2025 MLB Trade Deadline Big Board: Ranking Top 30 Trade Targets

Grant White
Host · Writer
30. Justin Verlander, RHP - San Francisco Giants
The San Francisco Giants have fallen flat on their collective faces, meaning every expendable piece is available at the deadline. Included in that is old-timer Justin Verlander. His Cy Young days are behind him, but Verlander could still solidify the starting rotation while bringing a veteran presence come October.
1. Sandy Alcantara, RHP - Miami Marlins
Before he went in for Tommy John surgery, Sandy Alcantara would have commanded a King's ransom on the open market. Halfway through his first season since 2023, the Miami Marlins appear to be selling low on their former ace. Still, Alcantara would be a valuable backend piece on most starting rotations.
2. Josh Naylor, 1B - Arizona Diamondbacks
** TRADED ** The Seattle Mariners acquired Josh Naylor for Brandyn Garcia and Ashton Izzi
Every year, the Arizona Diamondbacks face the same conundrum. They have to compete with three perennial contenders in the NL West. Now sitting outside the playoff picture and looking in, the D-Backs could start entertaining trade offers to build a more solid core around Corbin Carroll. Josh Naylor is one of the premier players who could be on his way out.
3. Byron Buxton, CF - Minnesota Twins
We've been waiting for Byron Buxton to play to his MVP potential for years. It turns out 2025 is the year it's finally coming together for the once highly-touted prospect. However, with the remaining Minnesota Twins struggling and a pipeline of outfielders, they would be wise to sell high on their oft-injured centerfielder.
4. Zack Littell, RHP - Tampa Bay Rays
** TRADED ** The Tampa Bay Rays traded Zack Littell to the Cincinnati Reds for Adam Serwinowski and Brian Van Belle
The Tampa Bay Rays are never quiet regarding shaking up their roster. Despite playing at an MLB-best rate since the middle of May, they will eventually face a predicament in their starting rotation. Shane McClanahan is poised to return ahead of the MLB Trade Deadline, meaning a starting pitcher could be on the chopping block. Unfortunately for Zack Littell, he will likely have to ply his craft with a different team toward the end of the season.
5. Taylor Walls, SS - Tampa Bay Rays
Just like they will be forced to make some changes to their pitching staff, the Tampa Bay Rays face a crunch in their lineup. Ha-Seong Kim is on his rehabilitation stint in Triple-A and is penciled in as the everyday shortstop upon his return. That means Taylor Walls or Jose Caballero will likely be on the move ahead of the MLB Trade Deadline. Caballero's versatility and baserunning prowess point toward Walls being the odd man out.
6. Kyle Finnegan, RHP - Washington Nationals
Late-inning relievers are always in high demand at the MLB Trade Deadline. Kyle Finnegan appears to be one of the more likely candidates to be on the move at the end of July. With the Washington Nationals constantly struggling near the bottom of the standings, they will want to extract maximum trade value from their closer at the deadline.
7. Jesus Sanchez, OF - Miami Marlins
The Miami Marlins are one of the top farm teams for the rest of Major League Baseball. They consistently develop some top talent in the bigs, then trade them away before they can reap the rewards. Jesus Sanchez appears to be the next burgeoning star on his way out.
8. Luis Robert Jr., OF - Chicago White Sox
Luis Robert Jr. is the lone holdover from the Chicago White Sox's once-promising core. One by one, players have fallen by the wayside, getting dealt for a litany of prospects and fringe MLBers. Don't be fooled into thinking that Robert will stick around the Southside.
9. Freddy Peralta, RHP - Milwaukee Brewers
There aren't many clubs in the MLB that spend less than the Milwaukee Brewers. With Freddy Peralta nearing the end of his contract, the Brewers could look to trade their ace to replenish their pipeline. Peralta is precisely the type of starting pitcher playoff teams covet.
10. Ryan McMahon, 3B - Colorado Rockies
** TRADED ** The New York Yankees acquired Ryan McMahon for Griffin Herring and Josh Grosz
In 2018, Ryan McMahon was considered the cornerstone of the Colorado Rockies' rebuild. Seven years and 24 wins later, the Rockies need to find a way to build a more competitive roster. Unfortunately for McMahon, that likely means he will be on his way out at the MLB Trade Deadline.
11. Eugenio Suarez, 3B - Arizona Diamondbacks
Eugenio Suarez's trade value has never been higher, and the Arizona Diamondbacks would be smart to cash in sooner rather than later. The third baseman is raking at the plate and remains solid defensively. Many contending teams would be interested in adding a player of Suarez's caliber ahead of the deadline.
12. Nolan Arendao, 3B - St. Louis Cardinals
Over the past few years, there has been constant chatter about Nolan Arenado being moved. But the Gold Glove winner could actually be shipped out ahead of the MLB Trade Deadline. While his offensive glory days may be behind him, Arenado remains one of the best defenders in the game.
13. Nick Martinez, RHP - Cincinnati Reds
Coming off a near-perfect game, Nick Martinez could be the Cincinnati Reds' most prominent bargaining chip ahead of the deadline. The Reds are still trying to find the winning combination in Cincinnati, and Martinez could fetch them some key building blocks.
14. Ryan O'Hearn, 1B - Baltimore Orioles
Like any young team, the Baltimore Orioles are going through growing pains, which could put some of their veteran players on thin ice. One player who could be dealt is Ryan O'Hearn. The O's first baseman has been one of the most consistent hitters in the lineup and could yield a haul of prospects for Baltimore.
15. Merrill Kelly, RHP - Arizona Diamondbacks
The Arizona Diamondbacks are slowly coming to terms with their 2023 World Series run as the outlier it was. Needing to solidify their young nucleus, Merrill Kelly could net the D-Backs a solid return on the open market.
16. Mitch Keller, RHP - Pittsburgh Pirates
A few years ago, Mitch Keller looked like a staple of the Pittsburgh Pirates' rotation for years to come. Heading into the trade deadline, he seems like one of the more expendable arms. Keller's hot-and-cold dealings are analogous to the Pirates' struggles. Nevertheless, he's a solid back-of-the-rotation arm for many contenders.
17. Jhoan Duran, RHP - Minnesota Twins
** TRADED ** Phillies Acquire Jhoan Duran From Twins For Eduardo Tait and Mick Abel
Jhoan Duran remains one of the more reliable bullpen arms in the bigs; however, his talent is being wasted with the Minnesota Twins. Duran has a sparkling 1.62 ERA and an analytics profile to match. Whichever team antes up for the flamethrower is getting an immediate upgrade to their pen and a premier cloder.
18. Ramon Laureano, RF - Baltimore Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles' young nucleus is virtually untouchable. Still, they have several key contributors that could fetch a solid return, adding to the O's riches. Ramon Laureano is one of the players who will likely be suiting up for another team before the end of the month. The right fielder has a career-best .861 OPS and is suited for an everyday role in the outfield.
19. German Marquez, RHP - Colorado Rockies
It's been four years since German Marquez had an ERA below 4.95. Still, the Colorado Rockies are in sell mode, and they will take whatever they can get for their former ace. While he's not well-suited for a regular turn in the rotation, Marquez could be a spot starter or a long bullpen arm for a pitching-needy team.
20. Adrian Houser, RHP - Chicago White Sox
The Chicago White Sox are still looking for the winning recipe. Despite his exceptional stats, Adrian Houser isn't one of those key ingredients. The right-hander is toting a spotless 1.89 ERA and has been a stud every time he has toed the rubber. That makes him an ideal sell-high candidate for the perpetually rebuilding White Sox.
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21. Dylan Cease, RHP - San Diego Padres
Apparently, this isn't Dylan Cease's year. Arguably, he's having the worst season of his career, prompting the San Diego Padres to listen to trade offers on their 14-game winner from last season. A fresh start could be the catalyst for the righty to recapture his Cy Young caliber form, and there should be a plethora of contenders lining up to make their best offer on Cease.
22. Brandon Lowe, 2B - Tampa Bay Rays
At his best, Brandon Lowe is one of the premier offensive second basemen in the league. However, injuries continue to limit his time on the field. That's the case again this season, with Lowe already making several trips to the IL, which has hampered the Tampa Bay Rays' offense. Unless the Rays make a dramatic climb, you can expect Lowe to be on the move by the deadline.
23. Zac Gallen, RHP - Arizona Diamondbacks
No pitcher has underachieved more than Zac Gallen this season. Once a calming presence in the Arizona Diamondbacks' rotation, Gallen's starts have been chaotic and inconsistent. Nevertheless, he would be a welcome addition to most starting rotations. Expect a top-tier contender with pitching issues/injuries, like the Los Angeles Dodgers, to land the right-hander.
24. David Bednar, RHP - Pittsburgh Pirates
Assuredly, David Bednar will be one of the key pieces of the Pittsburgh Pirates' presumptive fire sale. The Pirates can't seem to find the winning equation on the field, and it's time to sell off whatever pieces they can for more young talent they can corrupt. Bednar is a stalwart and a valuable bullpen addition that shines late in games.
25. Yandy Diaz, 1B/DH - Tampa Bay Rays
Yandy Diaz has left money on the table to stay with the Tampa Bay Rays. Leave it to the Rays to reward that loyalty by trading away one of their best hitters for another collection of young prospects. Diaz is a contact hitter with plus power that could slot into the top of the order for any contender.
26. Mason Miller, RHP - Athletics
Never a team to hang onto their most talented players, the Athletics are reportedly dangling their Mason Miller on the trade market. The flamethrower closer would be a welcome addition to any bullpen, and his ability to stave off opponents late in games would propel him to the closer on any team. If the Athletics decide to move on, expect a significant haul in return.
27. Jarren Duran, LF - Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are in a curious position. While they currently occupy a Wild Card spot in the AL, the Red Sox must not like their chances of competing for the World Series. Otherwise, they wouldn't be listening to trade offers on one of their top hitters -- Jarren Duran. Granted, Duran's production has dipped in 2025. Still, he's the type of offensive catalyst who could be a difference-maker in October.
28. Steven Kwan, LF - Cleveland Guardians
There are plenty of people betting on the Cleveland Guardians these days. Unfortunately, most of that money isn't on Cleveland to make the playoffs. With that, the Guardians are looking to offload their most valuable assets, including Steven Kwan. The outfielder is versatile defensively, with upside at the plate and speed on the base paths. That's the type of profile teams crave for playoff baseball.
29. Pete Fairbanks, RHP - Tampa Bay Rays
The Tampa Bay Rays have fallen apart at the seams, and that could mean moving on from their closer at the deadline. Pete Fairbanks has a devastating fastball-slider combination that he's used to convert 18 of his 22 save opportunities. He might not slot into the closer role with every team, but Fairbanks is a backend piece any playoff team would covet.
30. Justin Verlander, RHP - San Francisco Giants
The San Francisco Giants have fallen flat on their collective faces, meaning every expendable piece is available at the deadline. Included in that is old-timer Justin Verlander. His Cy Young days are behind him, but Verlander could still solidify the starting rotation while bringing a veteran presence come October.
1. Sandy Alcantara, RHP - Miami Marlins
Before he went in for Tommy John surgery, Sandy Alcantara would have commanded a King's ransom on the open market. Halfway through his first season since 2023, the Miami Marlins appear to be selling low on their former ace. Still, Alcantara would be a valuable backend piece on most starting rotations.
