MLB Trade Deadline: Previewing the AL East

A look at what may happen at the MLB Trade Deadline in the AL East

You may not realize it, but the 2018 MLB season is going pretty fast. We are a month away from the 89th All-Star Game in our nation’s capital. After that, the non-waiver MLB trade deadline will be just two weeks from that time.

One of the divisions that should have a ton of action at the MLB trade deadline is the AL East. This is a division that has clear teams who are going for it and clear teams who are not and could use more pieces for the future.

The New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox made the playoffs last season and are clearly in the position to make another postseason run. The Yankees have the best record in baseball and the Red Sox are neck and neck with them. The two teams square off the last weekend of the season, and that could mean who wins the division and who has to play in the AL Wild Card game.

The Toronto Blue Jays and Tampa Bay Rays both sit at 33-38. Both are 15 games out of the division. The Rays have a couple of their top prospects up for evaluation, while Toronto’s best prospect in Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is out with a knee injury, which will delay his arrival.

Then there’s the Baltimore Orioles. They currently sit 20-50. Farm system? Not great Bob. Underperforming, overpaid players? Yep. Trade assets which could help turn this team around quickly? Oh yeah.

Let’s start at the top of the division with the Bronx Bombers

New York Yankees

MLB Trade Deadline Status: Buyer

The New York Yankees will be finding themselves yet again buying at the trade deadline. They added Giancarlo Stanton in the off-season, plus rookies Miguel Andujar and Gleyber Torres during the year which has their offense at the top of the league. In fact, at AAA they have their opening day third baseman, an outfielder who’d start for multiple teams, their first baseman for part of the year and another outfielder who was up in the majors briefly.

They’ve lost two of their starting pitchers in Jordan Montgomery to Tommy John surgery and Masahiro Tanaka to blowing out his hamstrings running the bases. They’ve relied on rookies Domingo German and now Jonathan Loaisiga to take those spots.

The bullpen has been it’s normal, dominant, stellar self this year.

What they could target:

Pitching, pitching and oh yeah, pitching. GM Brian Cashman won’t be afraid to pull the trigger on a big deal to help them land a starter or two to take them over the top. Any and all starting pitchers that end up being put on the market, you better believe they will have a conversation with the Yankees.

A left-handed reliever may be on the wish list as well. Outside of closer Aroldis Chapman, the only lefty reliever is Chasen Shreve. Over the last month, his ERA close to 9.00.

Boston Red Sox

MLB Trade Deadline Status: Buyer

The Boston Red Sox are right there at the top of the division with the Yankees. J.D. Martinez has been the best off-season free agent signing and Mookie Betts is having his own MVP caliber season. On the mound, Chris Sale is his usual Cy Young caliber self. Rick Porcello has rebounded and David Price has quit playing Fortnite.

In the bullpen, Craig Kimbrel has been his usual lockdown self, while Joe Kelly and Matt Barnes have been steady in front of him.

The Red Sox have dealt with their own injuries. Drew Pomeranz is hurt. Dustin Pedroia has barely played. Taylor Thornberg and Carson Smith were supposed to be key cogs to the bullpen but both are hurt as well.

What they could target:

The Red Sox don’t have the system they once had due to trades and players being on their roster. Pitching will be a target. Any starting pitcher or reliever that could be out there could be a target to not only upgrade their roster, but to keep them away from the Yankees.

Offensively, second base could be a target. Eduardo Nunez could be better served as a super utility player. Centerfield could be an area of interest as well. Jackie Bradley Jr. is hitting under .200 with an OPS under .600.

Tampa Bay Rays

MLB Trade Deadline Status: Seller

The 2018 season has not gone the way the Tampa Bay Rays thought it would. Injuries have played a big part as to why. Jose De Leon was lost to Tommy John surgery. Anthony Banda and Jacob Faria followed with the surgery and Chris Archer is on the DL himself. Kevin Kiermaier has also been out.

The team has already begun looking at young players. Willy Adames and Jake Bauers have come up to get regular playing time with the club. Mallex Smith has gotten more time as well.

What they could sell: The club already traded Alex Colome and Denard Span. Brad Miller was also dealt away.

So who could they deal for more pieces to build for the future? On offense, Wilson Ramos could help a team looking for catching. Adeiny Hechavarria could help a team at shortstop, or even second base.

On the pitching side, should Archer come back and they want to deal him, even with team control, he could land quite a few prospects. Nathan Eovaldi, if healthy and continuing to pitch well, could bring back a chip.

Out of the bullpen, Chaz Roe, Sergio Romo and Jonny Venters could help a contender deepen their bullpens down the stretch.

Toronto Blue Jays

MLB Trade Deadline Status: Seller

Like the Rays, the Toronto Blue Jays haven’t had the season they thought they were going to have this year either. Gone are the days of Jose Bautista and Edwin Encarnacion. Troy Tulowitzki is hurt again. Roberto Osuna is away from the club due to his domestic violence incident. Marcus Stroman is hurt and so is Josh Donaldson, who has been on the DL twice this year.

Moves like Curtis Granderson and Randal Grichuk haven’t paid off offensively, while Jamie Garcia hasn’t been great in the rotation. Justin Smoak and Kendrys Morales haven’t been the offensive threats they have been in the past either.

What they could sell:

Yangervis Solarte has been their best player. He can play all over the infield and has team options for the next two seasons. If Donaldson is healthy, he is a pending free agent and could bring back a couple of pieces to help the Jays rebuild to surround players like Teoscar Hernandez already at the major league level and prospects like Guerrero Jr. and Bo Bichette.

On the pitching side, J.A. Happ has been excellent, is a pending free agent and could be the best left-handed starter on the block. Out of the bullpen, Ryan Tepera, Tyler Clippard, Aaron Loup and Seunghwan Oh could all fetch prospects back.