2024 MLB Trade Deadline: All the Top Rumors and Breaking News
It's MLB Trade Deadline season! Here are all the rumors, breaking news stories, and moves to follow regarding 2024's Major League Baseball hot stove.
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Updated: July 30th, at 7:40 PM EST
We are about two hours removed from the trade deadline, and a lot happened in the final few hours. Let’s recap everything that took place, starting from those final moves that were made right before the 6:00 PM buzzer.
Final Trades of the Deadline
Phillies and Orioles Swing Reliever Trade
A few days ago, the Orioles acquired RHP Seranthony Dominguez in exchange for OF Austin Hays.
At the buzzer of the 6 p.m. deadline, the Orioles acquired another Phillies bullpen arm, this time it was LHP Gregory Soto. Soto has posted a 4.08 ERA in 35.1 IP for Philadelphia in 2024. He’ll slot into the middle of this revamped Orioles bullpen.
The Orioles have been a top-tier team in both starting pitching and offense. The only unit of their team that has ranked towards the middle of the pack has been their reliever corps. With power righty and lockdown closer, Felix Bautista on the shelf for all of 2024, GM Mike Elias is likely looking to replace him with a “closer by committee” strategy.
With the pair of arms they picked up from the Phillies this week, their ‘pen looks a lot better than it did. The Orioles strengthen the only part of their team that hasn’t been elite.
RHP Seth Johnson was traded to Philadelphia in return for Soto.
Dylan Carlson and Shawn Armstrong Swapped
The Tampa Bay Rays and the St. Louis Cardinals swung a deal to swap OF Dylan Carlson and RHP Shawn Armstrong.
Carlson has struggled to stay healthy and at this point in his career with the Cardinals, a change of scenery might just be exactly what this switch-hitter needs. He’s several years removed from his 111 wRC+ 2021 season, which saw him accumulate 2.4 fWAR.
Since 2021, Carlson has hit to the tune of an 87 wRC+ and been worth 1.2 fWAR in 263 games. The Rays will look to help Carlson refind his old self in Tampa Bay.
Shawn Armstrong posted a 1.38 ERA in 52 innings in 2023. It was by far the best season of his career. In 2024, he’s put up a 5.40 ERA through 46.2 innings and has seen an uptick in his walk rates. He adds depth to the Cardinals’ bullpen that has ranked in the top 10 in ERA on the year.
Jack Flaherty Goes to the Dodgers
Former California high schooler, Jack Flaherty, returns to his home state of California in a trade between the Detroit Tigers and the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Flaherty is in the midst of the best season of his career. Through 106.2 innings, Flaherty has posted a 2.95 ERA. His strikeout rates are at a career-high and his command has been pristine.
The Dodgers have had arguably the worst luck when it comes to starting pitcher health this season. Flaherty is a fantastic get for LA as the postseason inches closer.
The prospects heading to Detroit are C Thayron Liranzo, who ranks 67th on Just Baseball’s top 100 list, and OF Trey Sweeney.
We’ll have a full article diving into the specifics of this trade coming in the near future.
Orioles Get Eloy Jimenez
The Orioles will be taking on the contract of Eloy Jiminez from the Chicago White Sox. The White Sox DH has struggled to stay on the field as of late. However, in his prime, Jiminez was one of baseball’s better hitters.
In 2022, Eloy posted a 141 OPS+ but since then, he’s played in just 185 games in the past season, hitting to the tune of a 97 OPS+.
A new environment for Jiminez might be the thing that he needs to return to his slugging ways. A winning environment like Baltimore could be a great change of scenery. He adds even more depth to one of the league’s most electrifying offenses.
Relief pitcher Trey McGough is the return heading to Chicago.
Mets Add More Reliever Depth
RHP Huascar Brazoban of the Miami Marlins is headed to the Mets.
Brazoban, who is under control through the 2028 season, has posted a 2.93 ERA through 30.2 IP this season. His fastball sits in the mid to high 90s and he offers a plus changeup. The Mets get a controlled arm in exchange for INF Wilfredo Luca, who has spent all of 2024 in High-A.
Pirates Add A Pair of Bats Within Minutes of Each Other
The Pirates acquired OF Bryan De La Cruz from the Marlins and INF Isiah Kiner-Falefa from the Blue Jays.
De La Cruz has a few years of control following the conclusion of 2024. The righty outfielder will help improve a Pirates outfield that has struggled to produce offensively, aside from star, Bryan Reynolds.
The Pirates have struggled to hit LHP, something that De La Cruz does well. This move immediately improves their roster for the stretch this season and gives them a cost-controlled option for years to come.
In return, the Marlins continue to reel in prospects. The return headed to Miami is RHP Jun-Seok Shim, who Just Baseball’s Jack McMullen was quoted saying the righty has “video game stuff”. INF Garret Forrester is also headed over in the deal.
The Pirates also picked up INF Isiah Kiner-Falefa from Toronto. IKF has quietly put together the best season of his career. He’s posted a 116 wRC+ and 2.0 fWAR in 83 games for the Jays this year. He adds defensive versatility and new-found offensive value to a Pirates squad that very much needed it. The prospect heading to Toronto is OF Charles McAdoo.
Mets Land Tyler Zuber
The New York Mets traded for Rays RHP Tyler Zuber in exchange for RHP Paul Gervase.
Zuber is a 29-year-old righty who spent most of the season in Triple-A for Tampa Bay. In 21.2 IP, Zuber posted a 2.49 ERA. Since being promoted, he’s pitched in 3.1 innings. Zuber has electric stuff, headlined by a slider and a fastball at 95 MPH. He’ll be a middle-relief option for manager Carlos Mendoza in Queens.
Tanner Scott and Bryan Hoeing to the Padres
AJ Preller has not hesitated to dish out San Diego’s top prospects for talent in 2024. This time, it’s for a pair of arms from the Miami Marlins.
LHP Tanner Scott has been the best lefty relief pitcher in baseball this season. He’ll join the back-end of this Padres bullpen alongside Robert Suarez, Jeremiah Estrada, and recently acquired Jason Adam.
Scott has posted a 1.18 ERA through 45.2 innings this season. He’ll further improve an already solid San Diego bullpen that ranks third in K/9. The lefty will enter free agency following season’s end.
Hoeing has started only two games in 2024 but through 30 innings of work, he’s posted a career-best 2.70 ERA. Hoeing has just over a year of MLB service time, he’ll be under team control for a few more years after 2024. Hoeing has seen an uptick in stuff, leading to career-high strikeouts.
The return for these two pitchers is the largest package we’ve seen this deadline. Four players; INF Graham Pauley, LHP Robby Snelling, RHP Adam Mazur, and INF Jay Beshears are the prospects going to the Marlins. Three of the four players listed here landed on Just Baseball’s Top 15 Padres prospects list from earlier this year.
A piece diving into the full package of prospects going to Miami will be out on Just Baseball in the coming hours.
Trevor Richards to the Twins
The Twins had a quiet trade window prior to trading for Blue Jays reliever, Trevor Richards. Richards has posted a 4.62 ERA in the last four seasons. 2024 has been a typical Trevor Richards season. The 31-year-old righty has been a 4.64 ERA pitcher. He’s seen his strikeout rates take a dip this year.
In return, the Jays are receiving 22-year-old Jay Harry, an INF prospect in High-A. Harry has posted a 91 wRC+ through 82 games with eight homers and five stolen bases.
Paul Blackburn goes to the Mets
The New York Mets get some support in their starting rotation by adding 30-year-old RHP Paul Blackburn.
Blackburn has started nine games in 2024, pitching to a 4.41 ERA. He’s been a consistent four-and-a-half ERA starter over the past three seasons for the Oakland A’s. His best season came in 2023 when the righty threw 103.2 innings of 4.43 ERA ball.
He’ll join a Mets rotation to help supply them with solid innings as they continue to hold onto to their spot in the NL Wild Card. Second-year pitcher, Kodai Senga, recently went back on the IL with a strained calf following his first start of 2024. Manager Carlos Mendoza said that he is likely done for the season.
The Mets’ starters rank 16th in the league in ERA and 20th in WHIP this year. Blackburn isn’t the flashiest starter but he’ll take some weight off of the shoulders of these Mets pitchers. Namely, Tylor Megil, who has posted a 5.20 ERA through nine starts in 2024.
In exchange for Blackburn, the A’s received RHP Kade Morris from the Mets. Morris has split time between Single-A and High-A this season, posting a 3.51 ERA in 92.1 IP.
Other Minor Trades
- Toronto trades OF Kevin Kiermaier to the Los Angeles Dodgers in exchange for P Ryan Yarbrough
- LHP Martin Perez traded to the San Diego Padres
- Yankees acquire RHP Enyel De Los Santos
- P Luis Garcia traded from the Los Angeles Angels to the Boston Red Sox
- LHP Tanner Banks traded from the Chicago White Sox to the Philadelphia Phillies
- Arizona Diamondbacks acquire RHP Dylan Floro from the Washington Nationals
- The Baltimore Orioles acquired OF Austin Slater from the Cincinnati Reds
Updated: July 30th, at 3:15 PM EST
Trades So Far on July 30th
Mariners Acquire JT Chargois from Marlins
Chargois has been a quietly reliable piece for quite some time now. Dating back to 2021, he’s suited up for three different teams and been solid for all of them. In a combined 138 outings during that time, he has a 2.73 ERA while functioning exclusively as a middle-inning arm.
This is Chargois’ second go-round in a Mariners uniform, as he inked a minor league contract with them back in 2021, eventually making 31 appearances for them before being flipped at the deadline to the Rays.
Will Schomberg, a right-handed starting pitching prospect, is heading to the Marlins in this deal. He’s a 23-year-old hurler who has excelled in what is his first full year in professional ball. Schomberg made 19 starts between the Mariners’ A-ball and High-A affiliates, striking out over 11 batters per nine innings while boasting a cool 2.83 ERA.
Royals Stay Busy, Acquire Lucas Erceg from the A’s
Two Royals deals are coming to fruition at the exact same time. While the ink on the DeJong deal is finalizing, the Royals are also landing relief pitcher Lucas Erceg from the Oakland A’s. Erceg, a former position player, is in his second year in the big leagues as a pitcher and has looked sharp, posting a 3.68 ERA in 38 appearances.
He’s under control for a whopping five more years, which undoubtedly drove his value way up. Heading back to Oakland is a trio of prospects in outfielder Jared Dickey and right-handed pitchers Mason Barnett and Will Klein.
Dickey, 22, was the Royals’ 11th-round pick in last year’s MLB Draft. He recorded 24 extra-base hits with 40 RBI and a .784 OPS in 81 games for the organization’s High-A affiliate.
Barnett is the Royals’ No. 11 prospect per Baseball America’s latest rankings. He was a third-round pick in the 2022 draft and figures to turn into a solid starter down the line. While his 4.91 ERA in Double-A this year leaves a bit to be desired, he’s still striking out a ton of batters and he’s brought his walks per nine down a bit from last season. Still a work in progress, but he looks legit.
Klein (BA No. 16) made the first five appearances of his big league career last month, allowing four runs on 10 hits in 5.2 innings of work. He’s a 6-foot-5 building of a man who will be a high-strikeout back-end reliever down the line.
Royals Land Paul DeJong from White Sox
For the second straight year, Paul DeJong is on the move at the trade deadline. Last year, he was dealt to the Blue Jays but he hit just .068 through 13 games before being released and latching on with the Giants, where he hit .184 in 18 contests.
This year, things have been going much better for the 2019 All-Star. DeJong hit 18 home runs with 41 RBI 102 pre-trade games, posting a respectable but still below-average 95 OPS+ along the way.
Heading back to the White Sox is young right-hander Jarold Rosado, who is a relief-pitching prospect with high-strikeout stuff. The 21-year-old made 27 appearances for the Royals’ A-ball affiliate before the trade, posting a 1.85 ERA with 45 strikeouts and just 11 walks in 39 innings.
Rangers Acquire Andrew Chafin
The Texas Rangers and Detroit Tigers are lining up on a swap that will send veteran left-hander Andrew Chafin from DET to TEX. Chafin, 34, is an 11-year veteran who is well-traveled at this stage in his career.
This year, he made 41 appearances for the Tigers, posting a 3.16 ERA and 2.53 FIP in 37 innings of work. His K/9 is over 12 while he’s also managed to lower his walks per nine innings by a full walk this season.
Guardians Finalizing Trade for Alex Cobb
The Cleveland Guardians and San Francisco Giants are close to finishing a trade that will send veteran right-hander Alex Cobb to Cleveland in exchange for pitching prospect Jacob Bresnahan and a player to be named later.
Cobb has not yet pitched in the majors this season as he recovers from offseason hip surgery (and numerous setbacks). However, he was a reliable mid-rotation arm from 2021-23, posting a 3.79 ERA and 3.29 FIP over 74 starts. He made his first All-Star team in 2023 at 35 years old.
Now 36, Cobb is nearing his return from the IL and is expected to make his 2024 debut soon.
Bresnahan, 19, is a lottery ticket-type, currently pitching in Single-A. He had a 2.54 ERA over 11 starts in the Complex League before he was promoted to Single-A Lynchburg. In one start for the Lynchburg Hillcats, he gave up two runs in four innings of work.
Cobb will be a free agent at the end of this season.
Yankees Trade Caleb Ferguson to Astros
The Yankees have traded left-handed reliever Caleb Ferguson to the Astros. The southpaw has a 5.13 ERA and 4.50 xERA in 42 appearances this season. From 2018-23, he posted a 3.43 ERA over 243 games with the Dodgers.
The Astros are sending an as-of-yet unnamed prospect back to New York, along with international bonus pool space (per Jack Curry of YES).
Angels Land Mike Baumann from the Giants
The Angels have landed relief pitcher Mike Baumann from the San Francisco Giants, who was recently designated for assignment. Baumann has a 4.84 ERA this season.
In exchange, the Giants received cash considerations from the Angels.
Diamondbacks Trade for Josh Bell
The Diamondbacks lost Chrisitan Walker to an oblique injury yesterday and needed a stopgap replacement at first base. They got that by acquiring Josh Bell off of waivers from the Marlins.
Arizona will cover a portion of Bell’s salary to make the deal, without having to send a prospect to Miami.
Bell has not been great this year, but has hit five home runs over his last 33 plate appearances, so the D-backs will hope he stays hot.
Updated: July 30th, at 2:15 PM EST
Orioles Trade a Haul for LHP Trevor Rogers
The Baltimore Orioles have swung a big trade to add more help to their rotation, landing left-handed pitcher Trevor Rogers from the Miami Marlins.
Rogers burst onto the scene back in 2021, when he pitched to a 2.64 ERA across 25 starts, making the All-Star team and finishing second in the Rookie of the Year race to Jonathan India. Ever since then, Rogers has struggled to find the same success in the big leagues.
His sophomore season was a disappointment, as he pitched to a 5.47 ERA in 23 starts. Last year, he missed all but four starts due to injury. Finally healthy, Rogers has made every start this year and has pitched to a 4.53 ERA in 105 1/3 innings pitched.
The 26-year-old has been getting stronger as the year has worn on, having pitched to a 3.32 ERA across his last 11 starts and 59 2/3 innings pitched. Rogers still has two years of arbitration left beyond this season.
Now with all of that said, the Orioles gave up a ton to get Rogers, trading outfielder Kyle Stowers and infield prospect Connor Norby. Both Stowers and Norby have been blocked from the big league roster for the Orioles, but will immediately become everyday players in Miami.
In Triple-A this year, Norby has hit .297/.389/.519 with 16 home runs, 13 stolen bases and a 134 wRC+. He can play second, third, and either corner spot in the outfield, giving the Marlins a very versatile piece.
Stowers, on the other hand, brings crazy power to the table, but has been blocked from the big league roster for some time. Over parts of the last four seasons, Stowers has hit 57 home runs across 243 games played in Triple-A.
When up with the big league club this year, Stowers has hit .306/.297/.500 with a 119 wRC+ in 19 games played and 37 plate appearances.
Updated: July 30th, at 1:50 PM EST
We have a few trades starting to trickle in to open up deadline day. So far, these are just minor moves with relief pitchers changing hands.
Three Relief Pitchers Get Moved
- The New York Yankees have acquired RHP Mark Leiter Jr. in exchange for infielder Ben Cowles and RHP Jack Neely. Leiter has a 4.21 ERA on the season, but an xERA of 2.61 with great underlying data.
- The Pittsburgh Pirates have traded for LHP Josh Walker from the New York Mets. Walker was recently DFA’d and had pitched to a 5.11 ERA in the big leagues this year. In exchange, the Mets receive 18-year-old LHP Nicolas Carreno.
- Lastly, the Boston Red Sox are trading for Reds reliever Lucas Sims. The 30-year-old is pitching to a 3.57 ERA in 35 1/3 innings pitched this year and will be a free agent after the season.
Updated: July 30th at 10:45 AM EST
Recapping All the MLB Trade Deadline Moves From July 29th
Braves Reunite with Jorge Soler and Luke Jackson
Two notable pieces of the 2021 World Series team are heading back to Atlanta, as the Braves are acquiring OF/DH Jorge Soler and RP Luke Jackson from the San Francisco Giants.
Soler has been solid for the Giants in the first year of the three-year contract he signed this past offseason. So far this year, he’s slashing .240/.330/.419 with 12 homers, 40 RBI, a 115 wRC+ and a 0.8 fWAR in 392 plate appearances.
He’ll provide an offensive boost to a Braves lineup that has not looked like itself in 2024. As a team, the Braves currently sit 20th in fWAR (10.1) and 19th in wRC+ (96).
Jackson has struggled so far this season in San Francisco and could do with a change of scenery by heading back to a familiar environment.
In 2024, Jackson sports a 5.40 ERA and 1.53 WHIP across 35.0 innings of work out of the Giants ‘pen. But, he sported a 2.97 ERA and 11.61 K/9 for the Giants last season, coming off a year out in 2022 due to Tommy John surgery.
And in his last season in Atlanta in 2021, Jackson posted a career-best 1.98 ERA for the eventual World Series champs.
In return, the Giants will receive lefty reliever Tyler Matzek and minor league infielder Sabin Ceballos.
Matzek missed all of last season with Tommy John and has not pitched since May 30 this season due to elbow inflammation. When he has pitched this season, he’s struggled. In 10.0 innings of work for the Giants in 2024 he put up a 9.90 ERA.
The 21-year-old infielder Ceballos has spent this season in Low-A where he’s been very solid, slashing .259/.353/.354 with three home runs and 30 RBI in 377 plate appearances.
The Pirates Trade for Jalen Beeks
The Pittsburgh Pirates and Colorado Rockies agreed to a minor trade on Monday, with Colorado sending southpaw Jalen Beek to Pittsburgh in exchange for left-handed pitching prospect Luis Peralta.
Beeks has a 4.74 ERA this year in 45 appearances (49.1 IP), but his 3.65 xERA is much more impressive. He has been one of the more durable lefty relievers in baseball since his debut in 2018. He ranks 16th among left-handed relievers with 281.2 IP over the past seven seasons – and that is despite missing the entire 2021 season rehabbing from Tommy John surgery.
His best season came in 2022 with the Rays, when he put up a 2.80 ERA in 61.0 IP, proving he had made a full recovery from his UCL injury. Beeks has looked less dominant in each of the past two years, though he remains a capable middle reliever.
Luis Peralta, whose older brother is Freddy Peralta of the Brewers, has a 0.91 ERA and 64 strikeouts in 39.2 innings this year between High-A and Double-A. MLB Pipeline ranks him as the No. 30 prospect in the Rockies’ system.
The Brewers Trade for Frankie Montas
The Milwaukee Brewers needed to add to their rotation at the deadline this year, and they found their man inside the division. The Brewers are in agreement with the Cincinnati Reds for a trade that will land them veteran RHP Frankie Montas.
Montas has made 19 starts this year, pitching to a 5.01 ERA across 93 1/3 innings pitched. Considering the Reds’ place in the Wild Card race, it made sense to cash in on Montas, who is signed to just a one-year deal.
For the Brewers, they needed an arm and while Montas is not having a great year, he is at least a veteran who can eat innings for them. In exchange, they are landing outfielder Joey Weimer and relief pitcher Jakob Junis.
Weimer is a former top-100 prospect who has struggled so far whenever given big league opportunities. Still, he is just 25 years old and could benefit from a change of scenery.
Junis has pitched to a 2.42 ERA out of the Brewers bullpen this year and has a mutual option for 2025, which could keep him in Cincinnati for next season.
Houston Astros Trade for Yusei Kikuchi
The Houston Astros needed to address their starting rotation at the deadline, but it certainly came at a steep cost. The Astros have traded for left-handed starter Yusei Kikuchi in exchange for a package of three prospects. The headliner in the deal is outfielder Joey Loperfido, who has struggled in his rookie year, but was one of the top prospects in the Astros system going into the year.
Infield prospect Will Wagner and RHP Jake Bloss are also heading to Toronto in the deal. We will have a full article breaking down the package coming soon.
When it comes to the Kikuchi, the Astros are clearly buying on a player based on his expected numbers. The veteran left-hander has a 4.75 ERA in 22 starts this year, but his xERA is 3.98 and his FIP is 3.64. Kikuchi has racked up 130 strikeouts in 115 2/3 innings pitched.
Guardians Land Lane Thomas
The Cleveland Guardians added some offensive help to their lineup today, acquiring outfielder Lane Thomas from the Washington Nationals. Thomas is hitting .253/.331/.407 on the season, but has some dramatic splits, which make him the perfect platoon bat.
When facing left-handed pitching this season, Thomas is hitting .326/.410/.512, with a .922 OPS and a 160 wRC+. Compare that to his .663 OPS and 87 wRC+, and it is clear where he holds the most value. He also is an aggressive baserunner, having stolen 28 bases this year, although he is leading the league in getting caught 12 times.
In exchange for Thomas, the Guardians sent a package of three prospects with infielders Rafael Ramirez and Jose Tena both being in the deal, along with left-handed pitcher Alex Clemmey.
Clemmey is the prize of the deal, as he was a second-round pick out of high school for the Guardians just last year. In his first season this year, Clemmey has made 19 starts in Low-A and has pitched to a 4.67 ERA, but with 97 strikeouts in 69 1/3 innings pitched.
Dodgers Trade for Amed Rosario…Again
For the second trade deadline in a row, the Los Angeles Dodgers have made a trade to acquire Amed Rosario. Last year, the Dodgers landed Rosario in a deal with the Cleveland Guardians, adding a much-needed infielder to their roster.
After acquiring a versatile utilityman earlier in the day with Tommy Edman, the Dodgers doubled down by trading with the Rays for Rosario. The 28-year-old is having a career year offensively in regards to his slash line, boasting a career-best batting average and on-base percentage with his .307/.331/.417 line. His 115 wRC+ is also the best mark of his career.
Once a shortstop, Rosario has added right field to his tool-kit this year, while also getting time at short, third and second base. Considering the fact that Edman has yet to play a game this year after an offseason wrist surgery, adding Rosario represents a solid contingency plan.
In return for Rosario, the Rays are acquiring minor league right-handed pitcher Michael Flynn.
The 27-year-old has yet to make his MLB debut but has struck out 59 batters in 42 1/3 innings pitched this season, primarily in Double-A. The Rays likely view him as a pitcher they can get the most out of in their bullpen.
Mariners Trade for Justin Turner
The Blue Jays sent DH/3B Justin Turner to the Mariners in exchange for OF RJ Schreck.
The Mariners will be the sixth team that Turner has played for in his 16-year career. Despite knocking on the door of 40 years old, Turner hasn’t posted a below-average wRC+ since 2013 with the New York Mets.
The Mariners continue to try to make improvements offensively. This move comes just days after the M’s traded for Randy Arozarena.
The Mariners held first place in the AL West for a majority of the season before letting their lead slip to the Houston Astros. Jerry Dipoto and the rest of Seattle’s front office are doing everything in their power to get the Mariners to the postseason.
They’ll have to continue to make moves to balance out the recent loss of J.P. Crawford, who will miss 4-to-6 weeks with a fractured hand, and Julio Rodriguez who is on the IL with a sprained ankle.
Turner can take over as the full-time DH, currently manned by a platoon of Jason Vosler and Mitch Garver. Turner can also play 1B in place of Tyler Locklear. Turner has posted a 109 wRC+ through 90 games this season, notably better than the mentioned options at 1B/DH for Seattle.
Schreck, the prospect being sent to Toronto, is a 24-year-old OF who has posted a 140 wRC+ through 86 games in the minor leagues this season. Most of which coming at High-A. He has spent the last eight games Double-A.
Update: July 29th, 3:30 p.m. EST
Fedde and Pham traded to St. Louis, Edman and Kopech to the Dodgers in a Three-Team Deal
In a three-team swap, the Chicago White Sox sent RHP Erick Fedde and Tommy Pham to the St. Louis Cardinals. In exchange, St. Louis sent Tommy Edman to the Los Angeles Dodgers. The Dodgers also acquired relief pitcher Michael Kopech in the deal. The Dodgers sent a package of prospects to Chicago.
Erick Fedde is in the midst of the best season of his career. The 31-year-old spent 2023 in the KBO in order to revive his MLB career. He did so effectively, winning the KBO’s Most Valuable Player award by pitching to a 2.00 ERA in 180.1 IP.
Fedde gives the Cardinals a much-needed improvement in their starting rotation. To this point in the year, the Cardinals rank 20th as a team in SP ERA and 15th in fWAR. The Cardinals will likely still be looking to add one more arm if they want to beef up their potential playoff rotation.
Fedde holds a 3.11 ERA through 121.2 IP this season, good for 2.7 fWAR. He’s a mix-over-stuff guy with a great ability to command all of his pitches.
A Tommy Pham reunion in St. Louis makes a ton of sense for the Cardinals who currently rank 28th in team wRC+ against LHP (81). Pham has cooled off since posting a 119 wRC+ through the month of May. He’s hitting to the tune of an 89 wRC+ since the start of June.
Despite his step back in production this Summer, Pham has always been a hitter who excels against southpaw pitchers. This season he’s a 141 wRC+ hitter against LHP and has a 129 wRC+ on his career vs. lefties.
Tommy Edman, an alumnus of Stanford University, returns to the state where he played in his college days. Edman has yet to take the field in 2024, he’s been sidelined with a wrist injury but has played eight games in Double-A for his rehab assignment.
Edman provides the Dodgers with defensive versatility, as he’s played at every position on the diamond aside from catcher, first base, and pitcher. He’s also been an elite base stealer, swiping 89 bases from 2021-2023.
In that same time frame, he’s been a 96 wRC+ hitter. Despite the fact that his stats at the plate have been below the major league average, he’ll be an upgrade in the outfield for LA. The Dodgers rank 27th in OPS from the CF position, a spot that has been primarily manned by Andy Pages and James Outman.
The Dodgers also add some fuel to the back end of their bullpen. Since transitioning back to the bullpen, Kopech has seen a massive uptick in strikeout rates and a dip in ERA.
| Michael Kopech | ERA | xFIP | whip | K% | BB% | FA Velocity | Stuff+ |
| 2023 (SP) | 5.43 | 5.68 | 1.59 | 22.7% | 15.4% | 95.4 MPH | 108 |
| 2024 (RP) | 4.74 | 4.82 | 1.59 | 30.9% | 12.6% | 98.8 MPH | 143 |
His overall numbers still aren’t elite but he’s made vast improvements and it’s clear that his stuff is playing up in the ‘pen. The Dodgers were seeking help by way of late-inning relievers, likely due to Evan Phillips‘ 4.18 ERA in 32.1 IP in 2024.
The White Sox got a return of three players.
The most publicly known name in the package headed to the Southside of Chicago is INF/OF Miguel Vargas. At one point a top-100 prospect, Vargas has played in 129 MLB games since his 2022 debut. He’s posted an 83 wRC+ in that span. The 24-year-old will undoubtedly be an everyday regular in the White Sox lineup moving forward.
The other two players are young INF prospects, Alexander Albertus and Jeral Perez. Both of whom are 19 years old.
Albertus has split time between the complex and Single-A in 2024. Across both levels, he’s hit to a 124 wRC+ while walking more than striking out. Reports have also praised Albertus for his effort to put on size in order to develop his power. He ranked as the Dodgers’ 16th overall prospect, per Baseball America.
Perez has seen time all over the infield in his pro career but has primarily been the second baseman in Single-A for the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes. Through 75 games in 2024, he’s slashing .264/.380/.420, good for a 118 wRC+. He’s hit 10 homers and gapped 1
Update: July 29th, 2:00 p.m. EST
Rangers trade Michael Lorenzen to the Royals
The Kansas City Royals added depth to their starting rotation by trading for right-hander Michael Lorenzen from the Texas Rangers.
Lorenzen was solid for in Rangers rotation depleted by injury this season. In 101.2 innings across 19 outings in 2024, Lorenzen has posted a 3.81 ERA, a 1.28 WHIP and 0.4 fWAR in 2024.
As an impending free agent after this season, the Rangers will cash in on Lorenzen as they prepare to make space in their rotation for the expected returns of Jacob deGrom and Tyler Mahle at some point this season.
Lorenzen is now amongst a Royals rotation that has been terrific in 2024, one of the league’s best. They rank third in the majors of starter fWAR (11.1), fourth in ERA (3.56), fourth in WHIP (1.18), fifth in FIP (3.68) and sixth in strikeout rate (23.2%) as a team this season.
In return, the Rangers will receive left-handed reliever Walter Pennington from the Royals.
Pennington made his major league debut earlier this month where he appeared in 0.2 innings with a strikeout.
In Triple-A this season he’s featured largely as a reliever, as 35 of his 37 minor-league appearances in 2024 have come out the ‘pen. Pennington has pitched 59.2 innings, and in that time has posted a 2.26 ERA, 0.99 WHIP and .179 batting average against.
Pennington also features a 32.9% strikeout rate to pair with a low 8.3% walk rate this season.
Other Trades that Took Place on July 29th
Ty France to the Reds
France was designated for assignment by the Seattle Mariners on July 23rd. He’s since been acquired by the Cincinnati Reds in exchange for 21-year-old catcher, Andruw Salcedo.
France has been in the midst of the worst season of his career, posting a 96 wRC+ through 88 games. He’ll look to refind himself down the stretch with the Reds. The offensive-friendly environment of Great American Ballpark could be just the change of scenery France needed.
Recapping All the MLB Trade Deadline Moves From July 28th
Cubs Land Isaac Paredes from the Rays
The Chicago Cubs swung a blockbuster deal with the Tampa Bay Rays landing all-star third baseman Isaac Paredes.
In 2024, Paredes is slashing .245/.357/.435 with 16 home runs, 55 RBIs, a 131 wRC+ and a 3.0 fWAR in 429 plate appearances.
He’s been one of the league’s better hitters the past two seasons after he really broke onto the scene in 2023 when belted 31 homers and drove in 98 runs with a 137 wRC+ in 571 plate appearances with the Rays.
Chicago was in need of a boost offensively if they were to stay in the NL Wild Card hunt. They sit 20th in the league in wRC+ (95) and 21st in fWAR (9.8) as a team so far this season.
Chicago also takes advantage and lands a player with immense team control left, as Paredes will enter the first of three arbitration years after this season.
The Rays’ return was headlined by major league third baseman Christopher Morel, who in 421 plate appearances this season has hit 18 homers and 51 RBI and slashed .199/.302/.373.
The Rays also received relief pitcher Hunter Bigge and pitching prospect Ty Johnson.
Read the full breakdown of the trade and the Rays return for Paredes here.
Rays Trade Jason Adam to the Padres
Padres GM A.J Preller made his move for backend bullpen reinforcement by acquiring set-up man Jason Adam from the Tampa Bay Rays on Sunday.
Adam is in the midst of yet another brilliant year on the mound posting a 2.49 ERA with a 0.89 WHIP in 47.0 innings of work out of the bullpen.
Adam will likely find himself slotting in behind Padres closer Robert Suarez, while joining Jeremiah Estrada and Adrián Morejón in the set-up ranks.
The Padres bolster their 12th-ranked bullpen in terms of fWAR this season. Despite this, their bullpen also ranks in the bottom half of the league in ERA (20th at 4.17) and WHIP (18th at 1.27). Adam will certainly provide a boost in those departments.
In return for Adam, the Rays will receive the 82nd overall prospect and Padres fourth-ranked prospect according to our rankings, right-handed pitcher Dylan Lesko, along with 12th ranked Padres prospect outfielder Homer Bush Jr., and catching prospect J.D. Gonzalez.
Read the full breakdown of the trade and the Rays return for Adam here.
Tigers Send Carson Kelly to the Rangers
The Texas Rangers made a move to bring in some help behind the plate by acquiring Carson Kelly from the Detroit Tigers.
Kelly has been having a real rebound year slashing .240/.325/.391 with 7 home runs and 21 RBI in 203 plate appearances this season. He’s also posted a 1.7 fWAR and 105 wRC+ in 2024. It’s his best season since 2021 as a member of the Arizona Diamondbacks, where he slashed .240/.343/.411 with 13 homers, 46 RBI, a 104 wRC+ and a 1.7 fWAR in 359 plate appearances.
Kelly provides the defending World Series champion Rangers with a much-needed boost offensively. The Rangers rank 26th in the league in catcher fWAR as a team with -0.5, and 27th with a wRC+ of 58.
This is in large part due to the down year Jonah Heim has been having at the plate, as he’s only managed to post a 0.1 fWAR and a 73 wRC+ while slashing .231/.278/.342 in 349 appearances. And their backup option, Andrew Knizner, has been extremely unproductive this season, posting a wRC+ of 4 with a -0.7 fWAR in 93 plate appearances.
And Kelly immediately becomes the Rangers’ best defensive option behind the plate in 2024. He holds a 10.2 defensive rating (per FanGraphs DEF), with Heim and Kelly posting a 4.1 and 1.0 respectively.
The Tigers are receiving two minor leaguers in return, catcher and first baseman Liam Hicks and right-handed reliever Tyler Owens.
At 25 years old, Hicks has spent 2024 in Double-A, where he’s slashed .260/.364/.353 with 4 home runs, 33 RBI and a 107 wRC+ in 349 plate appearances.
The 23-year-old reliever Owens is in the midst of a solid year in Double-A. In 26 appearances out of the ‘pen so far this season, he has posted a 2.80 ERA, 1.19 WHIP and 6.3% walk rate across 35.1 innings of work.
Recapping All the MLB Trade Deadline Moves From July 27th
Saturday marked a very busy day for transactions around Major League Baseball, as there were more than a handful of trades that were made, with multiple deals taking place between division rivals. Let’s look back at all the trades that took place.
The Boston Red Sox Trade for Danny Jansen
The Boston Red Sox swung a deal with their division rival Toronto Blue Jays to acquire C Danny Jansen.
The 29-year-old backstop joins Boston’s catching corps that has been led by a breakout season from Connor Wong. Wong’s 154 wRC+ ranks fourth in the league among qualified catchers. Jansen adds more contact to this lineup as well as above-average splits against left-handed pitching.
This trade likely indicates that Boston will be moving on from their lefty catcher, Resse McGuire. McGuire is in the midst of the worst season of his career, slashing just .209/.280/.295 through 53 games.
Despite seeing a sizeable step back in production to this point in the season, Jansen has made adjustments to his approach at the plate that the Red Sox believe can help them down the stretch. Jansen is striking out less than last year and walking more, as well. His slug percentage has ticked down quite a bit but in exchange, he’s making more contact than ever.
The Red Sox rank 15th in the league in wRC+ vs. LHP, Jansen can likely slot into the DH role for Boston on days where they’re facing a southpaw to take some weight off of Masataka Yoshida. Yoshida has been a league-average hitter through 57 games this season but well below average when a lefty is on the mound.
The prospect haul going back to Toronto includes INF Eddinson Paulinno, INF Cutter Coffey, and RHP Gilberto Batista.
Read more about the prospects that are headed to Toronto here.
Angels Trade Carlos Estevez to the Phillies
Despite not having a true weakness, General Manager, Dave Dombrowski, wasn’t happy with a bullpen that currently ranks towards the middle of the pack in ERA. He sent a pair of incredibly intriguing pitching prospects in exchange for some more fuel for the backend of the Philadelphia bullpen.
The Phils haven’t had a consistent closer, as Jose Alvarado and Jeff Hoffman have 13 and 9 saves respectively. Carlos Esteves might not become the everyday 9th-inning guy but he has plenty of experience as a closer, accumulating 51 saves in 97 appearances over the past two seasons with the Angels. Esteves currently holds a 2.38 ERA and ranks 10th in the league in saves.
The pair of arms being sent to the Angels are RHP George Klassen and LHP Samuel Aldegheri.
Klassen has been one of the biggest risers in the prospect world as of late. The sixth-round draft pick from last year’s draft has an electric arsenal that has led to a 1.97 ERA across 59.1 IP between Single-A and High-A.
Aldegheri is an exciting southpaw who has posted a 34% K-rate in High-A, prompting a promotion to Double-A where he has continued to fan batters at a high rate.
Jazz Chisholm Jr. Traded to the New York Yankees
Jazz Chisholm Jr. gets a change of scenery and the Yankees get their much-needed leadoff hitter.
Chisholm Jr. has yet to harness the magic that was the first half of his 2022 season. That year he was a 136 wRC+ hitter and accumulated more fWAR in just 60 games than he has in any other single full season of his career.
Jazz has been an above-average CF since making the transition to the outfield in 2023. He can take some pressure off of Aaron Judge and his defensive responsibilities. He has also seen time back at second base. Jazz’s positional utility can allow for manager, Aaron Boone, to get creative with his lineup and defensive alignment.
Heading to Miami in return is a package led by catching prospect Agustin Ramirez. The 22-year-old backstop torched his way through Double-A, posting a 162 wRC+ with 16 homers through 58 games.
INF Jared Serna and Abrahan Ramirez are the other two prospects that the Yankees are sending to Miami.
For more details on this trade, read here from our Tim Kelly.
Mets Land Jesse Winker from Washington
The Mets have surpassed all expectations set for them in the preseason. They currently hold a spot in the NL Wild Card and are officially buying at the deadline.
The Mets sent RHP Tyler Stuart to the Washington Nationals in exchange for lefty OF Jesse Winker on July 27th. Winker has made a resurgent return to form in the 2024 season. After struggling mightily in 2023 with the Brewers and being only slightly above average at the plate with the Mariners, winker has a 127 wRC+ through 101 games this season.
Winker ranks 23rd in wRC+ among qualified hitters in wRC+ vs. RHP. His batted ball profile for 2024 looks more similar to his 2021 season, which has allowed for more consistent loud and damage-inducing contact.
With Starling Marte on the IL, Winker not only adds depth to the corner outfield in Queens but also adds more pop. The RF position for the Mets on the season has posted a .718 OPS. That ranks 16th in the MLB.
Manager Carlos Mendoza will be able to platoon the likes of Jose Iglesias and Tyrone Taylor (until Marte’s return), with Jeff McNeil and Winker.
The prospect heading to Washington, Tyler Stuart, is a 24-year-old who has spent all of 2024 in Double-A. There, he has posted a 3.96 ERA with 90 strikeouts through 84 innings.
More Trades That Took Place
- The Chicago Cubs acquired some relief help from the Toronto Blue Jays, landing RHP Nate Pearson in exchange for minor league outfielder Yohendrick Pinango and minor league infielder Josh Rivera.
- The Milwaukee Brewers landed reliever Nick Mears from the Colorado Rockies in exchange for RHP Bradley Blalock and minor league RHP Yujanyer Herrera.
- The New York Mets traded for Ryne Stanek, sending minor league outfielder Rhylan Thomas in the deal with the Seattle Mariners.
Update: July 26th, 5:30 p.m. EST
A busy Friday before the deadline continues, we have two more trades that have been completed as teams look to acquire more pitching for the playoff push.
Recapping All the MLB Trade Deadline Moves From July 26th
Orioles Land Zach Eflin From the Tampa Bay Rays
The Orioles were always expected to be among the more aggressive teams at this year’s trade deadline and they are certainly living up to that billing so far. Earlier today (read below), they traded Austin Hays to the Phillies to acquire some pitching help for their bullpen. Now they have landed a solid arm to slide in the middle of their rotation.
In a deal with the Tampa Bay Rays, the Orioles have acquired veteran starting pitcher Zach Eflin.
Eflin is in year two of a three-year, $40 million deal that he signed with the Rays prior to the 2023 season. Last year, he led the American League with 16 wins, pitching to a 3.50 ERA across 177 2/3 innings pitched in what was a career year.
This season, Eflin has more pitched to the back of the baseball card, posting a solid 4.09 ERA through his first 19 starts and 111 innings pitched. He gives Baltimore a quality innings-eater who can be a stable presence in the middle of their rotation not only for the stretch run this year but for next season as well.
In return, the Orioles are sending out a package of three prospects in outfielder Matthew Etzel, RHP Jackson Baumeister and utilityman Mac Horvath. We will have a full article coming soon that will detail the return for the Rays.
Mariners Trade for Reliever Yimi Garcia From Toronto
The Seattle Mariners continue to add to their roster in hopes of making a run down the stretch in the AL West. The first domino to fall was landing outfielder Randy Arozarena yesterday.
Today, they have traded for some relief help in their bullpen, landing Yimi Garcia from the Toronto Blue Jays.
The hard-throwing righty has consistently been among one of the best relievers in baseball and is having a great season in a contract year. He has pitched to a 2.70 ERA across 30 innings pitched and has even notched five saves.
Garcia boasts a career-best 12.6 K/9, with a career-low 0.80 WHIP. This marks a huge addition to bolster the Mariners bullpen.
In exchange for Garcia, the Blue Jays receive a package of prospects.
Update: July 26th, 2:15 p.m. EST
Considering all the early action we have gotten, you would think that the trade deadline is just upon us, not five days away. Since last night, we have already seen three pretty significant trades, with the latest being one that includes two of the best teams in baseball.
Orioles and Phillies Swap Big League Pieces with Austin Hays and Seranthony Domínguez
The Baltimore Orioles have long had a surplus of MLB talent on their active roster, particularly when it comes to their position players. With the emergence of young outfielders like Colton Cowser and Heston Kjerstad, veterans like Austin Hays and Cedric Mullins have become expendable.
After reports that Mullins was on the block, Baltimore opened up their deadline roster churn by sending Hays in a trade to the Philadelphia Phillies to get two big league pieces to add to their roster.
In exchange for Hays, the Orioles receive right-handed center fielder Cristian Pache and left-handed reliever Seranthony Domínguez. The 29-year-old Domínguez debuted with the Phillies back in 2018 and has since been a key contributor in their bullpen.
Across parts of six seasons, Domínguez pitched to a 3.55 ERA, with a 10.32 K/9. This year, Domínguez has struggled and pitched to a 4.75 ERA, but he sports a career-worst 1.50 HR/9. Moving away from the hitter-friendly confines of Citizen’s Bank Park, to the more pitcher-friendly Camden Yards, should bode well for Domínguez to turn his season around.
The underlying metrics are very good on Domínguez, as he has an xERA of 3.25 and an xFIP of 3.99. He also has struck out over 25% of the batters he has faced this year.
Meanwhile, Pache is a great defensive center fielder, who fares much better facing left-handed pitching than right. This year, Pache has hit .229/.333/.329, with a 92 wRC+ against lefties, meaning he has been just below league average. Against right-handed pitching, Pache has an abysmal -6 wRC+ and is hitting just .147/.189/.147.
Domínguez is clearly the headliner in this deal for the Orioles, but Pache should fit their roster as a right-handed complement to Kjerstad, Cowser and Mullins (assuming the latter stays in Baltimore), who can be a solid fourth or fifth outfielder.
At the end of the day though, it is the Phillies who are getting the best player in this deal.
Hays, 29, is a career .262/.314/.433 hitter, who is currently having a mixed season in Baltimore. After hitting at least 16 home runs in each of the last three seasons, Hays only has three so far this year.
With that said, Hays has absolutely crushed left-handed pitching in 2024, hitting .328/.394/.500, with a 154 wRC+. The Phillies have struggled to get good production from their outfielders this season, so Hays should bring a solid veteran presence to bolster that group. He is also under team control through the 2025 season.
In Philadelphia, Hays’ can expect an uptick in power, now that he has gotten out of what has become a cavernous ballpark for right-handed hitters in Baltimore.
The Orioles and Phillies are two of the favorites to make it to the World Series this year, so it will be very interesting to see how this trade unfolds for each team in 2024. Ultimately they helped each other satisfy some of their roster needs, but both of these teams are expected to be even more aggressive making additional moves before the deadline.
Recapping All the MLB Trade Deadline Moves From July 25th
Mariners Acquire Randy Arozarena
The Seattle Mariners made the Trade Deadline’s first significant move, announcing the late-night acquisition of Randy Arozarena from the Rays.
In exchange, Seattle sent two prospects — outfielder Aidan Smith and right-hander Brody Hopkins — along with a player to be named later to Tampa Bay. This move came after the Mariners designated Ty France for assignment earlier in the week, freeing up a spot on their 40-man roster.
Arozarena had a stellar four-plus year tenure with the Rays. He was initially acquired from the St. Louis Cardinals during the 2019-20 offseason in a trade that sent top pitching prospect Matthew Liberatore to St. Louis.
Although Arozarena had a brief MLB debut before joining Tampa Bay, his breakout came during the 2020 postseason. He smashed 10 home runs in 20 games, earning ALCS MVP honors and helping the Rays reach the World Series.
Between 2021 and 2023, Arozarena played in 445 games, posting a .264/.349/.443 slash line with 63 home runs over more than 1,900 plate appearances. His offensive output was 26% above league average, according to wRC+, placing him among the top left fielders in the league.
The 29-year-old Cuban outfielder will look to turn his 2024 season around and give the Mariners some much-needed depth.
Arozarena batted .211/15 HR/37 RBI with 16 stolen bases and a 0.8 WAR in 2024 with the Rays.
Diamondbacks Acquire A.J. Puk
The Diamondbacks made waves in the relief pitcher market with the acquisition of A.J. Puk from the Marlins.
Arizona sent back two prospects to Miami: corner infielder Deyvison De Los Santos and center fielder Andrew Pintar. To make room on the 40-man roster, the D-Backs designated lefty reliever Joe Jacques for assignment.
This marks the second consecutive year the Diamondbacks have bolstered their bullpen late in the season. Last year, they added Paul Sewald to secure the closer role. Despite a recent rough patch, Sewald remains the closer in Arizona, and Puk will now bring his high-powered left arm to the setup crew.
A.J. Puk, a former sixth overall pick by the Athletics, emerged as a key reliever in 2022. The A’s traded him to Miami for outfielder JJ Bleday in a swap of former top draft picks the following offseason.
In his first season with the Marlins, Puk posted a 3.97 ERA over 56 2/3 innings, showcasing impressive strikeout and walk numbers. He also notched 15 saves and finished 31 games.
Original Post
Oh baby, the MLB Trade Deadline for the 2024 season is already upon us.
This can mean two things: (1) A flurry of moves have already happened or (2) a bunch of MLB trades are about to.
As we inch closer to the deadline, you might be asking yourself, what’s going on? Who’s been dealt already? Which other MLB players are on the move? Are any big-time superstars swapping jerseys? (Here’s looking at you, Max Scherzer.)
Is it World Series or bust for L.A.? Will the Dodgers throw in all of their trade chips and go for it?
Will the New York Yankees add some much-needed depth behind Aaron Judge?
Could the Toronto Blue Jays dish off both Bo Bichette AND Vladimir Guerrero Jr.?
Are Jeff Passan, Ken Rosenthal, Jon Heyman, and company about to become your go-to feeds for the next few days?
(We don’t blame you…)
MLB trade rumors have been rampant over the past few weeks, and here, we’ll be updating and covering all the gossip, moves, and news that you need to know during the busiest time of the 2024 MLB season, so you don’t fall behind.
From big-time sellers to MLB Wild Card contenders and World Series hopefuls to teams looking to add depth for 2025, we’ve got you covered on all the MLB moves.
It’s MLB hot stove, season, baby — let’s go!
When Does the MLB Trade Deadline Start and End?
The MLB Trade Deadline ramps up during the month of July, and the hot stove gets boiling closest to the actual deadline.
Technically, the Trade Deadline season starts two days after the starting date of the final game of the World Series and concludes at the end of July (or the beginning of August).
For years, the Trade Deadline was always on July 31 at 4 pm ET. But under new MLB rules, the Commissioner’s Office can now set the deadline for any date between July 28 and August 3 (in order to avoid conflicting with scheduled games).
All that to say, the 2024 MLB Trade Deadline is July 30 at 6 pm ET.
What Happens After the MLB Trade Deadline?
Prior to 2019, July 31 was referred to as the “non-waiver Trade Deadline,” and players could be dealt after July 31 — if they cleared revocable waivers.
Since 2019, there’s now only one Trade Deadline. Players can still be placed and claimed on outright waivers, but major league trades are no longer permitted after July 31.
Regarding newly acquired players, the August 31 postseason roster deadline remains in effect.
What is the MLB Trade Deadline?
As per Major League Baseball’s glossary, the MLB Trade Deadline is, “the last point during the season at which players can be traded from one club to another.”