As the MLB heads toward the All-Star break in two weeks, it is time for teams to start making deals before the July 31 trade deadline. Who will buy, and who will sell? Will there be any blockbuster trades? Here is a look at what each AL East team needs to address at the deadline. Check back throughout the next few days for breakdowns of MLB’s other divisions.
Baltimore’s season has been a disaster. The team got off to a sluggish start, and now they have 15 injured players. At 11 games under .500, the Orioles have to be sellers this season. That said, the team has a plethora of young talent that could put them right back in the playoffs next year, so the front office cannot go crazy. Unloading some expiring contracts for much-needed starting pitching needs to be the O’s focus.
Look for the O’s to send off some combination of Ramon Laureano, Cedric Mullins, Gregory Soto, Zach Eflin, Charlie Morton, Seranthony Dominguez, and Ryan O’Hearn. In return, they need to find someone younger than 41-year-old Morton to be an innings-eater for their rotation and some major league-ready starting pitching prospects to compete for rotation spots next season. Then, in the off-season, they need to sign a frontline free agent starter like a Zac Gallen or a Dylan Cease.
If the Red Sox could get healthy and stay healthy, they have the talent to be a playoff team. Oft-injured Trevor Story has actually been healthy this season and has recently started to hit again. Boston needs to take advantage of this rare opportunity and trade him while they might be able to get a decent return. They also need to unload Walker Buehler. In return, the team needs to look for a more reliable rotation option and a prospect that can play first base in case Tristan Casas continues to be plagued by injuries.
It is rumored that the Sox are also looking at the possibility of trading outfielder Jarren Duran to get more playing time for Wilyer Abreu and Roman Anthony. If the team is going to break their fans’ hearts again this soon after trading Rafael Devers, they better get something good in return. Fans were unimpressed by the arms that Boston got in return for Devers.
The Yankees have been bitten by injuries this season, but have still managed to hang on to first place in the East. New York’s main need is an everyday third baseman. Oswaldo Cabrera and DJ LeMahieu have not provided much production at the position, and the Yankees would rather play Jazz Chisholm at second base. With Cabrera now out for the season after ankle surgery, New York will most likely look to fill that need before the deadline.
There have been rumors that the Yankees have been looking at the Twins’ Willi Castro and the Diamondbacks’ Eugenio Suárez to fill that spot. Suárez has put up big power numbers (26 HR, 69 RBI), and Castro has played six positions this season and adds speed. Both players would be rentals, so New York would not have to commit to them after this year. The Yankees would also like to ditch Marcus Stroman, but they are probably stuck with him until they know for sure when Luis Gil will return from his lat injury.
The Rays’ biggest needs will soon be filled internally, as shortstop Ha-seong Kim (shoulder/hamstring) and starter Shane McClanahan (triceps) edge closer to returns. Likewise, reliever Manuel Rodriguez (forearm) is also close to starting a rehab assignment. With Hunter Bigge (lat, head injury) still out as well, the Rays could use one more reliever. Reports indicate that they might even consider an upgrade to closer Pete Fairbanks.
Look for Tampa Bay to target someone like the Pirates’ David Bednar or Seattle’s Andrés Muñoz. Muñoz can opt out of his contract after this season, so he might end up a rental. Bednar is reasonably inexpensive and signed through 2026. He could be kept or flipped during the winter depending on how things play out for the Rays.
The Blue Jays entered the season thinking that their starting pitching would be a strength. To this point, it has not been. Max Scherzer, Alek Manoah, and Bowden Francis have all dealt with injuries, and ace Kevin Gausman is having an off-year. Their outfield has also disappointed, with Anthony Santander and Daulton Varsho struggling to stay healthy and struggling to hit when they are in the lineup. Through all of their issues, though, the Jays find themselves just one game back of the Yankees in the East.
Most likely, Toronto will look to add a starting pitcher. They may target Kansas City’s Seth Lugo. The Royals are struggling and could be sellers at the deadline if things don’t turn around soon. A Lugo trade to restock their farm system would make sense, and Toronto could be a good fit. Lugo (5-5, 2.74 ERA) is signed through 2026 and has a player option for 2027. The Jays seem to be losing patience with Alek Manoah. Lugo would be an excellent option to fill a rotation spot going forward, and he would be cheaper than pursuing the likes of Gallen, Cease, or Framber Valdez in free agency.
All five of these teams should compete for playoff spots next season, and the Rays, Yankees, and Blue Jays all look like playoff teams this year. The AL East is always tough, so any deadline move can be a difference-maker. If Boston trades Duran, that could be a needle-mover, though quite possibly in the wrong direction. Let’s just say that they did not get much out of losing Mookie Betts, Xander Bogaerts, Chris Sale, and most recently, Devers.
The one blockbuster that could come at the deadline would be if Toronto thought that they had no chance of re-signing Bo Bichette and traded him. After signing Vlad Guerrero Jr. to a 14-year, $500 million extension, the Jays may not have the money to keep Bichette. I could see them trading him to a team that could afford him in exchange for rotation or bullpen help and an infield prospect. Jettisoning Bichette could also jettison the team’s playoff run if they are not careful. Between Bichette and Duran, it will be interesting to see what happens in the East at the deadline.
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