MLB execs analyze best trade chips for 5 likely sellers
It’s incredible to think that with less than one week remaining in June, only five teams are in position to be considered definite sellers for this year’s Trade Deadline.
The White Sox, Angels, Athletics, Marlins and Rockies are all staring at double-digit deficits in the postseason race, and with 12 teams in the American League entering Tuesday within 7 1/2 games of a playoff berth and 13 teams within three games of the postseason in the National League, the idea of any of those five clubs overcoming their subpar starts to get to October seems far-fetched.
So we know five teams that will help shape the race by unloading some players to contenders in the coming weeks, but which ones will have the biggest impact on the stretch run?
“I would say the Marlins and the White Sox,” said one NL executive. “They both have new GMs who will be looking to reset things for their franchises.”
That would be White Sox general manager Chris Getz and Marlins president of baseball operations Peter Bendix, who are each in their first full season running their respective clubs’ baseball operations department.
“They’re both far from contention,” an AL executive said.
Chicago has a number of assets that could help jump-start a rebuild, a group headed by Luis Robert Jr. and Garrett Crochet.
Crochet, who turned 25 on Friday, is earning only $800,000 this season and is arbitration-eligible for two more seasons. His first season as a starter began in auspicious fashion, when he went 1-4 with a 6.37 ERA in his first six outings. Since then, the left-hander is 5-2 with a 1.53 ERA, striking out 90 batters while walking only 12 in 64 2/3 innings. For the season, he ranks in the top 10 percent in xERA, xBA, fastball velocity, whiff percentage and strikeout percentage.
“Given his control, he’s going to bring back a haul if the White Sox trade him,” an NL executive said. “But there isn’t going to be a ton of starting pitching available, so I wouldn’t be surprised if someone pays it.”
Robert, 26, had the best season of his career in 2023, with 38 home runs, 80 RBIs, 20 stolen bases and an .857 OPS in 145 games. No less than a half-dozen teams have already been linked to Robert in trade rumors, so despite missing two months with a hip flexor strain, the 26-year-old figures to be one of the most sought-after players in the league between now and July 30.
Like Crochet, Robert is controllable beyond 2024, though his price tag is considerably higher: he’s signed for $15 million in 2025 with $20 million club options in both 2026 and 2027.
“I bet the White Sox end up having a line for everyone,” an NL executive said. “If it gets crossed, they’ll pull the trigger.”
It’s clear that Bendix and the Marlins have a similar approach, having already dealt two-time batting champion Luis Arraez to the Padres for four prospects on May 4.
Even after moving Arraez, Miami has some impact players it can trade during the next five weeks. Josh Bell, a power bat on an expiring contract (albeit a pricy one at $16.5 million) should be dealt for the third straight summer. Tanner Scott ($5.7 million), one of the best relievers on the market this summer, is also set to become a free agent at the end of the season.
“Peter will likely move anything he can,” an AL executive said. “Scott’s peripherals may harm his demand, although some clubs may prefer to pay less for a pure rental.”
Then there’s Jazz Chisholm Jr., who is earning $2.625 million this season after losing his first arbitration case back in February. The 26-year-old infielder-turned-outfielder is arbitration-eligible for two more seasons, and after getting off to a slow start (.226/.309/.379, four home runs, 18 RBIs and five stolen bases in his first 34 games), Chisholm entered Tuesday slashing .294/.349/.488 with six homers, 19 RBIs and eight steals in 42 games since May 5.
“Jazz is an interesting case,” an AL executive said. “The swagger has outpaced his actual production, but I could see someone viewing him as one of the most valuable players on a likely seller.”
“I could definitely see Jazz getting moved if someone steps up,” an NL exec said.
The Marlins could also trade left-hander Jesús Luzardo, though he was placed on the 15-day injured list over the weekend with a back injury and then transferred to the 60-day IL, meaning he won't be eligible to return to action until at least mid-to-late August, clouding his status as a trade chip. Luzardo is earning $5.5 million in 2024 and is arbitration-eligible for each of the next two seasons.
What do Chisholm, Luzardo, Bell and Scott all have in common? All were already on the roster when Bendix took over last November.
“Peter surely is more likely to trade assets acquired by the prior regime as he tries to fully implement his plan,” an NL executive said.
Oakland’s biggest trade chip is Mason Miller, though as we broke down last week, it’s far from certain that the Athletics will move their hard-throwing closer given his five-plus years of club control.
Brent Rooker is also an intriguing candidate, but with an $800,000 salary and three years of club control remaining, there’s no urgency for GM David Forst to move him if he doesn’t like the offers coming in.
The Rockies probably have the fewest trade chips to dangle, though right-handed starter Cal Quantrill, lefty reliever Jalen Beeks and catcher Elias Díaz (currently on the 10-day IL) could be on the move before the Deadline.
Then there are the Angels, who some executives believe will be active, though not necessarily trading the same type of impact players as Chisholm, Crochet or Robert.
Unlike Getz and Bendix, GM Perry Minasian is in his fourth season running the Angels’ baseball ops department and he's in the final year of his contract, making a complete rebuild less likely.
“The Angels are just more likely to make moves in general,” said an NL executive. “There seems to be less of a clearly defined plan, so there could be more variables in their thinking.”
The Angels have a number of expiring contracts that could bring back solid returns, most notably closer Carlos Estévez, who rebounded from a shaky start and has been one of the league’s best relievers for the past month. Other impending free agents include left-hander Matt Moore, right-hander Luis García and outfielder Kevin Pillar.
There are also a number of Angels with one or two years of control who should draw interest, including left-hander Tyler Anderson ($13 million salaries in 2024 and 2025), outfielder Taylor Ward ($4.8 million in 2024, arbitration-eligible in 2025 and 2026) and second baseman Luis Rengifo ($4.4 million, arbitration-eligible in 2025), though it remains to be seen whether Minasian is willing to move players who could help the club in 2025 or beyond.
“There are some good players on those five clubs that will definitely help contenders,” an AL exec said. “The Marlins and White Sox probably have the most impactful players available – for now, anyway. The logjam will start to thin at some point and more teams will decide to sell, so the best return for [the current sellers] might be sooner rather than later.”