With less than two months left before the 2024 MLB Trade Deadline, teams on the fringe of the playoff race must decide to buy, sell, or hold. And for teams out of it, a pending selloff looms. The 2024 MLB Trade Deadline will be interesting, so here’s a look at our rankings of the best players who may be available and sorted by likelihood of being moved.
The Likely
Let’s start with the best 2024 MLB Trade Deadline candidates among the likeliest to be moved:
- Pete Alonso (Mets)
- J.D. Martinez (Mets)
- Jose Quintana (Mets)
- Tanner Scott (Marlins)
- Elias Diaz (Rockies)
- Aroldis Chapman (Pirates)
- Josh Bell (Marlins)
- Adam Ottavino (Mets)
- Tommy Pham (White Sox)
- Dylan Floro (Nationals)
Several New York Mets headline this list, as several pending free agents could find their way out of Queens come July.
The Mets must decide what to do with Alonso, who enters the London Series with a .792 OPS (129 OPS+) and 29 extra-base hits. Alonso has one of the best power tools in the league and can be a big bat for a contender. The slugger reportedly turned down a seven-year extension this past winter, so the Mets could lose Alonso for a draft pick in November or trade him.
Aside from Alonso, the Mets could trade Jose Quintana and J.D. Martinez, pending free agents. If Quintana were to be traded, it would be the second time in three years, as he was moved two years ago to St. Louis in a deal that worked for the Cardinals. Months before he signed with the Mets, Quintana posted the fourth-lowest ERA (1.67) in the second half of 2022 (min. 50 IP).
Speaking of NL East teams that could sell, the Marlins already moved infielder Luis Arraez and face a decision on 2024-25 free agent Tanner Scott. Scott, a left-handed reliever who’s the closer for Miami, is expected to be moved out per a June ESPN report in the summer, as is Josh Bell.
There are other candidates of interest. Elias Diaz has had his two best career seasons in 2022-23 and would be an upgrade for several contenders, like the Cubs. There are also interesting relievers aside from Scott in Adam Ottavino and Dylan Floro, the latter of whom (2.51 FIP, 6.8 K/9) has rebounded well after 2023.
Now, let’s move to the next tier of 2024 MLB Trade Deadline trade candidates: the 50/50 bunch.
The Possibles
- Kenley Jansen (Red Sox)
- Erick Fedde (White Sox)
- Luis Severino (Mets)
- Jack Flaherty (Tigers)
- Garrett Crochet (White Sox)
- Jesus Luzardo (Marlins)
- Danny Jansen (Blue Jays)
- Tyler O’Neill (Red Sox)
- Paul Blackburn (Athletics)
- J.D. Davis (Athletics)
Because so many teams are still in the hunt, it’s hard to pin down which teams will sell. Some of these teams could stay in it and hold on to their pending free agents and hold players who could go to market in 2024 or 2025. Other teams, though, could be tempted to part with a big piece.
That aforementioned report from ESPN indicated that teams want to know if Tampa wants to move Randy Arozarena, a 2026-27 free agent. However, the Rays control him for two more years, Tampa’s been playing better of late, and the pitching has been there.
Several starters headline this list, including Jack Flaherty and Luis Severino, two pending free agents but two pitchers who’ve worked out well for their respective teams. Jesus Luzardo, a 2026-27 free agent, is another candidate for a Marlins team that’s in a rebuild.
The Padres reportedly called the White Sox for Garrett Crochet, a talented lefty who worked a cutter in his arsenal and has turned into a reliable option for Chicago. The Sox have him for two more years and are listening per reports but a trade for Erick Fedde, a breakout star who has one year left on his deal, would make more sense.
Other potential starters who may move include Austin Gomber and Trevor Williams, the latter of whom is on the IL with a right flexor strain.
Speaking of Sox, Boston has several free agents that would get interest. Tyler O’Neill owns a .847 OPS and is a big right-handed power bat, while Kenley Jansen would provide any contender with a jolt in their bullpen. However, Boston went 31-31 over their first 62 and remain a contender.
The Unlikely
- Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (Blue Jays)
- Bo Bichette (Blue Jays)
- Mason Miller (Athletics)
- Luis Robert Jr. (White Sox)
- JP Sears (Athletics)
General manager Ross Atkins publicly dismissed the idea of trading Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Bo Bichette, free agents after 2025. The Jays’ 2024 season hasn’t been great, as Toronto entered play on June 6 in last place in the AL East. At 29-32, Toronto could still make a run but the Blue Jays could also trade their pending free agents.
Athletics reliever Mason Miller has received plenty of attention for his triple-digit heat, including from other teams. However, Oakland is unlikely to deal Miller or J.P. Sears per reports.