The MLB trade deadline is one of the most anticipated moments of the season in America’s pastime. With the date set for July 31 at 6 p.m., the baseball world has already begun coming up with all kinds of trade packages. Some designed to improve rosters, others to blow it all up.
In an article published by Jeff Passan for ESPN on Tuesday, he broke down one move that every team should make ahead of the deadline. Passan listed several players who could be on the move, fueling even more speculation about who might switch teams.
In this article, you’ll find six potential big-name players who could be traded, along with which teams might be in the best position to solidify their roster ahead of the race for greatness.
Trade discussions have begun, and to commemorate the arrival of deadline season, I took a look at all 30 teams to see how they plan to operate between now and July 31. Free and unlocked at ESPN, the available players, teams’ needs and where they align: https://t.co/YqY4VDoGNM
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) June 3, 2025
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Six Stars Who Could Change Teams at the 2025 MLB Trade Deadline
Baltimore Orioles CF Cedric Mullins –> New York Mets
This was one of the many moves Passan highlighted in his article, and it makes a ton of sense. The Mets have had some luck at the center field position thanks to Tyrone Taylor, who’s provided elite defense. Taylor has a +3 Outs Above Average, tied for 16th among all center fielders. The problem? He just can’t hit.
Taylor’s primary role is to anchor the defense, but offensively, he’s batting just .238 with a .633 OPS. He’s not the only center fielder on the Mets’ active roster, either. The team traded for José Siri this past offseason, hoping to capitalize on his elite speed, defense, and above-average power.
Siri’s Mets tenure hasn’t gone as planned. He’s played in just 10 games with only one hit and has reached base just four other times via walk. On April 13, he was shut down with a fractured left tibia after fouling a ball off his shin.
That brings us to Mullins—who’s likely to be on the move, especially considering the Orioles have underperformed their lofty expectations. Like Taylor, Mullins brings elite fielding, but also adds real offensive potential.
Mullins broke out in 2021, making the All-Star Game while batting .294 with 30 home runs and 54 RBI. While he hasn’t quite replicated that production, he showed flashes of that form earlier in 2025. In April alone, Mullins batted .278 with six home runs, 20 RBI, and a .927 OPS.
Currently on the IL with a hamstring strain, Mullins could be a perfect target for the Mets the moment he’s healthy. With a deep farm system, New York could easily acquire the former All-Star to shore up center field. However, they would have to beat out other interested clubs such as the Philadelphia Phillies and San Diego Padres to get Mullins.
Toronto Blue Jays SS Bo Bichette –> Atlanta Braves
Bo Bichette, the son of former successful Rockies outfielder Dante Bichette, could also be on the move at the MLB trade deadline. The Blue Jays shortstop was once a cornerstone of the future, but now, with the team’s uncertainty about the future and guaranteed money to Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Bichette could be on the way out.
The two-time All-Star and back-to-back MLB hits leader (2021 and 2022) could find himself in new threads unless the Blue Jays extend him. This is because he’s a pending free agent once this season is over, and as mentioned before, the Blue Jays have already extended Guerrero.
One of the first teams that comes to mind in the Bichette sweepstakes is the Braves. Passan mentioned the Detroit Tigers in his article, but the Braves have had their struggles at the shortstop position over the last several years.
At the moment, Atlanta is four games under .500 with a roster that’s more than capable of competing for a World Series, just as it did in 2021. The Braves decided they’d seen enough of the former No. 8 prospect (2016), DFA’ing the 30-year-old on May 23 after yet another slow start.
With this, Nick Allen has been given the starting duties but has also struggled immensely to provide anything for the Braves. Allen is currently batting just .241 with 12 RBI and a .584 OPS. With Bichette producing for the Blue Jays, the asking price would most likely be expensive, but his pending free agency would leave it open to negotiation.
The Braves can add Bichette to their already stacked lineup and then extend him long-term, maximizing the full potential of a deadline acquisition.
Arizona Diamondbacks SP Zac Gallen –> Cleveland Guardians
Just like Bichette, Zac Gallen is one of the bigger names on the block because he’s in his contract year. The Diamondbacks are currently in the dilemma of deciding whether they’re contenders or if they should count this year as a loss and move on to the next. This has come into question due to the fact that newly acquired pitcher Corbin Burnes is out for the foreseeable future with a shoulder injury.
The injury is being considered pretty serious— Burnes was seen mouthing the words, “My elbow’s done. It’s dead,” right before exiting. That may not be the exact quote, but the message was pretty clear.
I’m not @Jomboy_ BUT it looks like Corbin Burnes says “my elbow’s done, it’s dead” to the Dbacks trainer
NOT GREAT pic.twitter.com/2vbvxmZkjZ
— Dalton Feely (@dfeely14) June 1, 2025
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Now, one would ask: Why don’t the Diamondbacks acquire an arm at the MLB trade deadline? It isn’t as easy as it looks. Arizona is potentially looking at giving a ton of guaranteed money to Gallen—is it worth that?
If the Diamondbacks decide to move on, the Guardians stand out as a top suitor. This is because the team needs a boost to its starting rotation. The Guardians are still more than capable of competing in the postseason, fresh off an ALCS loss to the New York Yankees. Currently, they’re 32–27, 6 1/2 games behind the Tigers but two spots ahead of any other AL team in the Wild Card standings.
Cleveland’s rotation has been a problem, holding a combined team ERA of 4.05, which ranks 20th in MLB. The Guardians are expecting Shane Bieber to return soon, but adding Gallen provides the team with a proven talent—someone who could also be a top arm for years to come if they were to extend him long-term.
Chicago White Sox CF Luis Robert Jr –> Philadelphia Phillies
Luis Robert Jr. is a player frequently mentioned at the deadline over the last several years, but the White Sox have consistently shut down any rumors. Times have now changed—Robert will have one of the biggest markets at the 2025 MLB trade deadline.
After trading away Garrett Crochet, Chicago now has just Robert on the roster, who at this point might not be worth much of anything trade-wise. His numbers to start the 2025 season have truly diminished any package with high-tier prospects, but there’s still value.
Robert is in desperate need of a change of scenery, currently batting just .177 with five home runs and a .553 OPS. Robert’s most notable stat is his 21 stolen bases, tied for the MLB lead.
Even Robert is aware of his struggles. In an interview, he stated, “Right now, as my season is going, I don’t think anyone is going to take a chance on me.”
Meet the Philadelphia Phillies—a team with the tools to acquire Robert from the White Sox for a reasonable asking price. The Phillies could be looking for outfield help come July. Brandon Marsh is batting just .222 since his return.
The 27-year-old made the All-Star Game in 2023 but has faced a lack of confidence as the White Sox continue to lose. Robert being under team control until 2027 gives Chicago a better chance at getting something at least worth their former No. 1 prospect.
Miami Marlins SP Sandy Alcántara –> Chicago Cubs
Flashback to 2022: The Marlins discover a new ace on their hands as 26-year-old Sandy Alcántara was awarded the NL Cy Young Award. Jump to the present, and Alcántara has been one of the worst pitchers in baseball, pitching for one of the worst teams.
Alcántara was on top of the world in 2022, posting a 2.28 ERA with a league-best 8 WAR in 228 innings pitched. He faced some struggles in 2023, which eventually led to a season-ending injury that caused him to miss the entire 2024 season.
Like Robert, a change of scenery could be very beneficial for Alcántara, but the Marlins are in a completely different boat. Alcántara is also under team control until 2027, but with an 8.47 ERA and a league-worst 48 runs allowed, his asking price may be so low that the Marlins decide to hang onto him.
But that most likely won’t happen. The Marlins will probably be sending off Sandy at the MLB trade deadline, and a team like the Cubs is the perfect destination. Why not take a flyer on a former Cy Young winner?
The Cubs have an alright rotation to take into the playoffs and potentially win a series. However, they’ll be missing Justin Steele, one of their best arms, who will be out for the rest of the season and likely several months into 2026. Adding Alcántara for a few low-end prospects wouldn’t hurt the team at all and could perfectly complement a team with an already elite offense.
Washington Nationals CP Kyle Finnegan –> Los Angeles Dodgers
It turns out that the Dodgers’ expectations to win 120 games were somewhat unrealistic. Let’s be honest: 120 wins is something otherworldly. Trouble was bound to hit the Dodgers eventually, but no one expected their entire pitching staff to go down.
The obvious answer here would be for the Dodgers to acquire another starter—someone like Walker Buehler, who has experience in Los Angeles—but maybe they should be looking at their bullpen.
Tanner Scott was one of several key additions by the defending World Series champions, inking a four-year, $74 million contract. Scott has struggled to start his tenure in Los Angeles. So far, he is 10-for-15 in save attempts while also holding a 4.73 ERA, fresh off a season where he provided key saves for the Padres.
“I’m just not hitting my locations,” Scott said, “and it’s costing us.” This comes after Scott allowed two runs in the Dodgers’ 10th-inning loss to the Mets on Monday. This isn’t the time to suggest the Dodgers should move on from a closer they just signed to a $74 million deal. Instead, they can bring in another viable option as Scott builds his way back to full strength.
Nationals closer Kyle Finnegan is one of the most underrated arms in all of baseball. With an All-Star appearance to his name in 2024, Finnegan has tallied 82 total saves over the last three seasons while holding a career ERA of 3.50.
The Dodgers have a deep enough farm system to obtain almost anyone they want. A guy like Finnegan won’t cost much, given the fact that he’ll hit the open market following the conclusion of the 2025 season.
Photo Credit: © Brett Davis-Imagn Images
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