MLB Trade Deadline Cheat Sheet: Buyers, sellers, and best fits for all 30 teams
![foxsports](https://b.fssta.com/uploads/application/misc/byline-generic-headshot.vresize.36.36.medium.0.png)
![](https://a57.foxsports.com/statics.foxsports.com/www.foxsports.com/content/uploads/2020/02/640/427/b9b5df33-072116_Chris_Sale_PI-1024x576.jpg?ve=1&tl=1, https://a57.foxsports.com/statics.foxsports.com/www.foxsports.com/content/uploads/2020/02/1280/854/b9b5df33-072116_Chris_Sale_PI-1024x576.jpg?ve=1&tl=1 2x)
The MLB non-waiver trade deadline is Aug. 1, and while some trades already have been made, many are still in the works.
It's a seller's market if there ever was one — half of the teams in baseball have a better than 20 percent chance of making the playoffs, either as a division winner or a wild card winner as we enter the final third of the season.
There will be buyers, sellers and teams that don't know what they're doing. Let's take a look at all 30 and project what's in store for them as the deadline approaches.
Needs: Back-of-rotation starter
Prognosis: The Cubs have a loaded farm system and arguably the best lineup in baseball. They addressed their biggest need by acquiring lefty reliever Aroldis Chapman from the Yankees for four prospects. If they can add a fourth or fifth starter — even a long reliever who can step in should the Cubs be in a pinch — they'd increase their already exceptional odds to win the National League.
Needs: Closer
Prognosis: It's a bad market to be looking for relievers, as the prices are tremendously prohibitive, and landing a closer is even tougher. Yankees lefty Andrew Miller would be a godsend, but it could cost the Nationals second baseman Trea Turner, who is one of my 11 untradeable prospects. Do the Nats go all-in this year? It'd be foolish to do so — a move for A's reliever Sean Doolittle might be more palatable.
Needs: Outfielder, catcher, lefty reliever
Prognosis: No one knows when outfielder Michael Brantley could come back from his injury, and that puts the Indians on the market for a rental outfielder — just in case he doesn't come back in 2016. Josh Reddick, perhaps? The Indians also could use a catcher, with Yan Gomes' injury and poor production at the plate. Cleveland could be a sleeper pick for Milwaukee catcher Jonathan Lucroy, whose price is surprisingly not as prohibitive as perhaps it should be. As for landing a lefty reliever, don't expect a splash — the Indians are notoriously conservative at the trade deadline.
![](https://a57.foxsports.com/statics.foxsports.com/www.foxsports.com/content/uploads/2020/02/640/427/9ad977cb-072616-MLB-CLE-Lindor-walkoff-PI.jpg?ve=1&tl=1, https://a57.foxsports.com/statics.foxsports.com/www.foxsports.com/content/uploads/2020/02/1280/854/9ad977cb-072616-MLB-CLE-Lindor-walkoff-PI.jpg?ve=1&tl=1 2x)
Needs: Starting pitcher, left fielder
Prognosis: The Dodgers' once dire pitching situation isn't so bad anymore. The rotation has stabilized a bit, but it still could use upgrades — success can be fleeting and Clayton Kershaw doesn't have a timetable for his return. Chris Sale is equally as likely as Rich Hill at this point — the Dodgers' farm system is so good that they can land anyone they want, even in this market. In left field, the Dodgers have been platooning — does Andre Ethier take over when he returns from the DL or do the Dodgers go big there? Carlos Gonzalez would make a big splash in LA.
Needs: Starting pitcher, left field, catcher
Prognosis: The best offense in baseball is counting on Steven Wright to be the team's best starter in the playoffs. He throws a knuckleball, so that might be a dangerous proposition. The Red Sox have a loaded farm system, so they can go big and land a pitcher like Sale or Chris Archer. A middle-to-back end starter seems more likely. The Red Sox could also upgrade in left field or behind the plate, where Sandy Leon is playing well but at a rather unsustainable clip. Lucroy would be a nice fit in Boston.
Needs: Starting pitcher, closer
Prognosis: The Giants are scuffling as of late, but don't expect them to make a massive splash in the coming days. They're getting back Joe Panik and Matt Duffy soon, and that should help their lineup. They could go out and land a fifth starter at the deadline, but the biggest need is closer, where Santiago Casilla has been rocky — at best — and landing someone who can logically take over for him should that form continue would make sense. Miller might cost too much, but expect the Giants to add an arm.
Needs: Starting pitcher, relief pitcher
Prognosis: We know the Blue Jays can hit, and now they need to add arms. The bullpen is most important, but any impact arm would do at this juncture. The Jays don't have the assets to go out and land a player like Troy Tulowitzki or David Price again this summer, but given the tightening window for the Jays to win a title — some can argue it's this year or bust, given the American League competition — the Jays can't afford to sit this one out.
Needs: Relief pitcher, starting pitcher
![](https://a57.foxsports.com/statics.foxsports.com/www.foxsports.com/content/uploads/2020/02/640/427/3b1c77dd-201607111250462409842-p2.jpeg.jpg?ve=1&tl=1, https://a57.foxsports.com/statics.foxsports.com/www.foxsports.com/content/uploads/2020/02/1280/854/3b1c77dd-201607111250462409842-p2.jpeg.jpg?ve=1&tl=1 2x)
Johnny Cueto
Prognosis: The Rangers are in the hunt for the playoffs despite having one of the worst bullpens in baseball and a pasted together rotation that could use an extra arm or two for the home stretch. The Rangers have one of the best and most plentiful farm systems in baseball, and given the front office's aggressiveness, there's a sense that they're keen to make a big splash. Sale and Archer are on the table, but adding multiple bullpen guys with a mid-rotation arm is the prudent play.
Needs: Starting pitcher
Prognosis: The O's need a lot of help in the rotation, but they don't have much to give away to land major impact. Baltimore should be heavily involved in the rental market — the O's need to land at least one, probably two pitchers like Hill, Andrew Cashner, Jered Weaver and Jeremy Hellickson.
Needs: Outfield, impact bat, catcher
Prognosis: The Astros are playing great baseball lately, pushing the Rangers atop the AL West, but there are still holes in the roster. Given the long-term scope of the front office but the immediate World Series contention, Houston seems keen to make a big move. The Astros are a sleeper team to land Lucroy, as Jason Castro is set to be a free agent at the end of the year, but Gonzalez could be in play as well. A big-time arm would be a major boom as well. The Astros could opt to sit, as they just called up uber-prospect Alex Bregman and recently signed Yulieski Gurriel, who could be in the majors by the middle of August.
Needs: Starting pitcher, catcher
Prognosis: The Mets need a starting pitcher? What? Well, thanks to injuries and looming problems (Steven Matz and Noah Syndergaard have bone spurs in their pitching elbows) the Mets might need to go out and land an arm. Not a top-flight guy, but a rental could be on the way. The Mets also could be in play for Lucroy, as Travis d'Arnaud has struggled this season and an extra bat would change up the scene in the National League.
Needs: Center fielder
Prognosis: The Cardinals aren't going to win 100 games, but that doesn't mean this is a flawed team. The Cardinals could use a center fielder though. Randal Grichuk isn't getting the job done, despite a recent uptick. A return of Peter Bourjos, perhaps? Charlie Blackmon or Brett Gardner would be a best-case scenario. (Don't sleep on White Sox outfielder Adam Eaton, who is in the center of a lot of the team's locker room scandal, either.)
![](https://a57.foxsports.com/statics.foxsports.com/www.foxsports.com/content/uploads/2020/02/640/427/7d503af7-201607231925699472243-p2.jpeg.jpg?ve=1&tl=1, https://a57.foxsports.com/statics.foxsports.com/www.foxsports.com/content/uploads/2020/02/1280/854/7d503af7-201607231925699472243-p2.jpeg.jpg?ve=1&tl=1 2x)
Mark Trumbo
Needs: Starting pitcher
Prognosis: The Marlins are in this thing. They can hit, they have improved the bullpen, and they have Jose Fernandez. They could use some starting pitching help if they're really going to make a run, though. The Marlins won't go crazy, as they do not have a great farm system or a track record of financial flexibility, but they should be in the market for a rental starter or perhaps a starter with a year or two of control remaining.
Needs: Starting pitcher, relief pitcher, catcher
Prognosis: The Tigers' window is closing — how much longer will 33-year-old Miguel Cabrera keep doing this amazing stuff? — so they might not have any choice but to buy. The Tigers need help in the rotation, in the bullpen, and could use help behind the plate. The Tigers don't have any top prospects to sell but don't count anything out with them this summer.
Needs: Starting pitcher
Prognosis: The Pirates are relying on top starting pitching prospects to get them back into the wild card game this year, and that's a dangerous scenario. The Pirates need to land at least one, if not two starting pitchers if they have any intention of serious contention.
Prognosis: The Mariners are in it, but they shouldn't go about making a big splash, given they are clearly the third-best team in the division and have a nine percent chance of winning the wild card. The return of Felix Hernandez should alleviate any urge.
Prognosis: The Yankees would be wise to sell given the marketplace, but many of the contracts they'd like to move are untradeable and there's a sense in New York that they could contend next year with the right moves. There will be some picking and choosing instead of a full-on sale.
Prognosis: Who knows what's going on with that team? They could rebuild a depleted farm system by moving Sale and Jose Quintana, bringing in possibly a dozen high-potential prospects with two moves, but the most dysfunctional team in baseball doesn't seem interested in the "king's ransom" that's out there for them. They won't be buying, either — there's nothing to buy with on the market.
![](https://a57.foxsports.com/statics.foxsports.com/www.foxsports.com/content/uploads/2020/02/640/427/e3f5db84-GettyImages-544020662.jpg?ve=1&tl=1, https://a57.foxsports.com/statics.foxsports.com/www.foxsports.com/content/uploads/2020/02/1280/854/e3f5db84-GettyImages-544020662.jpg?ve=1&tl=1 2x)
Mike Matheny
Prognosis: The Royals really could use some reinforcements in the starting lineup and rotation, but they're maxed out on salary and the farm system was taxed pretty heavily by trades last season that worked out pretty well. The Royals could be keen to tread water and hope it clicks down the stretch. They'll be good for a long time — no need to jeopardize that chasing a 1 percent shot.
Prognosis: Everyone is available, but prices are as high as the mountain sky. Who wants to pony up?
Prognosis: Can we get any help for Mike Trout? Does anyone want a few overpaid underperformers? The direst situation in baseball needs a shakeup, bad.
Prognosis: The rebuild never really ends, does it? Don't expect Sonny Gray to move — that'd be a low sale.
Prognosis: A year away from .500, two years from serious playoff contention, the Phillies are in a perfect spot to load up on high-end prospects by selling off cheap rental veteran pitchers. You gotta love it when a plan comes together.
Prognosis: Is the market for Lucroy going to net a fair return? Seems ridiculous in this market, but most teams will overpay for a pitcher, but pass on a massive upgrade at catcher. Now's an advantageous time to sell Ryan Braun as well.
Prognosis: Wil Myers stays, everyone else is up for grabs.
Prognosis: This has gone poorly, hasn't it? The Diamondbacks aren't going to move Paul Goldschmidt or Zack Greinke unless a team sells them three full minor-league affiliates, but everyone else should be on the market. Jake Lamb, in particular, would be a tremendous sell-high guy.
Prognosis: Everything must go. The Rays are bad and getting worse and while they don't need to move top assets Archer and Evan Longoria now, those moves aren't far away.
![](https://a57.foxsports.com/statics.foxsports.com/www.foxsports.com/content/uploads/2020/02/640/427/c917460a-201607231557574701888-p2.jpeg.jpg?ve=1&tl=1, https://a57.foxsports.com/statics.foxsports.com/www.foxsports.com/content/uploads/2020/02/1280/854/c917460a-201607231557574701888-p2.jpeg.jpg?ve=1&tl=1 2x)
Pittsburgh Pirates' top prospect Tyler Glasnow.
Prognosis: Jay Bruce is going to leave. Brandon Phillips should, but he's probably untradeable. Joey Votto should be shopped, as he's been on fire as of late, but there's little chance anyone puts up enough to land him. The Reds might want to acquire a bullpen arm just so they avoid being the worst reliever staff of all time, though.
Prognosis: The youth movement isn't going great, but it's still the plan of attack. Meanwhile, pitchers like Ervin Santana and Ricky Nolasco should get bites from starting pitching-desperate teams.
Prognosis: They're making small moves, thinking they'll be halfway decent next year in their first season in a new ballpark. They won't be, but the other GMs in the National League don't need to tell them that. (And no, Freddie Freeman is not available.)
![](https://a57.foxsports.com/statics.foxsports.com/www.foxsports.com/content/uploads/2020/02/640/427/e2237de8-9368628.jpg?ve=1&tl=1, https://a57.foxsports.com/statics.foxsports.com/www.foxsports.com/content/uploads/2020/02/1280/854/e2237de8-9368628.jpg?ve=1&tl=1 2x)
![](https://a57.foxsports.com/statics.foxsports.com/www.foxsports.com/content/uploads/2020/02/640/427/b6cc02e2-201607162133776164837-p2.jpeg.jpg?ve=1&tl=1, https://a57.foxsports.com/statics.foxsports.com/www.foxsports.com/content/uploads/2020/02/1280/854/b6cc02e2-201607162133776164837-p2.jpeg.jpg?ve=1&tl=1 2x)
![](https://a57.foxsports.com/statics.foxsports.com/www.foxsports.com/content/uploads/2020/02/640/427/f704b40b-GettyImages-521251152.jpg?ve=1&tl=1, https://a57.foxsports.com/statics.foxsports.com/www.foxsports.com/content/uploads/2020/02/1280/854/f704b40b-GettyImages-521251152.jpg?ve=1&tl=1 2x)
Joey Votto
![Charlie Blackmon](https://b.fssta.com/uploads/application/mlb/headshots/5042.vresize.160.160.medium.0.png)