MLB Trade Deadline Update

The 2021 MLB trade deadline is on July 30^th. Front offices across the Majors are searching for value in a tricky marketplace. Only a handful of teams are destined to sell before the deadline. Many are looking for upgrades to their Major League roster, but demand is set to be far greater than supply.

There are no runaway division leaders. Just eight franchises are out of contention at the end of June, and while some will pivot before the 2021 trade deadline, a lot of teams are on the lookout for veteran help.

Trade rumours are starting to surface. Minor moves have happened already, including Mike Ford leaving New York for Tampa Bay and the Blue Jays acquiring Jacob Barnes from the Mets. It’s expected there will be a drastic increase in MLB trade deadline news in the coming weeks.

With no teams really dominating, every contender has holes to fill. There are weaknesses of varying severity across even MLB’s best rosters.

Best Players Available at MLB Trade Deadline

Barring a shock trade from a team with a solid record, it’s best to look at those who are well out of it for potential trade candidates.

Several names have already been mentioned a lot. With the Rockies and Diamondbacks with nothing to play for in the National League West, Ketel Marte, Jon Gray, German Marquez and Trevor Story could all be on the block.

The Rangers have Joey Gallo and Kyle Gibson. Veteran reliever Ian Kennedy will attract some interest. A low chase rate and alarmingly high hard-hit rate may put a lot of front offices off Kennedy as a bullpen solution, however.

Pittsburgh should see what they can get for Adam Frazier, who is having a career year. Richard Rodriguez and Chris Stratton are two other relief options as the Pirates continue the deepest of rebuilds.

Perhaps the Marlins consider trading Starling Marte and Jesus Aguilar. With a desire to keep Marte long-term, though, Miami might be reluctant to trade the star outfielder. They also have several relievers who could interest contenders.

The Orioles have been reluctant to trade Trey Mancini in the past. It would take a great deal for them to swing a trade, but like Miami, they have relief arms who could be on the move, including Tanner Scott and Paul Fry.

Of the three trailing teams in the AL Central, Robbie Grossman, Jonathan Schoop and Danny Duffy are the most likely to be traded. It’s unclear how the Twins will approach the MLB trade deadline. Plenty would love to land Jose Berrios, but with another year of team control, Minnesota is under to pressure to make a deal.

Teams On The Boundary

There’s only a small pool of players expected to be available at the trade deadline. This could change if supposed contenders drop off or opt to sell. While the Cardinals aren’t going to flip veterans after trading for Nolan Arenado, it’s more feasible for the Reds. Cincinnati is hovering around .500.

Therefore, the MLB trade deadline gets more interesting if the Reds make players available. Wade Miley, Tyler Mahle and Nicholas Castellanos would all be in demand. There could be a huge return for Jesse Winker, who isn’t a free agent until after the 2023 season.

Mike Trout is still on the injured list. The Angels are a decent distance back in the AL West. How much interest would there be if Justin Upton is available? His $28 million owed in 2022 is a hurdle to any potential trade.

It’s a long shot, but Atlanta could see what teams would offer for Charlie Morton. The Braves are fourth at the time of writing. This has been a difficult year. Addressing all the roster weaknesses before the trade deadline is a great ask. Maybe they hit pause and go again in 2022.

The Seattle Mariners are a team to keep an eye on. They’re above .500, but Baseball-Reference gives them a 2.8% chance to reach the playoffs. Jerry Dipoto loves a trade more than any general manager in baseball. Mitch Haniger, Yusei Kikuchi and Kendall Graveman would all have a raft of suitors. Seattle isn’t ready to contend just yet – adding more high-upside talent to their farm is the best way for them to compete and progress.

This MLB trade deadline 2021 is going to be fascinating. With so much demand, we could see some front offices overpaying. Executives on rebuilding teams have a great opportunity to bolster their prospect depth.

Keep up to date with all the 2021 MLB news, fixtures and live scores at our match centre.

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