All-Star trades: 7 who could move by Deadline
ARLINGTON -- Dozens of players arrived in Texas this week, representing their respective teams in this year¡¯s All-Star festivities.
For a select number of All-Stars, however, this might be a final countdown until the July 30 Trade Deadline, at which time they may find themselves wearing a new uniform.
¡°I think it's kind of the reality, when you pitch good and you're on a team below .500, that people are going to be talking,¡± said Rangers reliever Kirby Yates, a two-time All-Star. ¡°I love it here. I don't want to get traded, personally. You look around that clubhouse, we have really good baseball players in there. I don¡¯t think anybody's in there necessarily thinking that we're giving in.¡±
For all of the players listed below, the possibility of a trade during the next two weeks exists, though some are far more likely to be dealt than others. This week, they planned to enjoy the All-Star experience and try not to concern themselves with what may be in store by the end of the month.
¡°For me, it¡¯s just, 'Be where your feet are whenever you're there,'¡± said Angels starter and two-time All-Star Tyler Anderson. ¡°You can¡¯t control those things, so control what you can and just be there for your teammates every day.¡±
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Here¡¯s a look at seven of this year¡¯s All-Stars who could be on the move by July 30.
Tyler Anderson, LHP, Angels
An All-Star for the second time in three years, Anderson has been one of the few bright spots in the Angels¡¯ rotation this season. The 34-year-old went 8-8 with a 2.97 ERA in 19 starts (118 innings) in the first half, ranking in the 86th percentile in opponents' average exit velocity and hard-hit percentage.
Anderson is owed roughly $5 million this season and will earn $13 million in the final year of his contract in 2025. Given the dearth of quality starting pitching expected to be available this month, the Angels should have a number of suitors for Anderson, who is doing his best to block out the trade rumors this month.
¡°This game is hard enough if you just worry about the right things,¡± Anderson said. ¡°If you worry about stuff you can't control, it¡¯s even harder.¡±
Garrett Crochet, LHP, White Sox
Crochet¡¯s initial transition to the rotation was a bit rocky: He posted a 5.97 ERA in seven starts through the end of April. Since then, though, the southpaw has been dominant, posting a 1.61 ERA in 72 2/3 innings over 13 starts. Crochet leads the Majors with 150 strikeouts against only 23 walks in 107 1/3 innings, though that last number is the most intriguing.
The 25-year-old had thrown a total of 85 1/3 innings between the Majors and Minors prior to this season, so the White Sox -- and any team that might acquire him -- will have to monitor his workload for the rest of the season, potentially turning him into a bullpen asset late in the season. The most intriguing aspect of Crochet¡¯s potential availability? He¡¯s under club control through 2026.
¡°It's not something I necessarily expected, just with my age, but at the same time, it's a testament to the season that I'm having,¡± Crochet said of the trade talk. ¡°I think that when you're having a season like this, maybe the potential returns outweigh what you're receiving right now. I don't know. I'm not the guy to make that call. I think it's a huge compliment that the value that I'm able to provide my team right now someone else also wants.¡±
Vladimir Guerrero Jr., 1B, Blue Jays
An All-Star for the fourth straight season, Guerrero will be one of the most intriguing names to watch over the next two weeks. The slugger -- who entered the break with 14 home runs, 55 RBIs and an .815 OPS in 95 games -- is under club control through the end of 2025, and while the Blue Jays have no plans to trade Guerrero at the moment, an overwhelming offer could make Toronto consider such a move.
¡°Like I've mentioned before, I control what I can control,¡± Guerrero said through an interpreter. ¡°I'm just trying to go out there and give my 100 percent and whatever happens after that, I can't control it.¡±
Guerrero and the Blue Jays have discussed a potential extension, but sources said the two sides were not particularly close to getting a deal done. Guerrero said he hopes to remain with the only club for which he has ever played, but he knows that the possibility of a trade will continue to exist.
¡°I would love to be in Toronto,¡± Guerrero said. ¡°My family loves Toronto, my kids love Toronto, but at the end of the day, it's a business. We all need to understand that, so whatever happens happens. Definitely, I would like to stay there.¡±
Mason Miller, RHP, Athletics
The hard-throwing Miller has been mentioned as a trade candidate for months, though Oakland will surely ask for a haul in exchange for the right-hander, who is under club control for five more years, through the 2029 season.
¡°I think there's enough of a history with the organization that players throughout know that's a possibility,¡± Miller said. ¡°As a player, the only thing you control is your performance, your play, the effort you're bringing each day. That¡¯s what I focus on. The rest of it is just noise.¡±
Miller¡¯s electric arm has him atop the Statcast leaderboards in a half-dozen categories, including fastball velocity (100.9 mph), whiff percentage (43%) and strikeout percentage (46.7%). A first-time All-Star, the 25-year-old is no lock to be dealt, but he is a tantalizing pitcher who will surely be discussed this month.
¡°I almost take it as a compliment that teams around the league and fans around the league are taking stock in what I'm doing,¡± Miller said. ¡°I don't anticipate heading out this year. For the value I'm bringing right now to the team, I think they want to hang onto that. I'm happy to be a part of that group.¡±
Isaac Paredes, 3B, Rays
The Rays have hovered around .500 all season, and they have already shown a willingness to part with veterans if they have younger and less expensive Major League-ready options to replace them. Starter Aaron Civale was dealt to Milwaukee, making room for Shane Baz, while reliever Phil Maton was traded to the Mets, clearing a spot for Manuel Rodr¨ªguez.
So it¡¯s worth noting that top Tampa Bay prospect Junior Caminero, also a third baseman, will soon return to Triple-A Durham after recovering from a left quad strain. The Rays are unlikely to take part in any sort of fire sale because they expect to be competitive in 2025, but they could deal from areas of strength to better balance their roster for next year.
Paredes, who hit 30 home runs in '23 and reached the current break with 15 homers and 50 RBIs, is owed about $1.4 million for the rest of '24 and is arbitration-eligible for the next three years, making him a prime controllable asset.
¡°It¡¯s not in my mind,¡± Paredes said through an interpreter. ¡°I don¡¯t control it. The team will make a decision, and we¡¯ll see what happens.¡±
Tanner Scott, LHP, Marlins
Miami¡¯s lone All-Star representative, Scott is likely to find himself wearing a new uniform before the end of the month after the Marlins jumpstarted trade season in early May by dealing Luis Arraez to the Padres.
The left-hander, who turns 30 on July 22, had a 1.34 ERA in 39 appearances in the first half, successfully converting 14 of his 16 save opportunities. With multiple contenders looking for bullpen help, Scott -- who is owed roughly $2.25 million for the remainder of the season before hitting free agency this fall -- should be a highly sought-after option between now and the Trade Deadline.
¡°It's every player's goal to go far in the playoffs and win a World Series,¡± Scott said. ¡°Whatever happens happens.¡±
Kirby Yates, RHP, Rangers
Yates¡¯ one-year, $4 million contract has been a windfall for the Rangers -- the 37-year-old has been one of the best relievers in the game this season. Yates pitched to a 1.05 ERA in 34 appearances before the break, allowing only 15 hits with 46 strikeouts over 34 1/3 innings.
The two-time All-Star could be one of the best trade chips for the defending World Series champs, who own a 46-50 record and stand five games back in the AL West and 7 1/2 games behind in the AL Wild Card race.
¡°Being in our clubhouse, being in this organization, I personally don't think we're in a spot where I¡¯m going to get traded,¡± Yates said. ¡°I think we're going for it still and we¡¯re starting to play the caliber of baseball that we've been waiting to play for all season. Things are starting to click, but we'll see where we are in two weeks.¡±