Over the next two weeks, the names of many MLB players will be thrown around as possible trade targets. Some of those players will actually be moved; others will not.
In a few situations, there are players who need to be moved. And those trades should come not only for the sake of the player but, in some cases, for the organization as well.
Here are five players who need to be dealt at the 2024 MLB trade deadline.
Who would’ve thought that Guerrero would be a candidate to be traded this summer? But here we are.
Things haven’t gone as planned for the Blue Jays, and after years of expectations that they would be one of the best teams in the game, it’s probably time for them to retool and head in a new direction. Guerrero has always been expected to carry a franchise — maybe unfairly so at times, though it didn’t stop him from being the runner-up for AL MVP in 2021 — and after a few “fine” seasons, he has shown this season that he can still be a force in the middle of a lineup. While shortstop Bo Bichette in 2024 has not been the player the league saw the past few seasons, Vladdy’s value could provide Toronto with an opportunity to retool for the future.
Enter the Mariners, whose biggest problem the past several seasons has been their inability to hit. Even their star outfielder, Julio Rodríguez, has struggled to produce consistently. A player such as Guerrero could help take pressure off Rodríguez and change the overall dynamic of Seattle’s offense. The added benefit of acquiring the 2021 AL MVP runner-up would be that the team would have another year of club control after this season. If things click in Seattle, maybe Rodríguez and Guerrero could become MLB’s next great duo.
The Blue Jays might not be willing to move Guerrero, but the reality is that what they built hasn’t worked, and it’s time for them to start thinking about a future that doesn’t involve Guerrero or Bichette.
There’s no doubt that any team that is looking to make the postseason and needs starting pitching has their eyes all over the White Sox ace. Coming off Tommy John surgery, Crochet has had a breakout season in his first year as a starter, and he currently leads MLB in strikeouts. The big left-hander has shown that he can not only lead a rotation but also dominate in the ace role.
The Orioles have built their roster and farm system methodically the past several seasons. After being the best team in the American League last season but getting bounced in the…