The 2023 MLB Trade Deadline is fast approaching; the deadline is August 1st at 6:00 PM EST. Shohei Ohtani has been the biggest name talked about for the trade deadline, and as of late, even Juan Soto rumors have started floating in, but I don’t see those names being moved, but we will see. Over the next few weeks, things could change with a team turning things around, but MLB Network gave a list of these 20 names who could be dealt, and if these names are moved, it may be a fun trade deadline.
Trade Candidates: Hitters
SS – Tim Anderson – Chicago White Sox
This season for the White Sox, Anderson posts a slash line of .223/.258/.262 with a .521 OPS. He’s scored 29 runs, nine doubles, one triple, zero home runs, 13 RBI, and nine stolen bases. Anderson is a solid player but has struggled this year and could benefit from a change of scenery.
3B – Nolan Arenado – St. Louis Cardinals
Arenado this season has 44 runs scored, 17 doubles, two triples, 20 home runs, 64 RBI, and two stolen bases. He posts a slash line of .283/.332/.522 and a .855 OPS. Arenado is one of the top third basemen in the league, and although he’s made the list, I can’t see the Cardinals moving him unless a mind-blowing offer comes in.
OF/1B – Cody Bellinger – Chicago Cubs
Bellinger posts a slash line of .305/.362/.531 and a .893 OPS. He has 48 runs scored, 13 doubles, one triple, 12 home runs, 35 RBI, and 11 stolen bases. Bellinger has been a player who has already benefited from a change of scenery, leaving the Dodgers and reviving his career.
OF – Dylan Carlson – St. Louis Cardinals
Carlson, this season for the Cardinals, has scored 21 runs, hit five doubles, one triple, five home runs, 20 RBI, and has three stolen bases. He has posted a slash line of .237/.340/.367 and a .707 OPS. Carlsson could be moved; even with him being 24, he could help a contender.
SS – Paul DeJong – St. Louis Cardinals
DeJong posts a slash line of .236/.304/.437 and an OPS of .741. He has scored 32 runs, hitting ten doubles, 12 home runs, 30 RBI, and four stolen bases. DeJong has been a Cardinal for seven seasons; it would be weird to see him somewhere else, but it could also make sense for his career.
OF – Andrew McCutchen – Pittsburgh Pirates
McCutchen this season returned home to Pittsburgh, and the Pirates got off to a hot start, but that has since tapered off, and they will be sellers. McCutchen, this season has 38 runs scored, 11 doubles, ten home runs, 28 RBI, and nine stolen bases. He posts a slash line of .268/.383/.425 and a .808 OPS. McCutchen doesn’t want to be traded, but he could help a contender and himself a World Series ring.
3B – Yoan Moncada – Chicago White Sox
Moncada posts a slash line of .232/.279/.370 this season and has an OPS of .648. He has scored 17 runs, hitting eight doubles, one triple, three home runs, 13 RBI, and one stolen base. Moncada was once a top prospect in all of baseball and was traded to Chicago for Chris Sale; he just never panned out to be the player he was expected to be.
OF – Tyler O’Neill – St. Louis Cardinals
O’Neill this season has scored 12 runs, four doubles, two home runs, six RBI, and a stolen base. He posts a slash line of .228/.283/.337 and an OPS of .620. O’Neill was benched earlier in the season for his base running efforts, so the idea of him being traded was written on the wall after that incident.
C – Salvador Perez – Kansas City Royals
Perez has been the backbone of the Royals his whole career and was a key part of them winning the World Series in 2015, I can’t see Perez being traded, but if he does, he will provide a solid bat to a winning ball club. He posts a slash line of .255/.297/.442 and an OPS of .739. Perez has 52 runs scored, 23 doubles, 27 home runs, 80 RBI, and one stolen base.
OF – Brent Rooker – Oakland A’s
Rooker took off this season; even if the A’s haven’t been good, he has been fun to watch. Rooker has 33 runs scored, 12 doubles, one triple, 16 home runs, 44 RBI, and two stolen bases. He has a slash line of .244/.340/.477 and an OPS of .817. Rooker would be a great designated hitter on a team that needs a bat.
Trade Candidates: Pitchers
RHP – Shane Bieber – Cleveland Guardians
Bieber is 5-6 this season with a 3.77 ERA in 19 starts. He has a 4.14 FIP, a 1.24 WHIP, a 2.5 BB/9, and a 7.3 K/9. I don’t see the Guardians trading Bieber, as they are still in the race for the American League Central, and they’ll need their ace if they want any chance of winning the division.
RHP – Jack Flaherty – St. Louis Cardinals
Flaherty this season has made 17 starts for the Cardinals and is 6-5 with a 4.27 ERA in 92.2 innings of work. He posts a 4.02 FIP, a 1.56 WHIP, a 4.7 BB/9, and an 8.6 K/9. Flaherty has struggled the last few seasons with the Cardinals and could benefit from being moved, and now might be the perfect time with the Cardinals struggling.
RHP – Lucas Giolito – Chicago White Sox
Giolito, this season has made 19 starts going 6-5 for the White Sox with a 3.45 ERA. He has a 4.21 FIP, a 1.13 WHIP, a 2.7 B/9, and a 9.4 K/9. Giolito would be a great addition to any pitching rotation looking to make a run to the World Series.
RHP – Kyle Hendricks – Chicago Cubs
Hendricks has made ten starts for the Cubs this season, going 3-4 with a 3.57 ERA. Hendricks this season has a 4.42 FIP, a 1.08 WHIP, a 1.6 BB/9, and a 5.7 K/9. Hendricks was a key part of the Cubs World Series team in 2016, and I’m sure it would be tough for Cubs fans to see him leave, but he is a solid pitcher that could help any staff.
RHP – Michael Lorenzen – Detroit Tigers
Lorenzen was the Tigers lone All-Star this year, having made 16 starts and posting a 4-6 record with a 3.75 ERA. He has a 4.11 FIP, a 1.13 WHIP, a 2.4 BB/9, and a 7.0 K/9. Lorenzen may make sense for a Reds team that needs pitching, and Lorenzen had been a Red for seven of his nine seasons, so a return home with how he’s been pitching as of late may be fitting for Cincinnati.
RHP – Lance Lynn – Chicago White Sox
Lynn, this season, has made 19 starts going 6-8 with a 6.06 ERA. He has a 4.95 FIP, a 1.43 WHIP, a 3.3 BB/9, and an 11.0 K/9. Lynn hasn’t had a great year, but he’s another name that the change of scenery could help him; he’s a solid pitcher that has been in the Cy Young conversation three times in the last four years.
LHP – Jordan Montgomery – St. Louis Cardinals
The Yankees moved Montgomery at the Trade Deadline to the Cardinals last season, and he helped St. Louis reach the playoffs even though they ultimately lost in the first round to the Phillies that season. This season he has made 18 starts going 6-7 with a 3.23 ERA. He posts a 3.52 FIP, a 1.22 WHIP, a 2.4 BB/9, and an 8.4 K/9. Montgomery once moved from the Yankees, was dominant in St. Louis, and the same could happen again this season if he is moved.
LHP – James Paxton – Boston Red Sox
Paxton returned to the Red Sox rotation making his first start since April 6, 2021, and has looked dominant for Boston. He has made 11 starts and is 5-2 with a 3.51 ERA. Paxton also posts a 3.93 FIP, a 1.03 WHIP, a 2.6 BB/9, and a 10.4 K/9. The Red Sox have just gotten back in the playoff race due to a hot stretch, so Paxton being moved may be unlikely unless it allows the ability to help the Red Sox as well.
LHP – Eduardo Rodriguez – Detroit Tigers
After a weird 2022, Rodriguez has bounced back and been dominant in 2023 before he suffered an injury, but he has pitched like an ace most of this season for the Tigers. In 13 starts, he is 5-5 with a 2.70 ERA; he also posts a 3.27 FIP, a 1.00 WHIP, a 2.1 BB/9, and a 9.5 K/9. The Tigers are another team in the American League Central race that may not trade if they are hot in the second half. Lorenzen may be the only player on the Tigers they may look into trading, but Rodriguez could bring back the biggest haul.
RHP – Marcus Stroman – Chicago Cubs
Stroman this season has made 20 starts for the Cubs and is 10-6 with a 2.88 ERA. He has a 3.37 FIP, a 1.08 WHIP, a 3.2 BB/9, and a 7.7 K/9. Stroman has made it known he wants to stay with the Cubs, but they aren’t willing to negotiate a contract extension at this time, so the idea of him being moved has started to be discussed. Stroman has been in the conversation for National League Cy Young, so if he is moved, he may be the biggest pitcher name traded at the deadline.
