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Cleveland Guardians first baseman Carlos Santana (41) tosses the ball to first base in the sixth inning against the Baltimore Orioles at Progressive Field. David Richard-Imagn Images

One trade each American League team must make

By David Hill, Seth Carlson, Allen Settle | Last updated Jul 28, 2025 11:49 AM ET

MLB's trade deadline is rapidly nearing, with deals needing to be completed no later than 6 p.m. ET on Thursday, July 31. With the deadline in mind, Yardbarker's MLB writers looked at identifying one trade each AL club must make in the coming days.

AL East

Baltimore Orioles outfielder Cedric Mullins rounds third base to score during the second inning against the New York Mets at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Mitch Stringer-Imagn Images

Baltimore Orioles (47-58) | Trade center fielder Cedric Mullins | Rumors are surfacing that the Red Sox have “no plans” to trade outfielder Jarren Duran, which would make Mullins immediately appealing to a handful of contenders in need of a center field upgrade. The Orioles should capitalize on that demand at the trade deadline.

Boston Red Sox (57-50) | Acquire a starting pitcher | The Red Sox were reportedly offered right-hander Dylan Cease and catching prospect Ethan Salas from the San Diego Padres in a package for outfielder Jarren Duran, but turned down that offer. Boston could’ve used Cease to make a run this summer as it remains in the AL wild-card race, but should continue to scour the pitching market for upgrades behind ace Garrett Crochet.

New York Yankees (57-48) | Acquire at least one starter and one reliever | The Yankees have already been busy, landing infielders Ryan McMahon from the Colorado Rockies and Amed Rosario from the Washington Nationals, respectively. New York can’t expect to replace captain Aaron Judge’s MVP-level bat while he tends to an elbow injury, though, so it should instead turn its attention to bolstering a pitching staff that has also been ravaged by injuries and underperformance as of late (6.13 team ERA in July).

Tampa Bay Rays (53-53 ) | Trade catcher Danny Jansen | The Rays are reportedly listening to offers surrounding star hitters Yandy Diaz and Brandon Lowe. However, a trade of either seems unlikely, considering Tampa is still (somewhat) alive in the AL wild-card race. That said, a veteran on an expiring contract like Jansen is a slam-dunk trade piece, with multiple contenders seeking a backup catcher at the deadline.

Toronto Blue Jays (63-43) | Add depth, but stay away from big splashes | Toronto’s stunning rise to dominance has been a fun storyline, with the Blue Jays claiming MLB’s best record heading into play on July 28. However, the club’s farm system lacks impact prospects, the type who are used as currency to acquire meaningful upgrades at the trade deadline. Toronto should search for roster depth, but refrain from going all-in as it balances a wild ride with sustainable contention. -- Seth Carlson

AL Central

Chicago White Sox center fielder Luis Robert Jr. runs on his way to stealing second base against the Pittsburgh Pirates during the fourth inning at PNC Park. Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images

Chicago White Sox (38-68) | Trade outfielder Luis Robert Jr. | Robert may not have nearly the same value he did during his All-Star 2023 season, but he is showing signs of heating up with a .351/.442/.541 batting line in 43 July plate appearances entering Sunday. With a pair of $20 million team options, Robert could be a long-term solution for a team needing help in the outfield and bring back pieces to accelerate the White Sox rebuild.

Cleveland Guardians (52-53) | Trade first baseman Carlos Santana | The Guardians sit one game under .500 and desperately need to find anything to improve the lineup. Trading a player such as Santana, who is blocking younger players with far more upside, would give the Guardians a chance to see what they have and potentially bring back a piece or two for the future.

Detroit Tigers (61-46) | Add another starting pitcher | The Tigers' victory on Sunday ended an abysmal stretch where they won just one of their past 12 games. Finding a reliable option in the back of the rotation, which has been a revolving door since Jackson Jobe underwent Tommy John surgery, would help bolster the Tigers’ chances during the postseason.

Kansas City Royals (52-54) | Trade for outfielder Bryan Reynolds | The Royals' ongoing quest to improve the lineup led to their perplexing trade for outfielder Randal Grichuk, who is likely to be a free agent after the season. Adding Reynolds, who is under team control through 2031, would provide a long-term answer in the lineup.

Minnesota Twins (50-55) | Sell all the impending free agents they can | The Twins' long-term plans are on hold as the Pohlad Family is looking to sell the franchise. In the interim, players such as utility man Willi Castro, pitchers Chris Paddack and Danny Coulombe and first baseman Ty France have value on the trade market and would be the right players to deal for a team in a holding pattern. -- David Hill

AL West

Athletics starting pitcher Luis Severino (40) delivers a pitch in the first inning against the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field. David Richard-Imagn Images

Athletics (46-62) | Move Luis Severino’s contract | The Athletics made a surprise offseason splash by signing veteran starter Luis Severino to a three-year, $67 million contract (the largest in franchise history). Seven months later, Severino’s 4.95 ERA (including a 6.68 ERA at home) has become an albatross that must be moved.

Houston Astros (60-46) | Add pitching depth for a postseason run | Despite stars like Yordan Alvarez (DH), Spencer Arrighetti (SP), Isaac Paredes (3B) and more missing time due to injuries, the Astros have remained a powerhouse. Either a starter (like Merrill Kelly or Adrian Houser) or a reliever (like Griffin Jax or David Bednar) would provide helpful depth.

Los Angeles Angels (51-55) | Soft sell their key veterans | The Angels have been surprisingly successful this season. However, selling some combination of Luis Rengifo (INF), Taylor Ward (OF), Tyler Anderson (SP) and Yoan Moncada (3B) would provide a needed boost to their 22nd-ranked farm system.

Seattle Mariners (56-50) | Add one more impact bat | Adding All-Star first baseman Josh Naylor and his plus hit tool has already made a tangible impact on Seattle’s middling offense. Adding another bat like Eugenio Suarez or Ryan O’Hearn would give the franchise the firepower to compete with the AL West field.

Texas Rangers (56-50) | Trade for an established closer | Veteran closers like Pete Fairbanks, Ryan Helsley, David Bednar, Jake Bird and more are reportedly available. Adding one of these established talents to replace the struggling tandem of Shawn Armstrong and Robert Garcia would make a massive impact on Texas’ postseason hopes. -- Allen Settle

David Hill

Based in the mountains of Vermont, Dave has over a decade of experience writing about all things baseball. Just don't ask his thoughts on the universal DH.

Seth Carlson

Seth Carlson is an experienced writer and editor based in the NYC area with a particular love for all things baseball. He has a demonstrated history of delivering insightful analysis and engaging content across multiple outlets and industries. Seth brings his expertise and commitment to high-quality coverage to Yardbarker’s readers.

Allen Settle

Allen Settle is a lifelong baseball fan who has never given up on his passion. You can find his writing at Yardbarker and Prospects1500. He is a former writer at Fansided’s Marlin Maniac and Rising Apple

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