MLB Trade Deadline Buy or Sell? 5 Teams Under Pressure
SportsGrid Contributor Just Baseball
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Toronto Blue Jays (33-29, Last WC Spot)
Upcoming Schedule: MIN, STL, PHI, ARZ, CHW, CLE, BOS
Potential Trade Pieces: Chris Bassitt, Kevin Gausman, Chad Green, Bo Bichette, George Springer
Take a moment to ask yourself—do you believe in this Blue Jays team? Probably not. Anthony Santander has struggled and is now sidelined along with Daulton Varsho, and while Addison Barger has been a bright spot, the roster feels like it lacks spark. Toronto deserves credit for its aggressive offseason, pushing forward rather than hitting the reset button. That same mindset could resurface at the deadline, but it’s becoming harder to justify.
The Jays need to strongly consider trading Bo Bichette, who seems unlikely to re-sign. Contenders would highly covet him. Beyond Bichette, the front office may explore shedding veteran contracts. George Springer’s resurgence could make him movable if Toronto is willing to eat some salary. With multiple series against other bubble teams on the schedule, how the Jays fare in the next few weeks will likely dictate whether they stay the course or pivot entirely.
The post Which Teams Next Month Will Decide Their Deadline Future? appeared first on Just Baseball.
Houston Astros (35-28, 1st AL West)
Upcoming Schedule: CLE, CHW, MIN, ATH, LAA, PHI, CHC
Potential Trade Pieces: Bryan Abreu, Josh Hader, Framber Valdez
The Astros are in an unusual position, still very much in the playoff picture, but clearly amid a transitional phase. Despite a recent surge in performance, uncertainty lingers, especially with Framber Valdez entering free agency at season’s end. Houston has never shied away from letting players finish out contracts if they believe a deep postseason run is realistic. However, their thin farm system complicates any deadline buying plans, limiting their ability to swing big trades. The offseason trade of Kyle Tucker hinted at a willingness to take a small step back to reload. With a soft June schedule, the Astros may continue trending upward, making them less likely to sell. Still, even in that scenario, they could look to move a bullpen arm like Bryan Abreu in exchange for prospect depth. Rather than a full-scale teardown, a minor reset seems like the most likely path forward.
Thanks to Just Baseball for the stats, analysis, and insights for this slideshow article.
St. Louis Cardinals (35-28, 0.5 GB in WC)
Upcoming Schedule: LAD, TOR, MIL, CHW, CIN, CHC, CLE
Potential Trade Pieces: Erick Fedde, Ryan Helsley, Phil Maton, Nolan Arenado, Nolan Gorman, Jordan Walker
The Cardinals are perhaps the most fascinating team to watch as the trade deadline nears. What once looked like a lost season has shifted into an encouraging turnaround, but it’s still unclear if they’ve done enough to justify going all-in. Nolan Arenado’s future remains uncertain, though the team’s recent success could sway him to stay put. St. Louis has several veterans on expiring deals, Erick Fedde, Phil Maton, and Ryan Helsley, who would draw strong interest from contenders, particularly Fedde and Helsley. The return packages could be tough to pass up. The Cardinals might explore a hybrid approach: selling off short-term pieces while leveraging high-upside change-of-scenery players like Nolan Gorman and Jordan Walker to bring in controllable talent. It’s a tightrope act that could extend this surprising run. Their upcoming schedule, which features three divisional series, should clarify whether they’re contenders or deadline opportunists.
Minnesota Twins (34-29, 1st WC Spot)
Upcoming Schedule: TOR, TX, HOU, CIN, MIL, SEA, DET
Potential Trade Pieces: Harrison Bader, Willi Castro, Jhoan Duran, Chris Paddack
The Twins put together a strong winning streak in May, which helped improve the perception of their season, though the underlying issues remain. Despite fielding competitive rosters in recent years, Minnesota hasn’t made a deep postseason run, and the lack of offseason investment signals that ownership may be hesitant to push forward. The season-ending injury to ace Pablo López only adds to the uncertainty, making a sell-off a real possibility. While Jhoan Duran still has two years of control and is unlikely to be moved, veterans like Willi Castro, Harrison Bader, and Chris Paddack could be valuable trade chips for contenders and help Minnesota restock its farm system. Their June schedule features a mix of playoff hopefuls and fellow bubble teams, offering a critical stretch that could determine their trade deadline direction. If the Twins falter, expect them to shift toward selling and reshaping for the future.
Arizona Diamondbacks (31-31, 4 GB in WC)
Upcoming Schedule: CIN, SEA, SD, TOR, COL, CHW, MIA
Potential Trade Pieces: Zac Gallen, Merrill Kelly, Shelby Miller, Josh Naylor, Eugenio Suarez, Jake McCarthy
The Diamondbacks still have a promising core and don’t need a complete rebuild, but their underwhelming performance this season could force them into some tough decisions. With Zac Gallen set to hit free agency and the team already investing in Corbin Burnes, it’s hard to imagine Arizona bringing Gallen back, making him a prime trade candidate and one of the best arms potentially available. Though still effective, Merrill Kelly is 36 and could also bring back solid value on the market. Meanwhile, position players like Josh Naylor and Eugenio Suárez are approaching free agency, raising the question of whether it’s time for Arizona to get ahead of potential losses. Trading these players could significantly bolster the farm system, even if it diminishes the team’s playoff chances this year. The D-backs aren’t far off, but some short-term pain might be necessary to strengthen their long-term outlook.
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Toronto Blue Jays (33-29, Last WC Spot)
Upcoming Schedule: MIN, STL, PHI, ARZ, CHW, CLE, BOS
Potential Trade Pieces: Chris Bassitt, Kevin Gausman, Chad Green, Bo Bichette, George Springer
Take a moment to ask yourself—do you believe in this Blue Jays team? Probably not. Anthony Santander has struggled and is now sidelined along with Daulton Varsho, and while Addison Barger has been a bright spot, the roster feels like it lacks spark. Toronto deserves credit for its aggressive offseason, pushing forward rather than hitting the reset button. That same mindset could resurface at the deadline, but it’s becoming harder to justify.
The Jays need to strongly consider trading Bo Bichette, who seems unlikely to re-sign. Contenders would highly covet him. Beyond Bichette, the front office may explore shedding veteran contracts. George Springer’s resurgence could make him movable if Toronto is willing to eat some salary. With multiple series against other bubble teams on the schedule, how the Jays fare in the next few weeks will likely dictate whether they stay the course or pivot entirely.
The post Which Teams Next Month Will Decide Their Deadline Future? appeared first on Just Baseball.
Houston Astros (35-28, 1st AL West)
Upcoming Schedule: CLE, CHW, MIN, ATH, LAA, PHI, CHC
Potential Trade Pieces: Bryan Abreu, Josh Hader, Framber Valdez
The Astros are in an unusual position, still very much in the playoff picture, but clearly amid a transitional phase. Despite a recent surge in performance, uncertainty lingers, especially with Framber Valdez entering free agency at season’s end. Houston has never shied away from letting players finish out contracts if they believe a deep postseason run is realistic. However, their thin farm system complicates any deadline buying plans, limiting their ability to swing big trades. The offseason trade of Kyle Tucker hinted at a willingness to take a small step back to reload. With a soft June schedule, the Astros may continue trending upward, making them less likely to sell. Still, even in that scenario, they could look to move a bullpen arm like Bryan Abreu in exchange for prospect depth. Rather than a full-scale teardown, a minor reset seems like the most likely path forward.
Thanks to Just Baseball for the stats, analysis, and insights for this slideshow article.
