Deadline day is upon us! Rather than the usual three “outs,” today’s opener is going three innings and previewing nine of the countless scenarios to keep an eye on between now and the 5pm CT trade deadline:
1.Will Crochet move? And what else is in store for the White Sox?
Few names have generated as much conversation as emergent White Sox ace Garrett Crochet in the month leading up to the trade deadline. It’s long seemed like a foregone conclusion that the Sox would trade him after extension talks failed to progress, but Crochet threw a wrench into those plans when his camp indicated he wanted to remain in the rotation and hoped to sign a long-term deal (just apparently not with the rebuilding White Sox) if a new club was to pitch him in October. Crochet has already thrown more innings in 2024 (114 1/3) than he had in hisentire careerprior to the current season, so it’s understandable that he’s concerned about how a midseason role change and/or pitching deep into October could impact his health. At the same time, his all-business approach has complicated his trade outlook for the White Sox and rubbed many fans — plus some in the industry — the wrong way.
Crochet isn’t the only name the Sox have left to market. They were leaning against moving center fielder Luis Robert Jr. as of last night, although it takes all of one text message or phone call to get that train rolling again. Other trade candidates include lefty Tanner Banks and shorter-term pickups like Paul DeJong, Chris Flexen, John Brebbia and Nicky Lopez.
2. Will the A’s trade Rooker? …Or… anyone?
Robert isn’t the only marquee outfielder whose rebuilding club is wary of moving him. Brent Rooker has emerged as one of the top power hitters in all of baseball over the past two seasons and has drawn considerable interest, but the A’s are signaling reluctance to move him with three years of club control remaining beyond the current season. Perhaps that’s a smokescreen, but there’s little to no urgency for Oakland to move him right now. Rooker would still command a haul this offseason, when a potentially even larger number of teams might more seriously consider placing a bid.
Rooker aside, the A’s are rather incredibly one of only two teams (more on that later) not to make a single trade yet during the 2024 deadline bonanza. That seems overwhelmingly likely to change today. Candidates beyond Rooker include outfielders Miguel Andujar and JJ Bleday (also a long shot); right-handers Paul Blackburn and Ross Stripling; and relievers Lucas Erceg (who’s drawing immense interest), Scott Alexander, Austin Adams and T.J. McFarland.
3.Who’s getting Flaherty, Scott, and the other obvious rentals?
The Tigers scratched Jack Flaherty from last night’s start to safeguard against an injury that tanks his value. A deal didn’t come together at the time, but he’s a virtual lock to change hands before 5pm CT today. Marlins closer Tanner Scott is even more certain to finish today under control of a new team. Both pitchers are free agents at season’s end.
Many of the market’s other obvious rental chips have already changed hands, but not all of them. Trevor Richards (Blue Jays), Luis Garcia (Angels), Kevin Pillar (Angels), Elias Diaz (Rockies), Jacob Stallings (Rockies), Dylan Floro (Nationals) and the aforementioned Flexen, McFarland and Stripling are just some of the impending free agents who could be on the move today.
4. How many more deals do the Rays have in them?
The Rays have owned the trade market this month, shipping out Aaron Civale, Phil Maton, Randy Arozarena, Zach Eflin, Isaac Paredes and Jason Adam for a dozen known players (Christopher Morel and 11 prospects) and a player to be named later (from the Mariners as part of the Arozarena deal).
Even with all those deals, the Rays could still have a few more trades up their sleeve. At least four teams (Rangers, Yankees, Astros, Pirates) remain in play for first baseman Yandy Diaz. Right-hander Zack Littell has one extra year of control and has emerged as both a viable rotation arm and trade candidate for Tampa Bay. Second baseman/outfielder Brandon Lowe is in the final guaranteed season of his contract but has a pair of club options ($10.5MM and $11.5MM) that the frugal Rays might prefer to trade for longer-term value. Relievers Pete Fairbanks, Colin Poche, Garrett Cleavinger and Kevin Kelly have all been discussed as well.
5. Will the Twins do, um… anything?
As noted, Oakland is one of two teams in the league to do exactly nothing thus far. The other is Minnesota. The Twins have spent much of the season in comfortable playoff position and are said to be working with payroll limitations (just as they were in the offseason), but their complete silence on the trade front is nevertheless surprising. Minnesota has been eyeing rental arms for the back of the rotation and could look for another outfield bat or reliever, but thus far the reigning AL Central champs have simply stood pat. They’re 5.5 games back of the division lead — a closeable gap in theory, but so far they’ve watched the Central-leading Guardians add Lane Thomas in a trade with the Nationals and the third-place Royals make multipleveteran acquisitions without doing anything to improve their own club.
6. Finnegan still in Washington…
The Nats wasted little time trading one of their two late-inning arms with a year-plus of club control remaining when they moved Hunter Harvey to the Royals before the All-Star break. But closer Kyle Finnegan remains with the team despite standing as one of the most obvious trade candidates around the game. Last night’s blown save certainly didn’t raise his stock any, but Finnegan has been prone to hard contact all season even while saving 28 games with a 3.48 ERA, 24.6% strikeout rate and 7.2% walk rate. Teams know an outing like yesterday’s five-run meltdown is potentially in the cards for someone with a 50.4% hard-hit rate, but Finnegan has generally been excellent this year prior to that shellacking.
The Nats could hang onto Finnegan, but they’ve already traded Harvey, Jesse Winker and the previously mentioned Thomas. A deal of Finnegan seems likelier than not.
7. How far will the Angels go?
The Angels traded closer Carlos Estevez for a nice return over the weekend and have a handful of rental names left to peddle. They’ve reportedly been hesitant to move players controlled beyond the current season, but lefty Tyler Anderson (signed for $13MM next year), righty Griffin Canning (controlled via arbitration through 2025), infielder Luis Rengifo (controlled through 2025) and outfielder Taylor Ward (controlled through 2026) have all drawn interest.
8. Same question, now for the Blue Jays!
The Blue Jays have also held onto their big-name players controlled beyond the current season (though they did move a controllable reliever in former top prospect Nate Pearson). They’ve already traded impending free agents Yusei Kikuchi, Danny Jansen and Justin Turner. A trade of reliever Trevor Richards seems highly plausible, given that he’ll reach free agency this winter as well. But all eyes will be on the Jays to see if they soften their stance and listen to offers for Isiah Kiner-Falefa, Chris Bassitt or — even more interestingly — allow themselves to be blown away by an offer for Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Given the limited number of impact bats available, one would imagine the Jays could command a king’s ransom for Guerrero. I argued in favor of why they should be open to just such a scenario in a piece for MLBTR Front Office subscribers last Friday.
9. Deadline surprises!
The trade deadline tends to bring a surprise name or two every year. At this point, all talk about the Tigers/Tarik Skubal the Jays/Guerrero and Bo Bichette has been that those players will stay put. It would register as a surprise if any of that bunch moved, but there’s likely to be a name or two that hasn’t been out there at all who’ll be on the move. MLBTR’s Anthony Franco already profiled 11 long-shot trade candidates in a piece for subscribers, and there are surely some other under-the-radar names being bandied about. Feel free to voice your own guesses in the comments below, and happy deadline day to all! Let the madness begin.
