clause, and the fact that he is still owed roughly $10.7 million this year also takes a bit out of his value.
If the Houston Astros are willing to take on all of that remaining money, it might not cost much more than a couple mid-level prospects with upside to get a deal done. Even after acquiring Yusei Kikuchi, they could still be searching for more rotation help with a wide open AL West race.
Miguel Ullola has a huge 70-grade fastball and 116 strikeouts in 92.1 innings at Double-A this year, though his command is a work-in-progress. Trey Dombrowski is more floor than ceiling, but has the pitchability to develop into a back-end starter.
