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MLB trade deadline 2024: Players likely to be dealt Tuesday
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MLB trade deadline 2024: Players likely to be dealt Tuesday

It’s MLB trade deadline day! While there was a flurry of trade activity on Monday, there is still plenty of potential intrigue heading into Tuesday’s 6 p.m. ET deadline.

Are the Los Angeles Dodgers or Philadelphia Phillies going to make any more major additions? Could the New York Yankees and Baltimore Orioles add and subtract? Will the Chicago White Sox deal Garrett Crochet or Luis Robert Jr.? Will teams battling for a wild-card spot continue to add to make a playoff push? And will there be any members of the Tampa Bay Rays left after Tuesday?

What follows is a ranking of the names to watch as we near the deadline, broken into tiers based on their likelihood of being dealt.

Grades for every big deal | What Passan, Olney are hearing

Tier 1: Most likely to be traded

Jack Flaherty, RHP, Detroit Tigers

Contract status: Free agent

The Tigers gave Flaherty a one-year, $14 million contract and he has rebounded nicely from several years of injuries and inconsistent performances to have a superb season. He’s 7-5 with a 2.95 ERA, 133 strikeouts and just 19 walks in 106⅓ innings. Among pitchers with at least 100 innings, he ranks fifth in lowest OBP allowed (.255), fifth in strikeout rate (32.0%) and 13th in wOBA allowed. Those are elite numbers, plus he has been remarkably consistent, going at least five innings in every start this season (although he hasn’t recorded an out in the seventh inning).

The Tigers are in fourth place in the AL Central and would have to leapfrog four teams in the wild-card race. Getting a wild-card spot isn’t impossible, but with playoff odds hovering around 5%, look for the Tigers to flip Flaherty — especially given the number of teams still looking for rotation additions. They pulled him from his start on Monday, a strong indicator that he’s going to be traded.

Best fits: Cleveland Guardians, New York Mets, Milwaukee Brewers, Atlanta Braves, San Diego Padres, Dodgers, Yankees. The Dodgers picked up versatile Tommy Edman and reliever Michael Kopech on Monday but could still use some rotation insurance. Two injuries over the weekend could also impact Flaherty’s destination: Kodai Senga made his first start of the season for the Mets and immediately went down with a calf injury, while All-Star Reynaldo Lopez left his start for the Braves after three innings with a forearm strain. And, as always, don’t count out San Diego GM A.J. Preller from making another deal.


Tanner Scott, LHP, Miami Marlins

Contract status: Free agent

Jason Adam and Carlos Estevez have been the two top relievers to get traded so far and the return prices were viewed as pretty steep (Adam had two more years of control remaining, which helps explain the Padres giving up a lot to get him). Scott should be viewed on their level as he has a 1.89 ERA over the past two seasons with closing experience, as well. He had control problems early in 2024 but has rectified those issues and is riding a streak of 17 consecutive scoreless appearances. Left-handed hitters are just 3-for-39 against him in 2024, making him a great high-leverage option against the left-handed power hitters that teams are trying to match up against (Shohei Ohtani, Bryce Harper, Juan Soto, Gunnar Henderson, Yordan Alvarez, etc.).

Best fits: Kansas City Royals, Boston Red Sox, Phillies, Yankees, Dodgers, Mets. Really, any team works here. The Royals and Red Sox are probably the contenders most in need of bullpen help, but the Yankees and Phillies (even after acquiring Estevez) are reportedly looking to add relief depth, and the Dodgers may not stop with Kopech.


Yandy Diaz, 1B/Brandon Lowe, 2B/Pete Fairbanks, RHP/Shawn Armstrong, RHP/Colin Poche, LHP, Tampa Bay Rays

The Rays have already made seven trades — Amed Rosario, Jason Adam, Zach Eflin, Randy Arozarena, Isaac Paredes, Phil Maton and Aaron Civale — and may not be done yet, as they look to continue one of the wildest trade periods one team has ever conducted. The five players we listed above could all still be traded, too. Their contract status:

  • Armstrong: Free agent

  • Lowe: $10.5 million club option for 2025 (and $11.5 million for 2026)

  • Poche: Free agent after 2025

  • Fairbanks: Signed through 2025 with club option for 2026

  • Diaz: Signed for $10 million in 2025 with $12 million club option for 2026

Lowe is interesting as he has been hot of late, with a .970 OPS the past two months. He has been a terrible postseason performer (.115 average in 29 games) and is limited to second base or DH. It’s not certain the Rays would pick up his option for 2025; if not, that could mean the cost won’t be prohibitive and the option could be doable for some teams. Diaz also got off to a slow start, so his overall numbers don’t look too impressive (.270/.326/.397), but last year’s American League batting champ had an OBP over .400 in both 2022 and 2023. Fairbanks hasn’t been as dominant as he has been in the past and his control has wobbled at times, but he’s a swing-and-miss high-leverage reliever at his best.

Best fits: No shortage of options here. Buster Olney mentioned Diaz to the Texas Rangers as a possibility. Heck, he could fit the Houston Astros or Seattle Mariners, who both could use an upgrade at first base. The Royals are reportedly looking for a bat as well and could squeeze Lowe into a second-base/DH role. The Red Sox have the worst OPS in the majors at second base.


Luis Rengifo, 2B/3B, Los Angeles Angels

Contract status: Under team control through 2025

Rengifo is hitting .300, has 23 steals in 30 attempts and offers some positional versatility, having played both second and third base this season (and some shortstop in the past). He’s a switch-hitter — much better against lefties not only this season but throughout his career — and his profile is more driven by batting average, especially in 2024. Rengifo has been a consistent 2-WAR type of player for a third season now, so while he’s not an impact player, he could be a useful upgrade for a team getting subpar production at second or third.

Best fits: Pittsburgh Pirates, Yankees, Mariners, Red Sox, Royals. The Yankees are an interesting possibility. They acquired Jazz Chisholm Jr., who played center field in his Yankees debut (Aaron Judge got a DH day). Chisholm started at third base, a position he has never played before, on Monday (after Gleyber Torres balked at moving to third). If the Yankees want to keep Chisholm in the outfield in place of a slumping Alex Verdugo, Rengifo could fill the hole at third.


Cal Quantrill, RHP, Colorado Rockies

Contract status: Under team control through 2025

The Rockies are almost immune to making trades and Quantrill has another arbitration year, making it possible they just hold on to him, but he has had a solid season with a 4.09 ERA across 21 starts. Translate that out of Coors Field and that’s an above-average ERA (although, he actually has a better ERA at home). Quantrill relies heavily on his splitter, but his sinker has been hit hard in 2024 — .331 average, .581 slugging. When he had a great season in 2022, his cutter was an effective pitch, but it has also been hit hard two years running now.

Best fits: Minnesota Twins, Padres, Guardians, Mets. Look, he’s not a guy you’re trading for to run out in the first two games of a playoff series, but he’s a solid option for a team looking for somebody to chew up some innings. Cleveland makes sense given Quantrill’s success with the Guardians from 2022 to 2023 (3.16 ERA). Maybe throw the Orioles in here as well, as they may prefer a pitcher who isn’t a rental (as is the case with the Eflin trade with the Rays).

Tier 2: Might get traded

Blake Snell, LHP, San Francisco Giants

Contract status: $30 million player option for 2025

Snell is probably the one pitcher who could swing the deadline in a big way now that it’s seemingly unlikely Garrett Crochet gets traded and even less likely that Tarik Skubal is dealt. Snell signed late and got injured, but he’s now back and showing up like second-half Snell usually does. He has allowed two runs in four starts since returning from rehab, including a monster 15-strikeout game the other day. Suddenly, he became a popular name on the rumor mill.

Two problems, however. First, the Giants are just close enough to the wild-card race to not surrender. And if they do squeeze in, a rotation with Snell, Logan Webb and Robbie Ray (who tossed five hitless innings in his first start of the season) could do some damage in the postseason. Second, it’s hard to put a value on Snell. If he continues to pitch well, he’ll likely opt out and re-enter free agency, making him a rental. If he gets injured or pitches poorly, he opts in and you’re stuck with a $30 million pitcher. I’d lean to the Giants keeping him and making a run at the wild card.

Best fits: Orioles, Padres, Yankees. No … we’re not going to mention the Dodgers here.


Tyler Anderson, LHP, Los Angeles Angels

Contract status: Signed for $13 million for 2025

Anderson made his second All-Star team in three seasons — squeezed around a 5.43 ERA in 2023. He’s surviving despite striking out just 6.8 batters per nine as he has allowed a low .234 average on balls in play. That’s not necessarily a complete fluke, as he has done a great job of limiting hard hits (88th percentile in hard-hit rate). Still, with a fastball that averages 89 mph, he’s not a pitcher whom managers will ever completely trust in a big game. He’s also a fairly extreme fly ball pitcher, so you need a good outfield defense and maybe the right park for him to sustain that sub-3.00 ERA. The Angels don’t really rebuild, so they may still see him as an important player for 2025.

Best fits: All those teams we’ve mentioned who might need a starter. It will be interesting to see if the Mets are desperate for a starter, because Citi Field is a pretty nice fit for Anderson.


Kyle Finnegan, RHP, Washington Nationals

Contract status: Under team control through 2025

Have closer pedigree, willing to travel. Finnegan throws 97 mph, only sometimes knows where it’s going and gives up a lot of hard contact (seven home runs in 43⅔ innings). He has 28 saves and made the All-Star team, but he has a 2.47 ERA compared to a 4.18 FIP. The Nationals would be wise to cash in.

Best fits: Arizona Diamondbacks, Royals, Mets, Red Sox, Yankees. Finnegan is probably more of a second-tier reliever on a World Series hopeful team. The Royals and Nationals already made one deal for a reliever (Hunter Harvey) — maybe there will be a second.


Nestor Cortes, LHP, New York Yankees

Contract status: Under team control through 2025

Cortes’ name has popped up in the past couple of days. With Clarke Schmidt about to return from the injured list, the Yankees will have six viable starters — and that’s if they don’t make a splashy trade for Snell. Cortes has a 7.23 ERA over his past five starts, which would make him the odd man out if the Yankees stick with a five-man rotation. He’s making just under $4 million, making him affordable for the small-market teams that might need a starter.

Best fits: Padres, Brewers, Guardians. We keep trying to get a starter to Cleveland!


Ryan Mountcastle, 1B, Baltimore Orioles

Contract status: Under team control through 2026

Mountcastle’s name has been floated as a trade possibility as the Orioles have other options for first base: Ryan O’Hearn, Coby Mayo, Heston Kjerstad. Mountcastle is making $4.1 million this year and would be due an increase in arbitration — a salary for a player the Orioles won’t necessarily need next year. His trade value might be minimal, however, thanks to a .308 OBP and much better numbers against left-handed pitchers.

Best fits: Mariners, Astros, Rangers. Consider him a more affordable, lesser version of Yandy Diaz — but Mountcastle would still be an upgrade at first for the Mariners or Astros and could DH for the Rangers.

Tier 3: Least likely to get traded

Garrett Crochet, LHP/Luis Robert, CF, Chicago White Sox

Contract status: Crochet under control through 2026, Robert signed through 2027 (including team options)

Given what many considered a low return for Erick Fedde, Michael Kopech and Tommy Pham in Monday’s three-team swap, maybe it is wise for Chicago general manager Chris Getz to sit out the rest of the deadline. Crochet essentially tanked his trade value when he asked for a contract extension if he’s expected to pitch in October — although don’t rule out the possibility of a team such as the Dodgers or Braves stepping up and doing just that. Robert has tanked his own trade value by hitting .218 with a .282 OBP. Even with a team-friendly contract, he may not be worth the big asking price.


Tarik Skubal, LHP, Detroit Tigers

Contract status: Under team control through 2026

We’ll list him here, but all indications are that the Cy Young contender is off the table.