It is less than a week until the MLB All-Star game, and from there, just over two weeks to the trade deadline. Teams are evaluating talent and weighing deals, and fans everywhere are begging for big additions. Which teams will buy? Which ones will sell? Which players will find themselves on new teams? Here is a trade deadline preview for the NL East.
The Braves have been up and down all year, but there have been a lot more downs than ups. Michael Harris, Nick Allen, and Ozzie Albies have all struggled. Orlando Arcia is now in Colorado. Alex Verdugo was designated for assignment, and Jarred Kelenic was demoted to Triple-A. Jurickson Profar just returned after an 80-game suspension, and Ronald Acuña Jr. has missed 50 games due to injury. Speaking of injuries, Atlanta has 11 pitchers out with injuries, including ace Chris Sale and three other starters. Braves fans have to be wondering, “What else could go wrong?” at this point.
While Braves manager Brian Snitker’s seat keeps getting hotter, the team’s front office has to look at scrapping their lofty goals for 2025 and selling at the deadline. Look for Atlanta to try to move slugger Marcell Ozuna’s and closer Raisel Iglesias’ expiring contracts at the deadline to replenish their farm system. After how well rookie Drake Baldwin has played, don’t be surprised if they trade catcher Sean Murphy, as well. There are rumors that the Braves might even listen to offers on Ozzie Albies after his struggles this year.
Despite winning seven of their last ten games and passing the Braves in the standings, the Marlins are going nowhere this season. Their starting pitching has been terrible except for Edward Cabrera. The question around the league in spring training was centered around who Miami would trade ace Sandy Alcántara to after he came back from Tommy John Surgery. Alcántara has pitched so poorly in his return that the Marlins now have to fear that they will not be able to get much out of trading him. Ryan Weathers’ trade value also plummeted when he went on the 60-day IL in June with a lat strain.
The Marlins remain in perpetual rebuilding mode, but they have accumulated a nice core of young position players. The team will look to build around Augustin Ramirez, Xavier Edwards, Otto Lopez, Kyle Stowers, Dane Myers, Griffin Conine, and Liam Hicks. Look for Alcántara, Cabrera, Cal Quantrill, and Jesus Sanchez to all be available at the deadline for pitching prospects. Miami does not have to trade Alcántara, as he is still under team control through 2027. If things do not improve, they may have to shut him down for the season and start fresh in 2026.
The Mets are tied for the NL East lead right now, but they are just treading water at the moment, playing .500 ball in their last 12 games. Pete Alonso is having one of his best seasons as a pro, and Juan Soto has overcome a slow start to put up big numbers again. However, the team’s strength in the first half of the season, the pitching, has become an issue due to injuries. Kodai Senga, Sean Manaea, Tylor Megill, Griffin Canning, and nine other pitchers are currently injured. For New York to have any hope in the playoffs, the team will have to pursue pitching at the deadline.
Look for the Mets to pursue top available starters like Alcántara, Seth Lugo, Zac Gallen, Luis Severino, and Merrill Kelly, as well as closer Felix Bautista. Owner Steve Cohen is not against spending money, so New York may also go after a bat at the deadline. Luis Robert Jr., Ryan O’Hearn, Cedric Mullins, and Marcell Ozuna would all make sense as targets, as the team could use help in center field and at designated hitter. The team has enough prospects to add at least a couple of good players before the July 31 deadline.
Philadelphia is tied for first right now, but they have one glaring weakness as the deadline approaches: their bullpen. Closer Jose Alvarado is currently serving an 80-day PED suspension, and fill-in Jordan Romano (7.44 ERA) has struggled. The Phillies have looked to Orion Kerkering and Matt Strahm to close out games in recent weeks. Philadelphia will pursue someone like Bautista, Emmanuel Clase, Jhoan Duran, Pete Fairbanks, Aroldis Chapman, and free agent David Robertson to fill the void. Unsigned 40-year-old Robertson (3.00 ERA, 99 Ks in 72 IP in 2024) could come cheap enough that the Phillies could get a second reliever as well.
Philadelphia might also seek to upgrade the outfield, catcher, or third base. JT Realmuto has struggled to stay healthy and to hit over the last season-and-a-half. The Phillies would like more power at third base than Alec Bohm has provided and in center, where Johan Rojas and Brandon Marsh have offered defense. Any of those players could be traded for the right return.
The Nationals have developed a nice core of young talent in James Wood, MacKenzie Gore, CJ Abrams, Luis Garcia, and Josiah Gray. At 37-54 on the season, ownership believes the team has severely underachieved this season. To that end, GM Mike Rizzo and manager Dave Martinez were both fired this week. Senior VP and Assistant GM Mike DeBartolo will serve as the interim GM, and Miguel Cairo will serve as the interim manager.
Look for DeBartolo to seek out deals for swingman Mike Soroko, closer Kyle Finnegan, 1B/DH Josh Bell, and middle infielders Amed Rosario and Paul DeJong. The team will seek to backfill at third base, right field, center field, and catcher. The Nationals’ rebuild could finally get over the hump if the team can improve at any of those positions and keep their starting pitchers healthy.
It will be interesting to see who pulls off the bigger deadline deals, the Phillies or the Mets. New York has more needs than Philadelphia, but Cohen is not afraid to spend money for his team. If the Phillies go big and pull off a surprise deal to upgrade in center or at third, as well as grabbing a closer, I could see them pulling away from the Mets. Otherwise, it could be a dead heat for the division crown at the end of September. Barring huge injuries, both teams should be shoo-ins for the playoffs. It would be interesting to see if Luis Robert Jr. could regain his All-Star form in Philadelphia.
For the other three teams, it is all about rebuilding and retooling. The Braves should be playoff contenders again next year, if they can stay healthy, but a few tweaks could put them in contention to win the East. For the Nationals and the Marlins, it comes down to trying to improve incrementally. Washington is closer to contending than Miami, and they are not looking at having to give up a former Cy Young winner to improve. If the Nationals were to hit on one or two more prospects, they should be better than .500 next year. The Marlins’ rotation is still too far away at this point, especially if they trade away a couple of major pieces.
For more of Stadium Rant’s MLB trade deadline coverage, click here.
If you enjoyed this article, subscribe to our newsletter here. Check out Stadium Rant Original shows on our Youtube channel and subscribe! Give our socials Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok a follow for more great content!
