2019 MLB Trade Deadline: Where will the Biggest Names Land?

2019 MLB Trade Deadline

The Deal: Marcus Stroman and Justin Smoak to the Twins; Trevor Larnach, Blayne Enlow, and Jose Miranda to the Blue Jays. 

Stroman is a very intriguing option to go to the Twins, as he would greatly deepen their rotation not only for this playoff run but 2020 as well. Jose Berrios, Jake Odorizzi, and Stroman would be a formidable matchup for the likes of the Yankees or Astros in a five-game playoff series.

He is not a strikeout machine, yet he is able to get outs-especially timely ones- and has a playoff track record from a few seasons prior with the Blue Jays. His extra year of control makes him a tantalizing option and given his tendency to remain consistent- aside from 2018- he is likely a good investment.

Justin Smoak is approaching the expiration of his contract at the conclusion of the 2019 season and could provide some depth at first base for the Twins. He provides a good deal of power from the left-hand batter’s box, which complements C.J. Cron‘s right-handed power very well.

Given the contract length, a more sizeable return should be expected by Toronto and the significant trade chip going across the border in this scenario would be Larnach. He is a left-hand hitting outfield prospect in advanced A, thus he will likely rise up the ranks of prospects in the immediate future. However, he will likely not make his MLB debut in this season or next.

He is projected to be a power hitter, who also has the capability to hit for average, a very solid combination from a young age. He would be a tough ask for Toronto, however, as he was the Twins’ 2018 first-round selection and likely would have reservations about letting him go. All of their other prospects should be untouchable in a deal for Stroman and those below him might not have enough clout to finalize a deal.

The Twins will have to give to get, therefore, this is probably the most likely deal for them to make.