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20 players who could still change teams after the trade deadline
Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports

20 players who could still change teams after the trade deadline

The MLB non-waiver trade deadline was July 31, but teams' opportunities to make trades haven't ended. The waiver trade deadline is one month later, allowing teams to typically move some of their high-priced players who pass through revocable waivers and prospects who aren't on the 40-man roster. There's still an opportunity for teams to find a difference maker, as the Astros did last season with Justin Verlander. Here's a look at 20 players who could still change teams in August.

 
1 of 20

Jose Abreu, 1B, White Sox

Jose Abreu, 1B, White Sox
Dennis Wierzbicki / USA Today Sports Images

One of the few major contributors the White Sox have retained during their rebuild, Abreu is struggling at the plate this season but has still been a leader and All-Star. A free agent after the 2019 season, the White Sox could keep him around at age 32 next season but would jump at the chance to trade him if they get an enticing offer.

 
2 of 20

Adrian Beltre, 3B, Rangers

Adrian Beltre, 3B, Rangers
Raj Mehta / USA Today Sports Images

Beltre has found a home in Texas since 2011, and the Rangers were hesitant to move him before the non-waiver deadline. Still, he's a pending free agent at age 39 and can certainly help a team if he's healthy, hitting .292/.343/.402 as of the trade deadline. The Rangers will likely leave it up to Beltre whether he wants to join a contender for the stretch run.

 
3 of 20

Josh Donaldson, 3B, Blue Jays

Josh Donaldson, 3B, Blue Jays
Kim Klement / USA Today Sports Images

A calf injury has hindered Donaldson for much of this season and also caused him to miss time last year. There's no doubt he's a difference maker when he's healthy, and the Blue Jays are unlikely to attempt to bring back the pending free agent with Vladimir Guerrero Jr. ready soon. Making $23 million this season, Donaldson will likely pass through waivers and would be an interesting addition for a contending team if he proves to be healthy.

 
4 of 20

Lucas Duda, 1B, Royals

Lucas Duda, 1B, Royals
Jay Biggerstaff / USA Today Sports Images

Duda hasn't done much offensively this season and also missed significant time with a foot injury. The rebuilding Royals still would love to get a prospect for him in August, and that might be doable if he gets hot. Duda does have five home runs in 27 games since returning from the DL.

 
5 of 20

Marco Estrada, SP, Blue Jays

Marco Estrada, SP, Blue Jays
Kelley L. Cox / USA Today Sports Images

An experienced starter, Estrada has an ERA near 5.00 over the last two seasons and has struggled to stay healthy this year. He could still be an interesting starter for the stretch run, especially in an NL park that could nullify his home run issues. Estrada is making $13 million this year but is a free agent this offseason.

 
6 of 20

Logan Forsythe, 2B, Twins

Logan Forsythe, 2B, Twins
Charles LeClaire / USA Today Sports Images

Forsythe went to Minnesota in the Brian Dozier trade and has struggled this season. The Twins are hopeful of increasing his value with some playing time in August, and Forsythe has crushed lefties during his career (.270/.345/.449). He's a potential bench bat for a playoff team.

 
7 of 20

Freddy Galvis, SS, Padres

Freddy Galvis, SS, Padres
Mark J. Rebilas / USA Today Sports Images

The Padres added Galvis as a placeholder for top prospect Fernando Tatis Jr. this season, and he's been reliable, if nothing else. Galvis' defense could get him a spot on a playoff team's bench if the Padres can find a worthwhile return this month.

 
8 of 20

Jaime Garcia, SP, Blue Jays

Jaime Garcia, SP, Blue Jays
Dan Hamilton / USA Today Sports Images

Signed to a one-year, $10 million contract in the offseason, Garcia broke out of the gate well but has struggled for most of the year. The oft-injured lefty has an ERA above 6.00, but his ability to provoke groundballs still makes him intriguing if he's healthy. It's possible a potential playoff team will want to take a flier on Garcia as a reliever.

 
9 of 20

Gio Gonzalez, SP, Nationals

Gio Gonzalez, SP, Nationals
Benny Sieu / USA Today Sports Images

Gonzalez was mentioned in trade rumors at the deadline, but the Nats ultimately passed on making any big moves. If the team doesn't turn it around in August, it still has a chance to move Gonzalez before he hits free agency in the offseason. The lefty has been reliable and durable during his career, and he could wreak havoc against lefties in the playoffs.

 
10 of 20

Josh Harrison, 2B, Pirates

Josh Harrison, 2B, Pirates
Charles LeClaire / USA Today Sports Images

The Pirates were buyers at the trade deadline, but their moves also had 2019 in mind. If the Bucs flounder in August, they probably won't hesitate to move their pending free agents. Harrison was mentioned in trade rumors last offseason and is likely to walk after this season. Pittsburgh could get a look at middle infield prospects Kevin Newman and Kevin Kramer if they're able to find a taker for Harrison.

 
11 of 20

Kelvin Herrera, RP, Nationals

Kelvin Herrera, RP, Nationals
Eric Hartline / USA Today Sports Images

The Nats acquired Herrera from Kansas City earlier this season but could decide to move the former closer if they're unable to get back into contention this month. The hard-throwing right-hander is a pending free agent and could pass through waivers, making nearly $8 million this season.

 
12 of 20

Adam Jones, OF, Orioles

Adam Jones, OF, Orioles
Brad Mills / USA Today Sports Images

Baltimore is starting a complete rebuild, but the team was unable to move Jones before the deadline. It's not too late, especially considering the center fielder and pending free agent will be paid more than $17 million this season. If nothing else, he's been consistent during his career.

 
13 of 20

Ryan Madson, RP, Nationals

Ryan Madson, RP, Nationals
Geoff Burke / USA Today Sports Images

Another pending free agent who could be moved if Washington falls out of contention, Madson has run into some struggles this season. Despite his mid-4's ERA, his ERA metrics show that he's pitched significantly better. With major playoff experience, the Nats should be able to draw interest in the pending free agent.

 
14 of 20

Victor Martinez, DH, Tigers

Victor Martinez, DH, Tigers
Kim Klement / USA Today Sports Images

Martinez is limited to DH and pinch-hitting duties at this point of his career, and he's struggled at the plate this year with a .628 OPS. Still, with his extensive experience and positive clubhouse reputation, a contender might take a chance on him as a bench bat. V-Mart is due $18 million this year, so the Tigers should have no problem passing him through waivers.

 
15 of 20

Andrew McCutchen, OF, Giants

Andrew McCutchen, OF, Giants
Isaiah J. Downing / USA Today Sports Images

With two of their big three starting pitchers injured, the Giants are barely hanging on to their playoff hopes. That makes McCutchen a major trade candidate. The pending free agent has struggled offensively with the move to San Francisco, but he still has a viable .760 OPS and can play center field. Teams in need of outfield help like the Yankees and Indians could have interest.

 
16 of 20

Jordy Mercer, SS, Pirates

Jordy Mercer, SS, Pirates
Charles LeClaire / USA Today Sports Images

Like teammate Josh Harrison, Mercer is a pending free agent and blocking a young player in Pittsburgh. As usual, he's been adequate as Pittsburgh's starting shortstop but could help a contender if the Pirates fall in the wild card standings.

 
17 of 20

Daniel Murphy, 2B, Nationals

Daniel Murphy, 2B, Nationals
Brad Mills / USA Today Sports Images

Murphy missed the start of the season after major knee surgery but has slowly but surely made his way back. Now a pending free agent, the two-time defending Silver Slugger should draw plenty of interest if the Nats decide to sell before the end of August.

 
18 of 20

Gerardo Parra, OF, Rockies

Gerardo Parra, OF, Rockies
Russell Landsford / USA Today Sports Images

Colorado has some distant hope for a playoff berth but could opt to move Parra this month in any case. The pending free agent has just a .723 OPS this season and is blocking playing time for young David Dahl and Raimel Tapia, among others.

 
19 of 20

Mark Trumbo, OF, Orioles

Mark Trumbo, OF, Orioles
Evan Habeeb / USA Today Sports Images

Trumbo is one of the few remaining notable players on the O's roster, and he has seen a slight rebound offensively. The 32-year-old has a .741 OPS and enough defensive versatility to be attractive for a contender. Trumbo is set to make $13.5 million next season in the final year of his contract.

 
20 of 20

Jordan Zimmermann, SP, Tigers

Jordan Zimmermann, SP, Tigers
Peter Aiken / USA Today Sports Images

Zimmermann's five-year contract that runs through 2020 has mostly been a nightmare for the Tigers, but there are positive signs this year that could spur a contender to add him. The former All-Star has a decent 4.02 FIP and outstanding 5.15 K/BB ratio through 14 starts, showing some of the former elite command that he had in Washington. If the rebuilding Tigers are able to find a taker, they'd likely be happy to move Zimmermann.

Seth Trachtman

Seth Trachtman is a sportswriter, digital marketer, and fantasy sports expert based in St. Louis, Missouri. He’s a two-time winner of the Tout Wars Fantasy Baseball Expert’s League, and his work has appeared in hundreds of fantasy baseball and fantasy football newsstand and online publications

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