MLB trade season is here!
World Series hopefuls will start loading up for the stretch run and the playoffs, while teams out of contention will target top prospects to help them build for a brighter future.
[Related: MLB Power Rankings; MLB Trade Deadline Rumors]
Which stars and potential October difference-makers could be on the move before the July 30 deadline? Follow every deal here!
July 26
Rays trade Zach Eflin to Orioles
Key stats: 4.09 ERA, 1.16 WHIP, 87 strikeouts, 110.0 innings (19 starts)
Who else is involved: The Rays will receive outfielder Matthew Etzel, utility man Mac Horvath and right-hander Jackson Baumeister.
What it means: Teams interested in Yandy Diaz, Isaac Paredes, Brandon Lowe or Pete Fairbanks might not want to wait too long. The Rays are not messing around.
After sending Randy Arozarena to the Mariners Thursday night, Eflin seemed like one of the next logical guys to go, considering the right-hander’s ability to help a playoff rotation and the fact he was due $18 million next season, which is about $18 million more than the Rays probably wanted to spend.
The Orioles entered the deadline with a clear need for starting pitching. They were also one of the only teams that possessed the abundance of top prospects that might be able to entice the Tigers to trade Cy Young contender Tarik Skubal. That seems less likely to happen now, though Baltimore did not part with any of their best prospects to get Eflin and time remains for further action.
Eflin’s strikeout and groundball rates are down from his standout 2023 season in Tampa Bay, when he finished sixth in Cy Young Award voting and was the Rays’ Game 2 starter in the American League Wild Card series. His velocity is down a tick, too. Still, he has pitched better than his 4.09 ERA would indicate, and he remains a master of control. Eflin’s 2.8% walk rate trails only Seattle’s George Kirby for the best mark among qualified starters.
It made sense for Baltimore to get someone who can help them both this year and next in the rotation, particularly with Corbin Burnes set to hit free agency. Eflin will be a helpful piece for the Orioles’ stretch run alongside Burnes and Grayson Rodriguez, even if he is more of a mid-rotation piece than an ace on a contender.
The Rays, meanwhile, continue stockpiling 2023 draft picks. Aidan Smith and Brody Hopkins, the return from the Arozarena deal, were taken in the fourth and sixth rounds, respectively, last year. In this trade, all three players Tampa Bay got back were also drafted last season. Horvath and Baumeister were both taken in the second round, while Etzel was selected in the 10th. The Rays have collected a talented bevy of middle-tier prospects the last couple days, though none of the players they received for Arozarena and Eflin are top-100 types. That comes with risk, but the Rays tend to know what they’re doing when it comes to development. — Kavner
Orioles grade: B
Rays grade: B
Blue Jays trade Yimi Garcia to Mariners for Jonatan Clase and Jacob Sharpe
Key Garcia stats: 2.70 ERA, 0.80 WHIP, 42 strikeouts, 30.0 innings (29 appearances)
Key Clase stats: zero home runs, three RBIs, .195/.233/.220 slash line
Phillies trade Seranthony Dominguez and Cristian Pache to Orioles for Austin Hays
Key Hays stats: Three home runs, 14 RBIs, .255/.316/.395 slash line
Key Dominguez stats: 4.75 ERA, 1.22 WHIP, 40 strikeouts, 36.0 innings (38 appearances)
Key Pache stats: Zero home runs, nine RBIs, .202/.288/.269 slash line
Boston Red Sox acquire starting pitcher James Paxton from the Los Angeles Dodgers
Key stats: 8-2, 4.43 ERA, 1.455 WHIP, 64 strikeouts, 89 ⅓ innings pitched, 18 starts
July 25
Seattle Mariners acquire OF Randy Arozarena from the Tampa Bay Rays
Key stats: .211/.318/.394, 15 home runs, 37 RBIs, 16 stolen bases, 105 OPS+
Who else is involved: The Rays will receive minor league outfielder Aidan Smith and minor league right-hander Brody Hopkins. They’ll also receive a player to be named later.
What it means: The free-falling Mariners desperately needed an offensive boost and found their answer five days ahead of the deadline in Arozarena, who might be the most dynamic outfielder who gets dealt at any point in the next week. While Arozarena’s production this year (.211/.318/.394 with 15 home runs) has not met his usual standards, you can bet on him figuring things out. And he is doing that. The 29-year-old, who hit at least 21% better than league average in each of his first five major-league seasons, has turned a corner the last couple months with a .920 OPS since the start of June.
Arozarena’s big breakout came during the shortened 2020 season, when he posted a 1.022 OPS before leading the Rays to the World Series behind one of the all-time great postseason runs. He blasted 10 homers over 20 playoff games and earned ALCS MVP honors. A year later, he was named Rookie of the Year. Arozarena’s 1.104 career postseason OPS is the third highest ever for a player with at least 100 playoff at-bats behind only Lou Gehrig and Babe Ruth. That’s a player any contender should covet but especially the Mariners, whose outfielders this year rank 20th in fWAR and 23rd in OPS and currently have star Julio Rodríguez on the injured list. It’s worth noting Arozarena has also hit well at T-Mobile Park, a place that can cause problems for hitters.
Tampa Bay, at 9.5 games back in the AL East despite a nearly identical record to Seattle, decided to part with Arozarena before his salary would jump in his second year of arbitration. That’s a gift for the Mariners, who get an outfield of Rodríguez and Arozarena for two more years after this.
I’m a bit surprised the Rays didn’t get more of a sure thing in a return for Arozarena, but both Smith and Hopkins offer upside as top-six round picks last year for Seattle. They were the 12th and 22nd ranked prospects, respectively, in the Mariners’ system. Smith is a 19-year-old outfield prospect who offers an intriguing all-around combination of skills with nine homers and 28 steals in 77 games at single-A. Hopkins has also performed well at that level. The former two-way player has a 2.90 ERA and is striking out more than 10 batters per nine innings. His control will go a long way in determining if his future is starting or relieving. The fact that the Rays did this with so much time left before the deadline makes me wonder if the player to be named later might be someone of significance, but it also makes grading this a little harder on their side. — Kavner
Mariners grade: A
Rays grade: B
Arizona Diamondbacks acquiring reliever A.J. Puk from the Miami Marlins
Key stats: 4-8, 4.30 ERA, 1.341 WHIP, 45 strikeouts, 44 innings pitched, 32 appearances
Who else is involved: The Marlins will receive minor league infielder Deyvison De Los Santos and minor league outfielder Andrew Pintar.
July 13
Kansas City Royals acquire RHP Hunter Harvey from the Washington Nationals
Key stats: 4.20 ERA, 1.22 WHIP, 50 strikeouts, 45.0 innings (43 appearances)
Who else is involved: Nationals receive 22-year-old infielder Cayden Wallace and a Competitive Balance A pick
July 9
New York Mets acquire RHP Phil Maton from the Tampa Bay Rays
Key Stats: 1-2, 4.58 ERA, 40 appearances
Who else is involved: A player to be named later or cash considerations
July 3
Milwaukee Brewers acquire RHP Aaron Civale from Tampa Bay Rays
Key stats: 2-6, 5.07 ERA, 87 IP, 84 strikeouts, 1.38 WHIP
Who else is involved: Rays receive 20-year-old middle infield prospect Gregory Barrios
June 25
Brewers acquire LHP Dallas Keuchel from Seattle Mariners
Key stats: 7-4, 3.93 ERA, 71.0 IP, 45 strikeouts, 1.211 WHIP
What else is involved: Cash considerations
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