Scratch Shohei Ohtani from the list of players available at the 2023 MLB trade deadline. His complete game shutout of the Detroit Tigers on Thursday sealed his fate for the rest of this season in Anaheim as the Angels make moves to push for a postseason berth.
While the MVP-caliber talent won’t be on the block, there are plenty of All-Stars in play.
Recent history indicates at least a few of these marquee names are soon to be found at new addresses.
Field Level Media identifies the five best players available ahead of the Tuesday trade deadline:
–Juan Soto, OF, Padres
Available is relative, we get it.
But “willing to trade” and “listening” are being used to describe San Diego’s position on Soto deals. Considering the haul the Padres parted with to acquire Soto from the Washington Nationals and the state of the NL West standings, this isn’t a major surprise.
Soto won’t hit free agency until 2025, but the Padres are saddled with massive salary commitments to Yu Darvish, Manny Machado, Xander Bogaerts, Blake Snell, Joe Musgrove and Josh Hader — all over $14 million for 2023. San Diego is third in total payroll at more than $231 million, and the 2023 numbers don’t take into complete account the $340 million commitment to Fernando Tatis Jr., whose base salary is $7 million.
Would the deep-pocket New York Yankees or prospect-rich Seattle Mariners take a swing at Soto?
Soto, 24, is batting .262 with 20 home runs, yet projections for a long-term contract float him into newly established territory pioneered in the past year by Aaron Judge (nine years, $360 million) or Machado (11 years, $350 million).
–Blake Snell, SP, Padres
In the final year of his contract on a team with noted perspiration about payroll relative to results, there’s a case for Snell being the top player available at the deadline.
With 147 strikeouts in 114 innings pitched and proven postseason credentials, Snell would be a significant add at the front of any rotation.
In his past five starts, Snell has allowed just two earned runs with 33 strikeouts. He has a 0.78 ERA in his past 12 starts.
Should the Padres opt to move Snell, he would be a big draw in the AL East either returning to the Tampa Bay Rays or perhaps tempting the Baltimore Orioles to dangle one of their top prospects.
–Nolan Arenado, 3B, Cardinals
No-trade clauses can be sticky. St. Louis isn’t likely sweating Arenado’s veto power with the Los Angeles Dodgers emerging as a favorite for the Southern California native.
Arenado is owed $109 million on a deal that expires after the 2027 season, which is palatable for Los Angeles despite his age (32). His career wins-above-replacement of 54.0 and steady production on the other side of 30 are encouraging for a win-now buyer.
Whether the Dodgers are willing to meet the asking price of the Cardinals with a top-tier prospect haul might be the only roadblock.
–Justin Verlander, SP, Mets
Most of the American League West wants to place a bid on Verlander, hoping to get the vintage version and not the creaky 40-year-old edition starting to appear in spots this season with New York.
Verlander (5-5, 3.24 ERA) has 15 starts this season and was back to being a front-end workhorse in July. In five starts he has allowed six earned runs with 27 strikeouts in 32 innings.
He signed a two-year, $86.7 million contract with the Mets that includes a team option for $35 million in 2025.
This is where the no-trade clause comes into play.
Seattle and Houston are threats, but multiple reports put the Texas Rangers at the front of the line for Verlander with Jacob deGrom done for the season and Jon Gray showing signs of a slowdown.
White Sox right-hander Lance Lynn could be the consolation prize.
–Tim Anderson, SS, White Sox
At 63 losses and counting entering Friday, Chicago has already moved starting pitchers Lucas Giolito and Reynaldo Lopez to the Angels. They are verified sellers.
A former AL batting champion, Anderson’s contract includes a team option for 2024 at $14 million and he’s just 30 years old with the type of energizing personality that implies he’d have major value to a contender down the stretch.
–Field Level Media