How much star power will be moved before Tuesday’s MLB trade deadline remains to be seen, but it’s a certainty that there will be plenty of action leading up to the buzzer.
Each contender is facing pressure to add at the deadline and gear up for the stretch run. The biggest problem, however, is that there are more buyers than sellers. That could drive up the price for the best players available, and struggling teams such as the White Sox, Blue Jays and Cubs might stand to benefit.
Certain rental players are near locks to be dealt, but what about controllable young players? Tarik Skubal, Garrett Crochet, Luis Robert Jr., Jazz Chisholm and Brent Rooker all have multiple years of control remaining but have surfaced in trade rumors.
Between Skubal’s excellence and Crochet’s swing-and-miss ability, the biggest storyline leading up to the deadline might be whether a contender can blow the Tigers or White Sox away with an offer and pry away an All-Star pitcher.
The Sporting News is tracking live updates and deals leading up to the MLB trade deadline. Follow along with all of the moves below.
MORE: Which players are most likely to be traded before the deadline?
MLB trade deadline 2024: Tracking the latest news, rumors
July 28
Rangers add backstop help, deal for Tigers catcher Carson Kelly
The Rangers bolstered their hopes for a postseason appearance on Saturday, scouring catcher Carson Kelly in a deal with the Tigers.
Kelly, 30, has been fairly steady in Detroit’s backstop so far, posting a 101 OPS+ across 202 plate appearances. That’s not too shabby for a sentry who dovetails as one of MLB’s best defensive catchers in terms of blocking pitches and throwing baserunners out. Kelly ranks in the 90th percentile in Baseball Savant’s blocking metric and 89th percentile in Baseball Savant’s caught stealing metric. He figures to be in play for the starting spot behind home plate, especially with Jonah Heim struggling across all aspects of the game.
In return, Detroit received prospects Liam Hicks and Tyler Owens, per reports. Neither were ranked in Texas’ top-30 prior to their move.
Cubs get All-Star Isaac Paredes, give up Christopher Morel in swap with Rays
The Cubs continue to buy ahead of the trade deadline as they attempt to remake a roster that has sputtered in Craig Counsel’s first year as manager. Paredes, 25, is hitting .247/.355/.438 for the year with 16 homers and may post better power numbers at the hitter-friendly Wrigley Field.
Meanwhile, the Rays get Morel — who is hitting just .199 but has 18 homers — along with Cubs pitching prospects Ty Johnson and Hunter Bigge. Morel, 25, still has upside, so adding him while getting a couple of upside arms is a sensible move for the rebuilding Rays.
Padres add high-leverage arm, trade for Jason Adam
The Padres have a solid bullpen led by Robert Suarez, Adrian Morejon, Yuki Matsui and Jeremiah Estrada, but adding another high-leverage arm was a priority for them ahead of the trade deadline. Adam fits the bill, as the Rays hurler has a 2.49 ERA and 50 strikeouts compared to 16 walks on the season.
The Rays got three of the Padres’ top-12 prospects (per MLB.com) in the deal: pitcher Dylan Lesko, outfielder Homer Bush Jr. and catcher J.D. Gonzalez. That will help Tampa Bay to continue stockpiling young talent as it undergoes a mini rebuild.
Mets add outfield depth by getting Jesse Winker
The Mets added depth to their lineup by acquiring Jesse Winker. They sent minor league pitcher Tyler Stuart to the Nationals as part of the trade.
Winker is slashing .257/.374/.419 on the year with 11 homers, 14 stolen bases and an impressive 14 percent walk rate, good for the fifth-best in baseball. The outfielder signed an affordable one-year deal worth $ 2 million with the Nationals during the offseason, so acquiring him won’t cause the Mets to break the bank as they look to make a playoff push.
July 27
Phillies bolster bullpen, trade for Carlos Estevez
The Phillies were known to be hunting for bullpen help, and they got it in Angels closer Carlos Estevez on Saturday. Los Angeles received prospects George Klassen and Samuel Aldegheri.
Estevez hasn’t allowed an earned run in his last 19 appearances, with 15 saves in that span. The former Rockies reliever ascended to the closer’s role in Anaheim last season and gives the Phillies someone who has proven he can finish games, even if Philadelphia still doesn’t deploy a full-time closer.
Red Sox add catching depth with deal for Danny Jansen
The Red Sox landed catcher Danny Jansen in a deal with the Blue Jays on Saturday, sending prospects Cutter Coffey, Eddinson Paulino and Gilberto Batista.
Jansen flashed impressive power in a part-time role during his time with the Blue Jays, but he’s struggled mightily at the plate this season and is set to be a free agent in the winter. Jansen figures to serve as a complement to Connor Wong in Boston, potentially pushing Reese McGuire off the roster.
Yankees land Jazz Chisholm Jr. for three prospects
The Yankees acquired Jazz Chisholm Jr. from the Marlins on Saturday, in exchange for prospects Agustin Ramirez, Jared Serna and Abrahan Ramirez.
Chisholm, 26, is under team control through 2026. The former top prospect showed All-Star potential in spurts with the Marlins, hitting 33 home runs over 157 games between 2022 and 2023, but injuries often derailed his best stretches.
Chisholm reportedly wants to transition back to the infield from the outfield, but where he will play in New York remains to be seen.
July 26
Mariners acquire Yimi Garcia for impressive OF prospect
The Mariners were reportedly pursuing bullpen help after their deal for Arozarena, and they found it on Friday by trading for Blue Jays veteran Yimi Garcia.
The veteran Garcia has enjoyed a strong season with the Jays, his third in Toronto, carrying a 2.70 ERA and 0.80 WHIP through 30 innings.
The Blue Jays are receiving outfield prospect Jonatan Clase, a 22-year-old who has a strong .856 OPS in the minor leagues this season. Clase made his MLB debut with the Mariners earlier in the season and has played 19 major league games. Toronto also received catching prospect Jacob Sharp.
Orioles add to rotation with deal for Zach Eflin
The Orioles landed some rotation help in their second deal of the day on Sunday, acquiring starter Zach Eflin from the Rays in exchange for prospects Mac Horvath, Jackson Baumeister and Matthew Etzel.
Eflin went 16-8 with a 3.50 ERA in his first season with the Rays, though he’s been less consistent in 2024 with a 4.09 ERA and elevated hit rate. The Orioles lost Kyle Bradish, John Means and Tyler Wells to season-ending injuries, so they will slot Eflin into their rotation behind Corbin Burnes and Grayson Rodriguez. Eflin is under contract for 2025 at $ 13.
Orioles send Austin Hays to Phillies for bullpen help
The Phillies acquired outfielder Austin Hays from the Orioles on Friday, sending reliever Seranthony Dominguez and outfielder Cristian Pache to Baltimore.
Hays, under team control through 2025, was an All-Star last season with a .275 AVG and .769 OPS, but he’s fallen out of favor in 2024 amid struggles and the rise of Orioles’ younger outfielders. The Phillies could use Hays against left-handed pitching down the stretch, while Dominguez gives the Orioles some much-needed bullpen depth despite a tough season in Philadelphia.
Red Sox land James Paxton after Dodgers exit
The Red Sox re-acquired starter James Paxton in a deal with the Dodgers on Friday, sending infield prospect Moises Bolivar to Los Angeles.
Paxton was designated for assignment by the Dodgers upon the returns of Clayton Kershaw and Tyler Glasnow, so Boston didn’t have to give up much to get him.
The 35-year-old lefty spent the 2023 season with the Red Sox before joining the Dodgers, but his 4.43 ERA and concerning 4.96 FIP made him expendable. No NL pitcher has walked more batters than Paxton and his strikeout rate is considerably down from 2023, but the Red Sox were searching for rotation depth and have some familiarity with the ex-Mariner.
July 25
Mariners bolster offense with deal for Randy Arozarena
The Mariners pulled off the first major trade of deadline season on Thursday night, acquiring outfielder Randy Arozarena from the Rays in exchange for prospects Aidan Smith and Brody Hopkins plus a player to be named later.
MORE: Grading the Randy Arozarena trade for Rays, Mariners
Arozarena got off to a putrid start this season but has a .903 OPS since the start of June and is on pace for a fourth consecutive season with at least 20 home runs. The former postseason hero posted a solidly above average OPS+ each season from 2021-23 and is under contract through 2026.
Smith and Hopkins were both 2023 draft picks and have excelled in the minors this season, though neither has played above single-A.
