Biggest Trade Deadline Needs for MLB Division Contenders: How can the Cubs, Mets and Others Make a Splash?

The trade deadline is on Thursday, meaning we will get a flurry of activity this week. Trade season already started, with Josh Naylor heading to the Mariners and Ryan McMahon to the Yankees, but we won't get into the real meat of things until the last 24-48 hours before the deadline.

Let's look at the teams fighting for the division titles and the position they could each benefit most from improving for the final two months. I'm going to focus on the eight teams that are within two games of their division lead, meaning we will leave out some good teams (we'll hit on those another time).

I'm going based off WAR numbers from Baseball-Reference, and all standings and stats are correct before Monday's games (July 28). Most stats are from MLB.com.

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Chicago Cubs – Pitching

The Cubs need at least one starting pitcher and probably a bullpen piece or two. Losing Justin Steele to Tommy John surgery in early April set back their top-line pitching greatly, and though they have gotten good performances from Shota Imanaga and Matthew Boyd, Chicago could use a third starter to solidify a playoff rotation spot.

Their other options are more depth pieces who are better as fourth starters in the postseason, so the Cubs don't necessarily need to trade for another back-end starter; they need someone who can demand a spot in the top three. The returning Jameson Taillon would fit in that fourth spot, and it would push other guys to the bullpen in the playoffs, including rookie Cade Horton, who might shine in short appearances when he can go all out.

Third base has been mentioned often, and Chicago should look to upgrade there too, even with just a rental piece, but they rank 18th in third-base WAR and 25th or worse among starting pitchers, relief pitchers, and all pitchers. Fixing the staff will matter more.

Calling Arizona about pending free agent starters Zac Gallen and Merrill Kelly and closer Shelby Miller (currently injured) would make sense, as the Diamondbacks seemed to signal that they will be sellers with the trade of Naylor to Seattle last week. (Third baseman Eugenio Suarez would be the major addition from Arizona who could both upgrade that position and add a huge bat to the middle of the order.)

Detroit Tigers – Shortstop or Outfield

This would depend on where Detroit wants to play Javier Baez. Baez has mostly played on the infield in his career, but he has split time between short and the outfield this year, giving the team some flexibility depending on who they can trade for.

Zach McKinstry has spent time at short and put together decent offensive numbers (.266, 14 doubles, eight triples, eight home runs, 16 stolen bases), so the addition of a center fielder would allow the team to piece together lineups based on matchups and give guys days off, with Baez able to fill multiple spots depending on the day.

Baltimore's Cedric Mullins, a pending free agent, could fit well in center. He's a very good defender, and though he's hitting under .220, Mullins has put up some power numbers, with 15 doubles and 14 home runs (and 14 stolen bases). My favorite move for the Tigers is to add a player in center.

They also need bullpen help, but that's an easier spot to supplement, and tightened staffs in the postseason would help, along with a starter or two being able to shift to the relief group.

Houston Astros – 1st Base

Naylor would have fit perfectly into this spot, but Houston's division rivals scooped him up, so instead, the team must look elsewhere to upgrade. They signed Christian Walker to take over this offseason, but he's having his worst season by many metrics, including WAR, and the team could stand to add another option.

The Astros are 25th in first-base WAR and 26th in DH WAR, so a big hitter who can play first would theoretically allow them to upgrade both areas, allowing that addition and Walker to cover both positions. The expected return of Yordan Alvarez will also help there, but a team in playoff position doesn't need to worry about having too many bats.

Ryan O'Hearn from Baltimore would be a great option to help at each spot, as he has split time between first base and DH and is putting together maybe his best season, hitting .282 with 12 homers and 14 doubles.

Los Angeles Dodgers – Left Field

Los Angeles ranks at least 14th in WAR at every offensive position except left field, where they are 25th. Teoscar Hernandez has played primarily right field but could also shift over to left, where he spent most of his time for the Dodgers last season. That gives them a little flexibility in where they can search for another outfield bat.

Michael Conforto has taken most of the at-bats for LA in left field, and he is hitting a paltry .194, though he has shown a little power with nine home runs and 16 doubles. Conforto is also a poor defensive player, according to numbers from Baseball Savant, meaning he's not providing much value anywhere else. The Dodgers should be able to easily upgrade on that performance, pushing Conforto to a bench role.

Cleveland's Steven Kwan would be a fun add for Dodger fans (while causing everyone else to roll their eyes), and LA has the prospect strength to make it happen if the Guardians are so inclined.

LA also needs improvement from the pitching staff, but that might come internally if a few guys can get healthy. Tyler Glasnow recently returned, and Blake Snell and Roki Sasaki are throwing at different stages, so the rotation might be set, especially if Shohei Ohtani keeps ramping up. The most prudent moves might be adding a few more bullpen pieces, the easiest players to find at the deadline.

Milwaukee Brewers – Shortstop

This is the easiest call of the entire column. Milwaukee ranks no worse than 14th in WAR at any position aside from shortstop, where they are dead last. Joey Ortiz has handled most of the at-bats at the position and is slashing .213/.267/.309/.576; if you're not up on slash numbers, those are all well-below-average marks.

There aren't a lot of great trade options expected to be available, especially considering the Brewers don't often take huge swings, but Pittsburgh's Isiah Kiner-Falefa is a cheap rental whose name has come up often in trade rumors given his team's status among the dregs of the league. It would at least give Milwaukee another veteran presence who could work in and maybe take the bulk of the postseason at-bats if Ortiz labors.

New York Mets – Third Base

The Mets are another team that is solid at most positions, but they do have a standout weakness at third, where they rank 22nd in WAR. Most of the at-bats at the position have gone to Mark Vientos and Brett Baty, and those guys have both disappointed, each batting below .240 with 20 or fewer extra-base hits.

New York might think they already have this spot filled: Ronny Mauricio came up from the minors in early June and has played better than Vientos or Baty in his short time. It's difficult to count on a 24-year-old rookie in the postseason, though, and another veteran addition would add insurance, allow Baty to stay at second base, and strengthen the bench.

Arizona's Suarez is the big name and will likely take the biggest prospect haul of anyone moved at the deadline, but it would raise third base from maybe an average position to potentially a star spot in the lineup while adding another big bat to the middle of the order. If New York really wants to make a splash, this would be the move to make, even if it cost them Mauricio in return.

Philadelphia Phillies - Outfield

This could be any outfield spot based on the WAR numbers: Philly ranks 26th in left field and 27th in both center field and right field. Nick Castellanos probably isn't getting displaced in right, but Brandon Marsh, Johan Rojas, and Max Kepler all have left something to be desired while handling most of the at-bats in center and left.

Could Philadelphia be the team to go raid the White Sox? Luis Robert Jr. has lost tons of value, but he still plays good defense and would probably come cheap. Andrew Benintendi has put together some power this season (13 home runs and 12 doubles in 272 at-bats), but he also has salaries the next two seasons that the White Sox might have to eat to move him.

The range of needs in the outfield means the Phillies have a lot of options to be able to upgrade, and finding a left fielder might be most likely move given the players involved.

Toronto Blue Jays - Pitching

There's not much the Blue Jays need per the numbers at Baseball-Reference. They are right in the middle in terms of WAR at the corner outfield positions, second base, and shortstop, so maybe a big addition could raise those bars, but pitching is where they are relatively short, ranking 17th in starting pitching and 20th in the bullpen.

Additions could be made from anywhere to strengthen the ‘pen; that's the easy part. The Jays seemingly have a solid rotation and probably don't need much more depth, but like the Cubs, they could stand to add a bigger name for the postseason. The Arizona guys, Gallen and Kelly, would make sense, but let's expand a little.

Cleveland's Shane Bieber is making minor-league rehab starts in his return from Tommy John surgery and has been a high-level pitcher in the past. It would be a risky move, but Bieber is signed through next season, so he would be a lottery ticket for the rest of 2025 while filling a spot at a reasonable salary next year.