The 2024 MLB Trade Deadline, set for July 30, is near. With five days left before the deadline, the action was quiet. The only two major trades made before then were the Hunter Harvey deal and the trade that sent Luis Arraez to San Diego this past May. Thus, many high-end players likely to move remain. So, who are the top targets available? Here’s our ranking of the best MLB trade targets in 2024.

Best MLB Trade Deadline Targets for 2024

Here’s a look at our top 50 trade targets:

1. Jack Flaherty (SP – Tigers)
2. Tanner Scott (RP – Marlins)
3. Garrett Crochet (SP – White Sox)*
4. Kirby Yates (RP – Rangers)
5. Brent Rooker (OF – Athletics)*
6. Carlos Estevez (RP – Angels)
7. Michael Kopech (RP – White Sox)*
8. Danny Jansen (C – Blue Jays)
9. Mark Canha (OF – Tigers)
10. Tarik Skubal (SP – Tigers)*
11. David Robertson (RP – Rangers)#
12. Josh Bell (1B – Marlins)
13. Isaac Paredes (1B/3B – Rays)*
14. Tommy Pham (OF – White Sox)
15. Elias Diaz (C – Rockies)
16. Andrew Heaney (SP – Rangers)
17. Erick Fedde (SP – White Sox)*
18. Frankie Montas (SP – Reds)#
19. Yimi Garcia (RP – Blue Jays) (Mariners)
20. Yusei Kikuchi (SP – Blue Jays)
21. Jalen Beeks (RP – Rockies)
22. Aroldis Chapman (RP – Pirates)
23. Michael Lorenzen (SP – Rangers)
24. Kevin Pillar (OF – Angels)
25. Chad Green (RP – Blue Jays)*
26. Michael Conforto (OF – Giants)
27. Dylan Floro (RP – Nationals)
28. Max Kepler (OF – Twins)
29. Jesse Winker (OF – Nationals)
30. Colin Poche (RP – Rays)*
31. Anthony Bender (RP – Marlins)*
32. Zach Eflin (SP – Rays)*
33. Jameson Taillon (SP – Cubs)*
34. Matt Moore (RP – Angels)
35. Gio Urshela (INF – Tigers)
36. Hector Neris (RP – Cubs)*
37. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (1B – Blue Jays)*
38. Jazz Chisholm Jr. (2B/OF – Marlins)*
39. Ryan Mountcastle (1B – Orioles)*
40. Luis Robert Jr. (White Sox)*
41. Cedric Mullins (OF – Orioles)*
42. Bo Bichette (SS – Blue Jays)*
43. Kenley Jansen (RP – Red Sox)
44. Paul DeJong (SS – White Sox)
45. Ross Stripling (SP – Athletics)
46. Brandon Drury (2B – Angels)
47. Jose Quintana (SP – Mets)
48. Max Scherzer (SP – Rangers)
49. Pete Alonso (1B – Mets)
50. Jon Gray (SP – Rangers)*

• *denotes team control beyond 2024
• #denotes mutual option

This list is sorted by player talent, coupled with the likelihood the individual is traded. Hence, why Pete Alonso, on a competing Mets team, is low. Meanwhile, likely trade candidates, like Tommy Pham and Andrew Heaney, are much higher.

Catchers

There aren’t many strong options for teams in need behind the plate. However, two names stand out, Danny Jansen and Elias Diaz.

Jansen, part of a likely seller in Toronto, belted a career-high 17 home runs last season with the Jays. This season, he fought a wrist fracture that cost him the beginning of 2024 and posted a .211/.305/.371 slash line with above-average chase and walk rates. The 29-year-old will be a free agent after this season and has significantly more pop than Diaz.

Diaz headed into play on July 25 with a below-average wRC+ (91) but is a steady hitter who makes plenty of contact — additionally, the Rockies catcher ranked in the 84th percentile in framing (+4) per Statcast.

Infielders

Next up on our 2024 MLB trade targets list are the infielders.

The infield market isn’t stacked. Arguably, the biggest question in this section market over the coming days is what Toronto will do with Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Bo Bichette. Both won’t be free agents until after the 2025 campaign. But, the Jays were 46-55 on July 25 — nine and a half games back in the AL Wild Card — and in a tight AL East. If Toronto doesn’t think Bichette or Guerrero Jr. can be re-signed, a big decision looms.

One name to watch over the coming days is Isaac Paredes. The Rays have control of Paredes through 2027. But, the Astros are reportedly interested in the slugger. Paredes would be an ideal fit; the short porch in left for a pull-heavy hitter and the need for long-term help on the corners.

Third baseman Alex Bregman is set to walk after this season. Should Bregman do that, the Astros would have an in-house replacement.

Josh Bell, who’s been traded in each of the last two seasons, is another trade target.

Outfielders

Athletics outfielder Brent Rooker leads the charge among potential MLB outfield trade targets. Rooker has 23 home runs on the year, seven short of his career-high of 30 from 2023. The 29-year-old is an analytical specimen; one with a short swing, raw power, plus bat speed.

Rooker is controllable through 2027. But, the Athletics are in the midst of a deep rebuild and could reap the benefits of a large package for Rooker. The Phillies looked like a suitor for Rooker. However, reports indicate the Phillies don’t see him as a fit.

As far as other outfielders of note, on-base machine Mark Canha and Kevin Pillar are among the rental options. Pillar posted a .829 OPS over his first 48 games with Los Angeles. Max Kepler is another name to watch, despite the Twins’ status as a contender. Minnesota does have several left-handed hitters and the Twins are reportedly in “money in, money out” mode.

Then, there’s the question of Jazz Chisholm Jr. Chisholm Jr. is an electric player with power and speed, despite his .408 SLG being his lowest over the last three seasons. However, The Athletic noted teams have a reported concern over his makeup.

Relievers

Many of the contenders — the Orioles, Yankees, and Dodgers, among others — will need relief help over the next few days. Mason Miller, a highly-coveted name, is off the board after he was placed on the IL with a broken hand. However, many other options remain.

The crown level of the relief market is Tanner Scott, one of several Marlins pitchers who were primed to be trade targets heading into the season. However, Jesus Luzardo is on the IL and Miami’s pitching depth has eroded.

Scott is a left-hander who can dial it up to the triple digits with great efficiency. Among relief pitchers, Scott is in the top 20 in cumulative whiffs (117) and owned a sparkling 1.21 ERA heading into play on July 25.

Aside from Scott, Carlos Estevez, Kirby Yates, and Yimi Garcia, all free agents after 2024, would make sense as logical trade candidates. There could be other names involved; Hector Neris has put up inconsistent results as the Cubs closer but was electric as a setup man in Houston. Chad Green, who owns a $10M club option in 2025, has been linked to the Yankees.

Starters

As for starting pitching, the two marquee names on this list are left-handers Tarik Skubal and Garrett Crochet. Skubal leads the Majors in bWAR (5.1) among pitchers, while Crochet (4.1) isn’t far behind. However, both may very well stick in their destinations past July 30.

For Detroit, it’s simple. Skubal is under team control through 2026 and the Tigers aren’t far off from being contenders. Crochet, however, is a different story.

Even though Crochet is just 25, he’s been in the Majors for nearly four full seasons and will be eligible for free agency after 2026. However, Crochet’s reported desire for an extension and to stay in the rotation could scare teams off, especially those interested in a temporary bullpen role for him to control his innings.

Jack Flaherty, Skubal’s teammate in Detroit, is the likeliest to move. Flaherty re-invented himself in 2024. His velocity is up and he’s leaned heavily on his slider. It’s resulted in a nearly seven percent increase in whiffs.

Erick Fedde, controllable through 2025, and Andrew Heaney are among other options.

That’s our look at the top MLB trade targets for the 2024 deadline. For fantasy players, make sure to check out which relievers could assume a closer’s role after July 30.

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