As we sit right here with one week remaining in June, we all know two issues for sure:
With that in thoughts, it appeared like a very good time to open up the ol’ inbox and reply your trade-related questions. You’ll be able to at all times ship me your questions and ideas on X (@feinsand), however with out additional ado, let’s get began.
(Some questions have been edited for size and readability)
Sale’s fractured left rib cage may hold him out till August, however I doubt Braves GM Alex Anthopoulos would have moved the reigning NL Cy Younger Award winner even when he was nonetheless wholesome.
Alcantara, however, must be very accessible, although the Marlins’ asking value gained’t be low cost — particularly now that the right-hander appears to have turned his season round after a brutal two-month begin in his return from elbow surgical procedure. Alcantara has a 2.74 ERA in 4 June begins after beating the Braves on Sunday, reducing his season ERA from 8.47 to six.69 within the course of.
Now, will the Dodgers do what it takes to accumulate the 2022 Cy Younger winner? That may seemingly rely upon the standing of a few of their injured pitchers, particularly Tyler Glasnow, Blake Snell and Roki Sasaki. Los Angeles has the makings of an All-Star rotation, but when well being continues to be a problem, I wouldn’t be shocked to see president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman get aggressive earlier than the Deadline.
Sticking with the defending champions, it’s an attention-grabbing thought for the Dodgers to hitch the buy-and-sell pattern that we’ve seen different golf equipment make use of. The largest distinction, after all, is that usually we see small-to-mid-market groups take this strategy, as they typically must shed payroll with the intention to tackle different salaries.
That’s not the case with Los Angeles, although if the rotation is more healthy by late-July and Friedman believes there are different holes to fill, the concept of utilizing a few of its depth at the back of the rotation to deal with these wants is smart.
If everyone seems to be wholesome, it’s powerful to see a path for any of these three pitchers you named enjoying a significant function within the postseason — assuming they even make the roster. Gonsolin is probably going out till no less than August, so it looks like a protracted shot that he can be dealt, however it’s doable that Might or Knack (and even Emmet Sheehan) may very well be moved in the precise scenario.
Who’re the Rockies going to commerce?
— @rockiesfan0416
One of many causes Colorado is 18-60 is an absence of affect gamers, so whereas the Rockies are apparent sellers, discovering commerce candidates on their roster isn’t as straightforward as you may assume.
That’s to not say that GM Invoice Schmidt gained’t draw curiosity in a few of his guys, together with reliever Seth Halvorsen, who owns a triple-digit fastball and the power to get floor balls, and Jake Hen, who has been one of the crucial efficient bullpen arms within the league.
The Rockies’ most attention-grabbing commerce candidate could also be Ryan McMahon, who’s signed for $16 million in every of the subsequent two years after 2025. McMahon has 10 house runs and a .901 OPS because the starting of Might, overcoming a sluggish begin. There are groups in want of a 3rd baseman together with the Yankees and Tigers, so if the Rockies are prepared to half with McMahon, they need to be capable to get a strong return.
Out of the D-Backs, Orioles and Pink Sox, who do you assume can be sellers at Deadline? And who may very well be moved from that workforce?
— @VTwins2008
The apparent reply proper now could be the Orioles, because the Pink Sox entered the week solely a half-game out of an AL Wild Card spot and the D-Backs have been solely 3 1/2 video games again within the NL Wild Card race.
Baltimore sits 6 1/2 video games behind the ultimate Wild Card spot, although the Orioles have the AL’s third-worst file, in order that they nonetheless have a giant hill to climb to get themselves into true rivalry.
Now … quite a bit can occur over the subsequent 5 weeks, so to say that any of those three groups will or gained’t be sellers is just untimely. The Orioles and D-Backs could be essentially the most intriguing sellers within the league, as they every have a variety of expiring contracts that may assist a variety of contenders.
If the Orioles promote, we may see Zach Eflin, Tomoyuki Sugano, Cedric Mullins and Ryan O’Hearn amongst these on the transfer, as all are slated to develop into free brokers after the season. For Arizona, the expiring contracts embody Zac Gallen, Merrill Kelly, Eugenio Suárez, Josh Naylor, Shelby Miller and Jalen Beeks, all of whom could be in demand ought to the D-Backs finally develop into sellers.
The Pink Sox are slightly trickier. After buying and selling Rafael Devers to the Giants, chief baseball officer Craig Breslow made it clear that the transfer was not a sign that Boston was waving a white flag on 2025. They’ve some cash to spend now, so I might anticipate the Sox to be consumers relatively than sellers, however there’s a protracted option to go earlier than we all know that for positive.
Do you assume the Pink Sox may purchase a extremely good hitter like, say, Raffy Devers?
— @castrovince
Appears unlikely. One among as of late Boston will get a man like that, although. Thanks for checking in, Castro.
What is going to the Padres tackle on the Deadline?
— @ItsDimitreee
GM A.J. Preller is without doubt one of the most aggressive and inventive executives within the recreation, so it wouldn’t shock anybody to see the Padres additionally play the buy-and-sell recreation. Dylan Stop is in his ultimate 12 months earlier than free company, so maybe Preller will look to maneuver him for extra controllable arms. The Padres may want so as to add pitching regardless, although they are going to want some readability on the well being of Michael King and Yu Darvish earlier than making that decision.
Will the Padres commerce for Sean Murphy?
— @JasonLSwitzer
Catching could be the opposite major want for San Diego, which ranks thirteenth within the NL with a .607 OPS from its backstops this season.
Murphy has struggled since 2023 (his first 12 months with Atlanta), when he made the primary All-Star workforce of his profession. Murphy performed in solely 72 video games final season, posting a .636 OPS and 76 OPS+, although he’s rebounded to some extent in 2025 (.751 OPS, 107 OPS+ in 45 video games).
Murphy is likely to be the one controllable participant the Braves take into account transferring, as Drake Baldwin may step in because the on a regular basis catcher instantly. Atlanta wants beginning pitching, although this week towards the Mets and Phillies may assist decide simply how a lot of a purchaser (or vendor) the Braves may very well be subsequent month.
I might say it’s extra seemingly that Murphy stays with Atlanta by the season, after which the Braves may probably store him through the winter. It’s additionally doable that Murphy and Baldwin share catching and DH duties subsequent season, with Marcell Ozuna set to develop into a free agent on the finish of the 12 months — assuming he’s not traded, after all.
