10 MLB trades we’d love to see in June, including Pete Alonso to AL and a Yankees trade

The Cleveland Guardians still aren’t getting a ton of love nationally, but we do have to recognize one of the best teams in the American League in our list of MLB trades we’d love to see. Outfield is an area for improvement and, being realistic with Cleveland’s options, Taylor Ward stands out. Ward, age 30, is arbitration-eligible through 2026. At the plate, the right-handed hitter owns a .793 OPS with a .344 OBP and a 10.4 percent walk rate since the start of the 2022 season. He’s a reasonable option for a team that doesn’t want to break the bank and lacks the prospects for a blockbuster trade.

• Cleveland Guardians receive: Taylor Ward
• Los Angeles Angels receive: George Valera (Guardians’ No. 7 prospect), Joey Cantillo (Orioles’ No. 10 prospect)

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The Chicago Cubs aren’t remotely good enough to justify making a big splash and the depth simply isn’t there in the farm system to add a high-end bat with multiple years of contract control. So, a team getting some of the least amount of production from its catchers, acquires the best one available at the MLB trade deadline. Elias Diaz is only going to be a half-season rental and not many clubs are willing to bring in a starting catcher midseason. That all just helps drive the price down for Chicago.

• Chicago Cubs receive: Elias Diaz
• Colorado Rockies receive: Hayden McGeary (Cubs’ No. 14 prospect)

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Because the Miami Marlins ate a significant portion of Luis Arraez’s salary, the San Diego Padres should have more financial flexibility in their other MLB trades this summer. It could align nicely with the Boston Red Sox looking to get Kenley Jansen’s deal ($16 million salary in 2024) off the books. Plus, Boston would likely let Jansen and starter Nick Pivetta ($7.5 million) walk in free agency this winter anyway. Pivetta adds stability to the Padres’ rotation and Jansen would be an excellent set-up man.

• San Diego Padres receive: Kenley Jansen, Nick Pivetta
• Boston Red Sox receive: Brandt Valenzuela (Padres’ No. 11 prospect), Jackson Wolf (Padres’ No. 14 prospect)

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One of the themes you’ll notice with our MLB trades is the Miami Marlins will be very active sellers. It’s going to be a Houston Astros/Baltimore Orioles-level of teardown and no player on the Marlins roster is more intriguing than Jesus Luzardo. While the 26-year-old southpaw doesn’t have great numbers in 2024, teams recognize he has the stuff to be a front-line starter plus he’s arbitration-eligible through 2026. He’s perfect for the Milwaukee Brewers, who need another strong arm behind Freddy Peralta. Adding Luzardo would further solidify the Brewers as the best team in the NL Central and give them a fighting shot in a postseason series against top teams.

• Mami Marlins receive: Jacob Misiorowski (Brewers’ No. 1 prospect)), Tyler Black (Brewers’ No. 3 prospect), Josh Knoth (Brewers’ No. 11 prospect), IFA money
• Milwaukee Brewers receive: Jesus Luzardo

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Luis Robert would be an even better option for the Kansas City Royals, but we’re at least trying to maintain a bit of realism here. However, the biggest surprise team in baseball this season could certainly pull off a deal for Miami Marlins outfielder Jazz Chisholm Jr. Under team control through 2026, the 26-year-old center fielder fits the Royals’ timeline perfectly. He also plays a position that’s a major weakness for the Royals lineup and Chisholm (6 home runs and .774 OPS) has warmed up after a slow start. It would cost Kansas City a bit, but this is also a long-term play for a contending team.

• Kansas City Royals receive: Jazz Chisholm Jr
• Miami Marlins receive: Blake Mitchell (Royals’ No. 1 prospect), Mason Barnett (Royals’ No. 5 prospect), Austin Charles (Royals’ No. 12 prospect)

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The Los Angeles Dodgers moved Mookie Betts to shortstop because Gavin Lux’s defense at shortstop was bad enough that a change became a necessity. However, Betts is better defensively at second base and the Dodgers need more run production. While Bo Bichette has struggled in 2024, the Toronto Blue Jays shortstop has been excellent (.391/.332/.460) since the 2021 season. Plus, he’s under contract control in 2025.

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For Toronto, it has to face the reality that it will very likely be unable to extend both Bo Bichette and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. If that’s the case, the best path forward might be aligning with the right trade partner with a deep farm system and a clear needs. That is the Dodgers, who could package prospects with Gavix Lux (under team control through 2027) to try and make a deal happen.

• Toronto Blue Jays receive: Gavin Lux, Diego Cartaya (Dodgers’ No. 7 prospect)
• Los Angeles Dodgers receive: Bo Bichette

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Some of the most common MLB trades in the summer are contenders acquiring relievers, especially those on expiring contracts. Miami Marlins’ lefty Tanner Scott is generating interest from all the top contenders, but he’s a really nice fit for the Philadelphia Phillies. Scott misses a lot of bats (26.1 percent strikeout rate) and he could function as a nice set-up man in a Phillies bullpen that could certainly benefit from adding another proven left-handed reliever.

• Philadelphia Phillies receive: Tanner Scott
• Miami Marlins receive: Griff McGarry (Phillies No. 10 prospect)

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Bullpen is one of the more obvious targets for the New York Yankees heading into the MLB trade deadline. Specifically, they are eyeing arms with swing-and-miss stuff. Southpaw Joe Mantiply boasts a solid 20.6 percent strikeout rate this season, but it also comes with a Chase rate (38.3 percent) in the 99th percentile and his groundball rate (52.7 percent) is in the 87th percentile. Christian Walker, a Gold Glove Award winner in consecutive seasons, would be a defensive upgrade and offensive upgrade over Anthony Rizzo. As for the Arizona Diamondbacks’ motivation for making a deal, Walker is a free agent this winter and Arizona is better off trading him for prospects now rather than keeping him in a lost season for the reigning NL champs.

• New York Yankees receive: Christian Walker, Joe Mantiply
• Arizona Diamondbacks receive: Everson Pereira (Yankees’ (No. 5 prospect), Yoendrys Gomez

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When it rains, it pours for the Baltimore Orioles. In the span of a few weeks, the Orioles rotation has lost Kyle Bradish, John Means and Tyler Wells to UCL injuries. Baltimore’s pitching depth is gone and its bullpen could use some reinforcements. Tyler Anderson would fortify the Orioles rotation through the 2025 season, providing a stable innings-eater who can consistently get quality starts. Plus, Carlos Estevez would add another steady right-handed option in the bullpen.

• Los Angeles Angels receive: Seth Johnson (Orioles’ No. 10 prospect), Leandro Arias (No. 15)
• Baltimore Orioles receive: Tyler Anderson, Carlos Estevez

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The New York Mets are fully committed to selling at the MLB trade deadline and the reported Pete Alonso contract demands mean an extension likely won’t even be pursued. Alonso’s status as a half-season rental will likely drive down his trade value considerably, putting him in a more affordable range for the Seattle Mariners. Considering Seattle’s designated hitters are responsible for a sub-.670 OPS this season and run production is a big problem, Alonso (.763 OPS) should provide the pop and star power Seattle needs. Plus, New York could cover some of his salary to improve the prospect it receives in return.

• New York Mets receive: Jonatan Clase (Mariners’ No. 9 prospect)
• Seattle Mariners receive: Pete Alonso, $3.5 million cash considerations

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