Gentlemen, start your bear hugs.<\/p>\n
In less than a week, baseball\u2019s annual midsummer bazaar will close at the July 31 trade deadline. Teams will be scrambling to do business. Players will be on the move. There will be goodbyes.<\/p>\n
Some players, however, are more likely to do some hugging than others. Here\u2019s a look, in no particular order, at who will have bittersweet embraces in their near future.<\/p>\n
Ford is one of the best catching prospects in baseball. He\u2019s also blocked by American League MVP candidate Cal Raleigh, and the Mariners just spent an early draft pick on college catcher Luke Stevenson. All of this suggests that Ford could soon be swapped for a big-league corner infielder. \u2014 Dennis Lin<\/p>\n
Miguel Mendez<\/p>\n<\/td>\n
RHP<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Mendez, a once-obscure member of the Padres\u2019 2021 international signing class, has put together a breakout season in A-ball while attracting the attention of opposing scouts. As a starter, he\u2019s touching 100 mph and demonstrating improved control. He\u2019s an exciting prospect, but there\u2019s plenty of relief risk here, and the strength of the Padres\u2019 system is the depth of their lower-level arms. \u2014 Lin<\/p>\n
David Bednar<\/p>\n<\/td>\n
RHP<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
The reasons not to trade Bednar amount to little more than: He\u2019s from here. The reasons to trade the hometown closer are many. Just months after a demotion to Triple A, Bednar once again looks like a two-time All-Star closer. He fits every contending team\u2019s bullpen, as either a closer or leverage reliever, and the Pirates will surely receive a better return by trading Bednar now than by waiting to move him this offseason or next trade deadline when he\u2019ll be a rental. \u2014 Stephen J. Nesbitt<\/p>\n
Bryan Hudson<\/p>\n<\/td>\n
LHP<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
You may remember Hudson as the side-arming, soft-tossing lefty with a sub-1 ERA halfway through the 2024 season. Indeed, same dude. But by last season\u2019s end, Hudson had been sent to Triple A due to a velocity decline, and that\u2019s where he\u2019s spent most of this season, too. As the Brewers look to add at the trade deadline, surely they\u2019ll hear from GMs of non-contending teams who want to toss Hudson into the return and think perhaps they can unlock his 2024 form. \u2014 Nesbitt<\/p>\n
Merrill Kelly<\/p>\n<\/td>\n
RHP<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Teams tend to overpay for starting pitching help at the trade deadline, and fourth-place teams tend to deal rental pitchers at the trade deadline, so this makes too much sense. Kelly will be 37 in October, and he\u2019d be more valuable to a more threatening contender that needs him to chew up some innings in August, September and maybe even October. \u2014 Zack Meisel<\/p>\n
Carlos Santana<\/p>\n<\/td>\n
1B<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
There was always risk to Cleveland signing Santana, who turned 39 in April, to a one-year, $12 million deal to replace Josh Naylor at first base. He remains an elite defender, but his bat has slipped, and the Guardians have first base prospect C.J. Kayfus waiting at Triple-A Columbus. \u2014 Meisel<\/p>\n
Seth Lugo<\/p>\n<\/td>\n
RHP<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
The uncertainty about Lugo\u2019s future makes him a more likely candidate, as he holds a $15 million player option for 2026. His surface-level numbers remain great. His underlying metrics are a bit frightening. But starting pitching is a hot commodity, so maybe a team will fork over a decent return for a guy who\u2019s been uber-reliable the last couple years. \u2014 Meisel<\/p>\n
Ryan O’Hearn<\/p>\n<\/td>\n
1B, OF<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
His three-year emergence in Baltimore is culminating in the best offensive season of his career, but he\u2019s also approaching free agency and is not a great qualifying offer candidate. O\u2019Hearn is a good hitter, and a surprising number of contenders \u2014 the Astros, Blue Jays, Red Sox, Giants, Padres \u2014 have gotten underwhelming production at either DH or first base. \u2014 Chad Jennings<\/p>\n
Zack Littell<\/p>\n<\/td>\n
RHP<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
With Shane McClanahan due back from injury, the Rays could soon have six starters for five spots. The Rays could choose to simply stay the course, appreciate such depth, and make modest moves, but if they want to be a little more aggressive \u2014 both in the short term and long term \u2014 they could trade from their pitching depth, which could mean trading Littell, who\u2019s having another strong season but also approaching free agency. \u2014 Jennings<\/p>\n
Jimmy Herget<\/p>\n<\/td>\n
RHP<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
The Rockies should be open for business, but they are the Rockies, so who knows what will happen. Herget, a useful reliever, feels like the most likely player to depart, given the team\u2019s proclivities. Third baseman Ryan McMahon is owed $32 million through 2027, and Colorado does not like dealing players who signed extensions. The relief duo of Jake Bird and Victor Vodnik still have several years of team control, and the Rockies do not like dealing those types of players. Maybe this season\u2019s utter collapse will be a wakeup call. Or maybe it\u2019ll just look like more of the same. \u2014 Andy McCullough<\/p>\n
Luis Robert Jr.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n
OF<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
White Sox general manager Chris Getz faces such an annoying dilemma with Robert, one of the last links to the 2021 club that won the American League Central. Robert was an All-Star as recently as 2023 but has been far less productive these past two seasons. Should the team accept a return for a rental who entered the All-Star break with a sub-.600 OPS? Or should the team pick up his $20 million option for 2026 and hope he rejuvenates himself in time to be traded next year? The financial risk of Robert continuing to crater may force Getz\u2019s hand. \u2014 McCullough<\/p>\n
Michael Soroka<\/p>\n<\/td>\n
RHP<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
The Nationals don\u2019t really have much for new general manager Mike DeBartolo to move. Their best relievers, Kyle Finnegan and Brad Lord, don\u2019t miss bats. Their best starters, besides MacKenzie Gore, couldn\u2019t start a postseason game for a contender. They don\u2019t really have quality position players besides CJ Abrams and James Wood. So let\u2019s go with Soroka, a swingman whose peripherals are better than his raw numbers. \u2014 McCullough<\/p>\n
Edward Cabrera<\/p>\n<\/td>\n
RHP<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Should the Marlins sell low on Sandy Alcantara? Maybe. Should the team sell high on Cabrera? Definitely. Cabrera has cut down on his walks during the best season of his career. There is an argument for Marlins president of baseball operations Peter Bendix to hold onto Cabrera, who is under team control through 2028. But the risk of injury or regression is significant enough that Miami should explore his market aggressively. \u2014 McCullough<\/p>\n
Jhostynxon Garcia<\/p>\n<\/td>\n
OF<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
The Red Sox outfield is already facing a crunch at the big league level with Roman Anthony, Wilyer Abreu, Jarren Duran and Ceddanne Rafaela. That\u2019s not counting Rob Refsnyder and Masataka Yoshida, who are getting occasional outfield reps. The Red Sox may trade from their big league core, but have said they\u2019d prefer not to. Garcia is a top-5 prospect in the system, hitting close to .300 with a .900 OPS in Triple A. There\u2019s little room for him in the majors, but he could be part of a bigger package to acquire a pitcher at the deadline. Chief baseball officer Craig Breslow has shown a willingness to trade prospects with Kyle Teel and Braden Montgomery as part of the Garrett Crochet deal and Nick Yorke traded for Quinn Priester last summer. \u2014 Jen McCaffrey<\/p>\n
If there\u2019s anything the Yankees have to trade, it\u2019s young pitching. Hess, almost 23, was the Yankees\u2019 first-round pick last year. He has a big fastball with strikeout ability (13.1 K\/9) and a 6-foot-5 frame to dream on, but he\u2019s also shown a lack of control (5.1 BB\/9) in his first professional season, all at High-A Hudson Valley. A caveat: Many evaluators prefer 2024 second-rounder Bryce Cunningham, 22, to Hess. \u2014 Brendan Kuty<\/p>\n
Willi Castro<\/p>\n<\/td>\n
IF, OF<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Castro is the best of the Twins\u2019 six impending free agents, each of whom figures to be very available. He can play anywhere defensively and he\u2019s a switch hitter with good speed and a .741 OPS over three seasons in Minnesota, making him a smooth fit in almost any lineup. Castro was an All-Star last season and he\u2019s having an even better 2025, so the 28-year-old should have plenty of suitors. \u2014 Aaron Gleeman<\/p>\n
Marco Luciano<\/p>\n<\/td>\n
IF, OF<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Luciano still has the lightning-quick bat that made him a top-20 prospect, but he\u2019s stalled in Triple A, both offensively and defensively. He\u2019ll be out of options next year, and he still has some measure of trade value, which makes him the perfect player to include in a larger deal. \u2014 Grant Brisbee<\/p>\n
Edwin Arroyo<\/p>\n<\/td>\n
SS<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
If the Reds want to get an impact player for a playoff push, they\u2019ll have to give up something, and the one place they\u2019re set for the immediate future is shortstop. The switch-hitting Arroyo missed all of 2024 after shoulder surgery. His power\u2019s been limited, but he has a solid batting average and OBP in Double A this year and his defense is still good at a premium position. \u2014 C. Trent Rosecrans<\/p>\n
Joey Loperfido<\/p>\n<\/td>\n
OF<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
The Jays have nine outfielders on the 40-man roster, plus Anthony Santander on the 60-day IL. They\u2019ll likely move one of the many similar young outfielders. It\u2019s a group that includes Alan Roden and Jonatan Clase, but Joey Loperfido\u2019s value might be the highest of the bunch. When Daulton Varsho returns from his hamstring injury, Loperfido likely loses his MLB spot anyway. So, he\u2019s the perfect high stock to cash in. \u2014 Mitch Bannon<\/p>\n
Marcell Ozuna<\/p>\n<\/td>\n
DH<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Ozuna was the second-best DH in baseball over the 2023-24 seasons, behind Shohei Ohtani. He got off to another strong start this season, albeit with more walks and fewer homers while playing through a hip injury. But Ozuna, on an expiring contract, slumped badly since early June, and recently lost regular DH duties as manager Brian Snitker decided to go with catchers Sean Murphy and Drake Baldwin in the lineup most games, one at DH. \u2014 David O\u2019Brien<\/p>\n
Mick Abel<\/p>\n<\/td>\n
RHP<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
No one ever has enough starting pitching, which is why Abel\u2019s renaissance season is important. He was a first-round pick for a reason, and he\u2019s regained confidence. But he projects as the sixth or seventh starter now and in 2026 for the Phillies. That makes him a trade chip. \u2014 Matt Gelb<\/p>\n
A.J. Ewing<\/p>\n<\/td>\n
CF<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
A fourth-round pick out of high school in 2023, Ewing has done nothing but hit over the last calendar year. Sent in the spring to repeat Low A, he earned a promotion before April was up and has carried a .400 on-base percentage over three months in High A. He\u2019s precisely the kind of appealing top-20 prospect the Mets have lacked at recent deadlines. \u2014 Tim Britton<\/p>\n
Dustin May<\/p>\n<\/td>\n
RHP<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
The Dodgers want to be bringing in arms to address their issues, not ship them out. But as their rotation gets healthier, some names are going to get squeezed out \u2014 including, potentially, May, who has not missed a turn through the Dodgers rotation and has remained healthy. The stuff remains tantalizing, but the production (4.73 ERA) hasn\u2019t matched up. Perhaps the Dodgers try to cash in on the pending free agent while they address their bullpen need. \u2014 Fabian Ardaya<\/p>\n
Max Anderson<\/p>\n<\/td>\n
2B<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
The Tigers have a rich farm system. The question here is what sort of prospects they will actually be willing to trade. Anderson is having a great season, hitting above .300 in Double-A Erie and showing ability to get to his power in games. But his defensive ability is average at best, and with other infielders like Kevin McGonigle, Hao-Yu Lee and Jace Jung in the system, Anderson seems expendable to the Tigers. He could simultaneously be attractive to other teams in a high-priced market. \u2014 Cody Stavenhagen<\/p>\n
Phil Maton<\/p>\n<\/td>\n
RHP<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Maton is a textbook deadline acquisition. He\u2019s a two-month rental with a veteran pedigree and ample postseason experience, all things contending teams covet this time of year. Maton has thrived as the Cardinals\u2019 set-up man, posting a 2.48 ERA with 47 strikeouts over 38 appearances. He\u2019s also pitched in four consecutive postseasons, dating to 2021. He\u2019ll bring in considerable value in a return for St. Louis, even as a rental, as all signs point to the Cardinals opting for a soft sell at the deadline. \u2014 Katie Woo<\/p>\n
Adolis Garc\u00eda<\/p>\n<\/td>\n
OF<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Just when it seemed like the Rangers might have to wave the white flag, this team is waking up. Whether the Rangers buy, sell or thread the needle, Garc\u00eda could be most vulnerable to a move. The Rangers could aim to reshape their offense with a more consistent hitter, and Garc\u00eda could still have value elsewhere as an elite defender with one remaining year of team control. \u2014 Stavenhagen<\/p>\n
Luis Severino<\/p>\n<\/td>\n
RHP<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
This one isn\u2019t exactly a no-brainer. Luis Severino has publicly stated how much he dislikes Sutter Health Park due to its playing environment. And with a road ERA of 3.10 versus a home ERA of 6.68, it\u2019s clear he\u2019d rather be playing literally anywhere else. The veteran will most likely get his wish granted, with the rebuilding A\u2019s hoping to bring in a young prospect or two in return. \u2014 Dhani Joseph<\/p>\n
Chas McCormick<\/p>\n<\/td>\n
OF<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Houston\u2019s major-league roster is so ravaged by injury that it\u2019s difficult to envision any player getting moved, but McCormick makes the most sense if one does. He is the odd man out of a full-strength Astros outfield, has one more season under club control and is making $3.4 million \u2014 not an insignificant sum for a Houston team that may have to move money around if owner Jim Crane doesn\u2019t authorize crossing the luxury tax threshold. \u2014 Chandler Rome<\/p>\n
Jordan Wicks<\/p>\n<\/td>\n
LHP<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
The Cubs are clear buyers searching for pitching. Wicks just hasn\u2019t gotten the job done for them this season in his big-league opportunities. But he still has value as a future starter. It could benefit Wicks and the team he\u2019s moved to if he\u2019s allowed to just pitch through struggles without the concern of a playoff race hovering over him. \u2014 Sahadev Sharma<\/p>\n
Yo\u00e1n Moncada<\/p>\n<\/td>\n
3B<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
The Angels could try to move Moncada regardless of whether they intend to compete. With Christian Moore set to return at some point this season, the Angels won\u2019t really have much use for either Moncada or Luis Rengifo in their starting infield, and Moncada is going to be the more desirable trade piece by opposing teams. The only issue is his health. He can barely stay on the field this season, so whatever value the Angels get back might be minimal. \u2014 Sam Blum<\/p>\n
(Illustration: Kelsea Petersen \/ The Athletic; Alika Jenner \/ Getty, Jason Miller \/ Getty, Diamond Images \/ Getty)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Gentlemen, start your bear hugs. In less than a week, baseball\u2019s annual midsummer bazaar will close at the…\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":91864,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[41],"tags":[1279,1280,1276,1281,1271,1274,5048,1282,1283,1885,2382,1284,1285,2502,1286,4247,1287,1266,1305,2228,5055,2083,1886,1306,1275,1288,62,3692,1289,1278,1290,67,132,68,1291],"class_list":{"0":"post-91863","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-mlb","8":"tag-arizona-diamondbacks","9":"tag-atlanta-braves","10":"tag-baltimore-orioles","11":"tag-boston-red-sox","12":"tag-chicago-cubs","13":"tag-chicago-white-sox","14":"tag-cincinnati-reds","15":"tag-cleveland-guardians","16":"tag-colorado-rockies","17":"tag-detroit-tigers","18":"tag-houston-astros","19":"tag-kansas-city-royals","20":"tag-los-angeles-angels","21":"tag-los-angeles-dodgers","22":"tag-miami-marlins","23":"tag-milwaukee-brewers","24":"tag-minnesota-twins","25":"tag-mlb","26":"tag-new-york-mets","27":"tag-new-york-yankees","28":"tag-oakland-athletics","29":"tag-philadelphia-phillies","30":"tag-pittsburgh-pirates","31":"tag-san-diego-padres","32":"tag-san-francisco-giants","33":"tag-seattle-mariners","34":"tag-sports","35":"tag-st-louis-cardinals","36":"tag-tampa-bay-rays","37":"tag-texas-rangers","38":"tag-toronto-blue-jays","39":"tag-united-states","40":"tag-unitedstates","41":"tag-us","42":"tag-washington-nationals"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"","error":"Validation failed: Text character limit of 500 exceeded"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/91863","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=91863"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/91863\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/91864"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=91863"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=91863"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=91863"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}