We're less than a week from the MLB trade deadline and still in search of our first summer blockbuster deal.
While we wait for the trades that will define this deadline to occur, we asked ESPN MLB experts Bradford Doolittle and David Schoenfield to share the deals they most want to see.
Where do Shohei Ohtani, Max Scherzer, Nolan Arenado and other stars land in their proposals? It's time to find out.
Deals that would rock this deadline
The Los Angeles Angels should trade Shohei Ohtani (DH) and Shohei Ohtani (RHP) to the ...
Doolittle: The conceit with this annual bit is very much trades we'd like to see as opposed to trades we've heard might happen or trades that might well happen in this version of the multiverse. While I would love to see what this Giants team would do with an infusion of Ohtani-level star power, it just doesn't seem like the kind of deal Farhan Zaidi would do. Will the Giants pursue Ohtani over the winter? I think so. But I just don't see Zaidi blasting away the in-season market for a mere two months (plus October) of the game's biggest star.
Among baseball's current set of lead execs, Zaidi is the Heraclitus of the bunch -- nothing is permanent, change is constant, everything is in motion. To lock down a single roster spot (albeit for a two-way great) for two months in exchange for all kinds of future value and flexibility seems like an impediment to the Giants' embrace of the incessant flux. Could he swing a deal built around, say Kyle Harrison? Maybe, if that's what it takes to get the Angels' attention. That's also why it probably won't happen.
Yet I'd love to see it happen. The Giants are in great shape to get into the postseason and let's not forget that getting in last season is what mattered in a circuit that featured the No. 5 and 6 seeds in its National League Championship Series. But the Giants, as constructed, would be big underdogs in a series against either the Atlanta Braves or Los Angeles Dodgers. And there is little to differentiate them from other NL contenders, like the Milwaukee Brewers, Philadelphia Phillies, Cincinnati Reds and Arizona Diamondbacks.
Ohtani is a differentiator, perhaps the game's biggest, and landing him would give the Giants a head start on an offseason pursuit. Let's do this and turn the Bay Area on its head from now until autumn. Having Ohtani in a Giants uniform as a prelude to the winter league would make the Giants' encounters with the Dodgers that much spicier.
Schoenfield: The multiverse can certainly be confusing, but so is conjuring up logical Ohtani trade scenarios. Tampa Bay is not only the team I'd love to see him land with if the Angels do make a trade, but also a reasonable destination. The Rays have every reason to go all-in for a player they could never dream of signing on the open market -- the perfect rental who could lead them to their first World Series title.
Look at where the Rays are: One, they're a very good team, but it stumbled in July, so Tampa Bay needs to make a big move now that so it isn't looking up at the Orioles in the standings. Two, the Rays are thin in the rotation, using an opener as their fifth starter with Shane McClanahan and Taj Bradley also scuffling of late. Three, who couldn't use the best hitter in the game as their DH? Four, they have the farm system to make a deal, with a mix of helium prospects like Junior Caminero or Carson Williams and Curtis Mead and Kyle Manzardo, who are ready for the majors. Five, they have a front office that is probably a little more daring than you think -- certainly, it feels like the Rays are more likely to make a big move for a rental than the Orioles. And yes, even the Rays can absorb the $10 million Ohtani will make over the final two months.
The St. Louis Cardinals should trade one of their star infielders to the ...
Doolittle: And it should be Arenado. The Cardinals have pledged to mix things up, though they've also suggested that they'd prefer not to do it by dealing Arenado or Paul Goldschmidt. Well, we don't have to abide by that, so our office is wide open for business. The Cardinals need pitching and, in particular, they need high-octane, strikeout pitching. That is what the Marlins specialize in. Seems like a perfect match. The Cardinals have young sluggers who can follow Arenado at third base in Nolan Gorman and Jordan Walker, which makes this deal a little less painful.
From the Marlins' standpoint, this is a chance to maximize your opportunity now but also to add a star like Arenado who fixes numerous problems. Miami badly needs a middle-of-the-order run producer. Arenado is one of the best RBI guys in the game. They need better production at third base and improved team defense behind its pitching. Arenado is the perfect fit. This is an upstart Marlins roster, and adding Arenado helps bring it into focus. Best part of it: He's under contract through 2027.
Schoenfield: And it should be Goldschmidt. No, I'm not quite ready to jump on the Ryan O'Hearn bandwagon just yet -- even if he has been hitting cleanup when he starts at first base (as the strong side of the platoon with Ryan Mountcastle, who has a .279 OBP). O'Hearn's batted-ball data isn't all that different from last season with the Royals and he still has a poor strikeout-to-walk ratio, so if I'm the Orioles I would fear regression coming. They can still use O'Hearn as the DH, and if he keeps hitting then the lineup with him and Goldschmidt is that much stronger. Goldschmidt has another year on his contract so he's not just a rental and his $22 million salary for 2024 isn't a major disruption to the Angelos family bank. The Orioles need starting pitching? Don't worry, they have the prospects to make multiple deadline deals -- and remember, runs are runs, whether you're adding them or subtracting them (and a hitter like Goldschmidt is probably a safer bet to keep performing at a high level than any of the pitchers out there).
For the Cardinals, it's time to admit it's not happening this season and figure out how to best reshape the club for the future. Trading Goldschmidt for two playoff runs maximizes the return for him and will allow them to move Gorman to first base after they've shoehorned him into second base the past two seasons. Or they can keep Gorman at second base/DH and move Walker to first since he's struggled in the outfield. Or they can play Luken Baker, who has a 1.116 OPS at Triple-A. No matter what, they have good options to replace Goldschmidt. Yes, a bold in-season move like this doesn't fit how the Cardinals normally operate, but this season is perhaps an indicator that the franchise needs to be a little more adventurous.
The New York Mets should trade Max Scherzer to the ...
Arizona Diamondbacks
Doolittle: This hasn't been a representative of a Scherzer season, and given that he's 38 years old, you can't discount suggestions that he might be on the downslope. But I'm willing to gamble that the ups and downs of the Mets' frustrating season is only making Scherzer angry and would make him particularly vicious for a stretch run with a team in contention, assuming of course he is willing to go. I could see a Scherzer deal being the 2023 version of Randy Johnson to the Astros (1998) or CC Sabathia to the Brewers (2008). Meanwhile, the Diamondbacks have prospect depth from which to deal and more of a need for a pitching upgrade than any other contender, with the possible exception of the Orioles rotation. There is also a homecoming aspect that I find appealing since Scherzer began his MLB career for the Snakes back in 2008.
Cincinnati Reds
Schoenfield: Scherzer holds all the cards here. He has a no-trade clause and a $43 million player option for 2024. In other words, he can dictate where he goes and his salary means he'll be difficult to trade -- and we don't know if the Mets necessarily want to start over in 2024, no matter how ugly it's been in 2023. That leaves Scherzer essentially chasing another ring: He's made plenty of money and his spot in the Hall of Fame is secure. Unfortunately, the best team to win one with is the Braves and the Mets aren't trading him to Atlanta. Cincinnati might not be Scherzer's ideal landing spot, and it's hard to envision the Reds paying him $43 million next season (or even one-third of that for the final two months of 2023), but they need starters. It would be fun to see Scherzer playing alongside Elly De La Cruz and Joey Votto and again this piece is titled trades we want to see, so I want to see the Reds go for it and make a big splash.
The San Diego Padres should trade Blake Snell and Josh Hader to the ...
Tampa Bay Rays
Doolittle: The Rays have been losing a ton of close games lately, going 4-15 over their past 19 games decided by two runs or fewer. Thus, they've gone from competing against history (1998 Yankees, 2001 Mariners, etc.) to returning to the pack of contenders in the American League. The Rays are famously flexible with bullpen roles but mostly because they've always had to be creative. Having a ninth-inning hammer like Hader simplifies matters for Kevin Cash, both now and into October. Meanwhile, Snell has been dealing for San Diego and obviously the Rays are very familiar with his work. What would be fascinating: How much leash would the Rays give Snell in third-time-through-the-order spots this time around? Opponents are hitting .091 in 100 third-time plate appearances against him this season. This would also be a splashy move that fits with the Rays' M.O. since both stars are on expiring deals.
Cincinnati Reds
Schoenfield: Did you know Snell leads the majors with a 2.61 ERA? That sneaked up on us but it points to Snell's value. I don't see A.J. Preller doing that, but Snell and Hader are free agents and even the deep-pocketed, Padres have their payroll limitations, so they probably can't afford to re-sign those two. That might put a trade in the works -- maybe even as a package deal, ala Scherzer and Trea Turner going to the Dodgers a couple of years ago.
I'm going with the Reds. Yeah, I know I just had them adding Scherzer above. But that trade might not even cost them any prospects if they're just taking on his salary. Dear Nick Krall and his penny-pinching overlords: Imagine a postseason rotation with Scherzer, Snell, red-hot rookie Andrew Abbott (1.90 ERA in 10 starts) and maybe Hunter Greene if he can get healthy. And Hader and Alexis Diaz as the one-two punch out of the bullpen? Whoa. Suddenly the Braves wouldn't look so unbeatable.
Deals that would strengthen rotations
The Chicago White Sox should trade Lucas Giolito to the ...
Baltimore Orioles
Doolittle: The Orioles really, really need a rotation upgrade for their looming postseason run. Maybe more than one. I love Giolito as an established veteran, still hungry, with a lot to prove in advance of free agency. He's also a brainy tinkerer type and I'd love to see the meeting of the minds between Giolito and the Orioles analytical/development groups. Matching up should be easy too as the Orioles can pull from fairly deep in their system and offer talented prospects who would improve a shallow Chicago organization.
Schoenfield: The Rangers and Giolito would go together like peanut butter and jelly. The Rangers' rotation ERA by month: 3.40, 3.16, 4.16, 5.09. Oh, they also just announced they're going to skip all their starters for one turn to rest them (Nathan Eovaldi's fastball velocity was down his last start, which might have prompted the decision). Factor in that Eovaldi, Jon Gray and Andrew Heaney have rarely made it through a full season in recent years and you have to wonder how this group will perform down the stretch. Rookies Owen White and Cody Bradford don't look like big difference-makers. Giolito has been prone to homers, which is a concern, but he chews up innings and would be an upgrade over Heaney or Martin Perez or even allow the Rangers to use a six-man rotation as they attempt to fight off the Astros.
The Chicago Cubs should trade Marcus Stroman to the ...
Baltimore Orioles
Doolittle: Stroman has really not gotten as much buzz as he probably should this season, given how well he's pitched, how consistent he's been and given that he's playing for a high-profile team. In Baltimore, he'd be the rotation-topper the Orioles could use heading into the playoffs. He's really developed his arsenal to work deep into games (his third-time through numbers over the past couple of years are dazzling) and a pitcher like that can not only win games, but he can save wear and tear on the bullpen. And yes, I'm penciling both Stroman and Giolito into the Baltimore rotation.
Atlanta Braves
Schoenfield: The rich get richer -- as is often the case at the trade deadline. With some minor concerns about their rotation depth at the moment, the Braves don't want to go into the postseason with uncertainty in that department. Yes, they somehow made that work in 2021, but Stroman would be a great addition for October. As a bonus, they can acclimate him to the organizational culture and perhaps make a pitch to re-sign him as a free agent.
The St. Louis Cardinals should trade Jack Flaherty to the ...
Atlanta Braves
Doolittle: Atlanta traded for Taylor Hearn and Pierce Johnson this week, adding depth to its bullpen. In a teleconference afterward, Alex Anthopoulos said that Hearn gives them some bullpen length and an optionable lefty, which the Braves didn't have. Johnson gives them a little more swing-and-miss ability from the right side, which Anthopoulos believed the Braves were light on. All of this is to say: This is a really, really good Braves team, one with a roster so complete that it can make microfocused moves like that. I feel like Flaherty has a lot to prove and I'd love to see what tweaks he would make with a new team. Not bagging on the Cardinals here, but sometimes a change of scenery is just what a player needs, especially in a contract year. The Braves would acquire a veteran with perhaps untapped upside who would give them coverage if the injuries to Max Fried and Kyle Wright become ongoing problems.
Schoenfield: The Red Sox were in a nearly identical position last year when they were a game under .500 on Aug. 1, but still just 3½ games out of the final wild-card spot. Chaim Bloom decided to play it down the middle, trading away Christian Vazquez and Jake Diekman, while acquiring Tommy Pham and Reese McGuire. Red Sox Nation expects Bloom to be a little more aggressive this time around and the need is obvious: starting pitching. Chris Sale, Tanner Houck, Garrett Whitlock and Corey Kluber are all on the injured list. If the Red Sox do make a move or two, it's most likely to be in the second tier of starters -- somebody like Flaherty, who could be a good upside play given his 3.31 ERA over his past 10 stats, or maybe a fourth go-around with Rich Hill.
Deals that would add some needed lineup thump
The Chicago Cubs should trade Cody Bellinger to the ...
Doolittle: If I'm honest here, I'd like to see Bellinger go back to the Dodgers, if only to see him have a better send-off than a non-tender. But Dave claimed that one first. And so if I'm doubling down on honesty, I'd love to see Bellinger go to the Brewers. He'd be a great fit there and we'd get a feel-good Yelli-and-Belli Show reprisal. And we'd get to see the Cubs fan base lose their ivy-coated minds when their not-quite-out-of-contention team deals their center fielder to the club they are chasing. Alas, I'm keeping at least one foot in reality here and the Twins really could use an upgrade on offense. It doesn't look like Byron Buxton is going to return to playing the outfield any time soon and Bellinger would offer a lot more offense than the Michael A. Taylor/Willi Castro combo the Twins have been using in center.
Los Angeles Dodgers
Schoenfield: I know this is as probably as unlikely as the Dodgers announcing a change to their uniforms, but ... how about Cody Bellinger back to L.A.? Hear me out, Dodgers fans. This is the new and improved Cody Bellinger! OK, maybe not the 2019 MVP version, but he's been really good for the Cubs, with a 141 OPS+. He's cut his strikeout rate from 27% the past two seasons to 17.1%. Yes, his exit velocity is well below what it used to be, so I don't know if that .314 average is legit (probably not, based on his Statcast hit data), but at least he's making more contact and you know about his defense. Consider the current options in the outfield: James Outman? He was great in April, but a whiff machine since. David Peralta? Serviceable, but he would be a nice bat off the bench. Jason Heyward? No, I can't believe he's been hitting either. Mookie Betts? Hey, he's been playing second base lately. Does an outfield of Peralta, Outman and Heyward sound like a championship-caliber outfield? When you're facing top pitching in October? Bellinger, at least the way he's played so far, would be an upgrade. Forgive and forget and forgive a little more, Dodgers fans, because you need Cody back in center field.
The Washington Nationals should trade Jeimer Candelario to the ...
Milwaukee Brewers
Doolittle: With Luis Urias struggling with injuries and production so badly he ended up being shipped back to the minors, the Brewers could use help on the infield corners. Candelario is having a really good year and as a switch-hitter who can play third, first and operate as a DH, he'd give Craig Counsell another weapon with flexibility. It's not an ideal fit, as the Brewers need help against right-handed pitching more than anything and Candelario tends to be much better against southpaws, but few managers are as skilled at deploying players according to their strengths as Counsell, so I'm sure he could make it work. The Brewers definitely need to add a bat.
Schoenfield: I originally had this as the Phillies, until I saw Kyle Schwarber dive for a ball down the left-field line on Monday and fail to make the play -- allowing the go-ahead run to score in the ninth inning. So yes, the Bryce Harper experiment at first base makes a lot of sense if it allows the Phillies to move Schwarber to DH and acquire a left fielder. I mean, I don't think moving Schwarber to DH to play Jake Cave is what the Phillies are thinking, so they could add an outfielder. But Candelario isn't an outfielder, so let's give him to the Yankees. They need a hitter and if they acquire him you know damn well he'll hit .355 with 14 home runs over two months because that kind of stuff always happens to the Yankees.