7 MLB trade proposals to upgrade contenders, including a Dodgers-White Sox blockbuster

There are just 12 days left until the MLB trade deadline and the cellphones of front-office executives are blowing up with texts and calls, along with the occasional email. Every contending team is active and engaged. Those clubs’ general managers and presidents of baseball operations are having conversations with their counterparts across the league, trying to find ways to fortify their teams and put them in the best possible position for the stretch run — and, hopefully, beyond.

Before the transactions start flying, here are some trade concepts I’m hearing in conversations with decision-makers throughout the industry. To be clear: Some of these have legs, and some don’t. However, as a thought exercise, it’s fun to look at potential trade partners and possible player targets for certain teams. It’s fun to think about theoretical deals from both sides, and debate which ones might actually materialize. Some of these trade frameworks have been talked about by the clubs in question and others are just rumors, but all of them are interesting and entertaining to contemplate.

I have ranked the following seven trade scenarios in the order that I like them for the respective contending teams.

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Trade partner: Chicago White Sox
Targets: RHP Lucas Giolito, RHP Kendall Graveman, SS Tim Anderson

The Dodgers have the second-best record in the National League, but they understand they’ll probably be in a pennant race until the bitter end with the Diamondbacks and Giants, and maybe even the Padres if they get hot. The Dodgers have a pressing need to improve their pitching staff, both the rotation and the bullpen. Their starters rank ninth in the NL in collective ERA and their bullpen ranks 10th. The Dodgers also could use an upgrade at shortstop. They are an obvious trade match with the White Sox, who have players to fit all three needs.

Giolito will be a free agent after this season, and the White Sox are going to move him by the deadline. He struggled in his last outing against the Mets, allowing eight runs in 3 2/3 innings, but has posted a 3.96 ERA in 20 starts and been worth 2.3 WAR, according to Baseball Reference. He grew up in Southern California, so might also be willing to sign a long-term contract with Los Angeles in the offseason. Graveman, who is signed through 2024, would give the Dodgers another back-end type reliever. He’s logged a 3.07 ERA in 42 appearances with eight saves in as many opportunities. The final piece that would make sense for Los Angeles is Tim Anderson, who’s having a down year, batting .231/.268/.271 with only 11 extra-base hits in 313 plate appearances. However, a change of scenery might be what he needs. Last year he hit .301 in 79 games and was a perfect 13-for-13 in stolen-base attempts. Anderson has a $14 million team option for 2024.

In return, the Dodgers could offer one of their top two catching prospects, Diego Cartaya or Dalton Rushing, as the headliner, along with one of their second-base prospects, Jorbit Vivas or Rayne Doncon, and a starting pitching prospect such as Gavin Stone or Michael Grove. Other prospect combinations could work. The Dodgers’ system is so deep there are many variations to make a deal like this work for both sides.

Trade partner: St. Louis Cardinals
Targets: RHP Jack Flaherty, OF Dylan Carlson

The Yankees’ goal for the trade deadline is to land a starting pitcher and a two-way left fielder, and one swoop transaction with the Cardinals could address both needs. Flaherty has endured many injuries early in his career but has been able to post all season, making 18 starts and going 7-5 with a 4.29 ERA. Over his past three starts, he has allowed only three earned runs in 18 2/3 innings. Flaherty is an impending free agent and appears to have the type of makeup to handle the pressures of pitching in New York for the Yankees. Meanwhile, Carlson has underachieved and it appears the Cardinals are ready to give up on the athletic outfielder, who at 24 still hasn’t entered his prime years and is under team control through 2026. He has reached base at a .344 clip this season and profiles, at the very least, as an average major-league player on both sides of the ball (but also one with future upside), which would be an upgrade for the Yankees.

In return, the Cardinals are looking for pitching prospects, and it would take some combination of three minor leaguers from the group of Will Warren (a 24-year-old righty in Triple A), Richard Fitts (23, RHP, Double A), Randy Vásquez (24, RHP, Triple A), Yoendrys Gómez (23, RHP, Double A), Matt Sauer (24, RHP, Double A), Sean Hermann (20, RHP, Low A) and Chase Hampton (21, RHP, Double A), along with teenage shortstop prospect Roderick Arias, who is currently in rookie ball.

Trade partner: Chicago Cubs
Targets: 1B/OF Cody Bellinger, RHP Marcus Stroman

Astros GM Dana Brown has made it clear to other front offices that his team’s biggest needs are a proven starting pitcher and a left-handed-hitting first baseman/outfielder. The Cubs could have both available if they decide to sell at the deadline. Stroman is having a banner year, posting a 2.88 ERA over 20 starts, and he is expected to opt out of his contract after this season and hit free agency at age-32. Bellinger is a Comeback Player of the Year candidate who has slashed .311/.367/.527 with 12 homers and 12 steals. He plays above-average defense at first base and in all three outfield positions. He has a 2024 mutual option he will decline.

This type of huge rental blockbuster would cost the Astros dearly, in terms of extracting value from their farm system, but a trade like this would also position them to be able to catch the Rangers in the NL West and, more importantly, give them a legitimate shot at back-to-back-to-back World Series appearances. It would be reasonable for the Cubs to ask for righty starter Brandon Bielak off their major-league club and one of their top prospects, such as 22-year-old outfielder Drew Gilbert, Houston’s first-round pick last year, who would become the headliner for Chicago. Throw in a couple of lower-level prospects and perhaps a deal in this range would work.

4. San Diego Padres

Trade partner: Kansas City Royals
Targets: C Salvador Perez, RHP Scott Barlow

The Royals don’t want to trade Perez because he is the face of the franchise and the team leader, but also because of his importance in developing their young pitchers. But on the flip side, he’s a 33-year-old catcher, and the eight-time All-Star deserves an opportunity to play on a contender for the final two and a half years of his guaranteed contract. Perez has full no-trade protection but might be willing to waive it to go to a team like the Padres. San Diego also needs another back-end reliever, and Barlow is among the best available on the trade market. In return, the Royals could demand the Padres’ top pitching prospect, 2022 first-round pick Dylan Lesko, as their headliner, along with catcher Luis Campusano and minor-league righties Henry Williams and Ryan Bergert. Then, if the Padres could land Adam Duvall from the Red Sox in a separate trade to platoon with Trent Grisham in center field, they’d be poised to make a serious run at the playoffs.

Trade partner: St. Louis Cardinals
Target: LHP Jordan Montgomery

The Orioles are committed to trading for a starting pitcher at the deadline, but they’re also committed to not trading any of their top prospects, including Jackson Holliday, Colton Cowser, Jordan Westburg, Heston Kjerstad, Joey Ortiz, Coby Mayo, Samuel Basallo or even DL Hall. However, their farm system is so deep, a deal could still get done for a pitcher such as Montgomery, perhaps with a package of something like lefty Cade Povich and third baseman Max Wagner. Povich, 23, has an eye-popping 115 strikeouts in 76 1/3 innings this season in Double A, with a 4.83 ERA in 17 starts. Wagner, 21, has hit .240/.374/.409 with 10 doubles, nine homers and 23 stolen bases in 69 games in High A.

Trade partner: Washington Nationals
Target: 1B/3B Jeimer Candelario

The Marlins desperately need another bat, and the Nationals are a solid potential trade fit as Candelario would give them another option at first base, third base and designated hitter. He would lengthen Miami’s lineup. Candelario has slashed .259/.334/.485 with 27 doubles, 15 home runs and 46 RBIs. The eight-year veteran will be a free agent after this season. The Marlins might be able to land him by offering their second-round pick from last year’s MLB Draft, 19-year-old right-hander Jacob Miller (who’s currently on the injured list), and 19-year-old catcher Ronald Hernandez. Miller has a 4.65 ERA in nine starts this season with Low-A Jupiter. Hernandez, a switch-hitting catcher, has slashed .280/.469/.463 in his second season in the Florida Complex League.

Trade partner: Chicago White Sox
Target: RHP Lance Lynn

To win the NL Central and prevail in what looks like it will be an epic pennant race with the Brewers, the Reds must trade for a veteran starting pitcher who can provide innings at the back of their rotation. Lynn has a 6.06 ERA in 19 starts. However, he also has 133 strikeouts in 108 1/3 innings and a 4.97 FIP. Although the 36-year-old righty has been inconsistent, he’s allowed three runs or fewer in three of his past five starts and has averaged more than six innings per start over that span. He is an intense competitor but the asking price can’t be more than a couple of mid-level prospects considering the Reds would be taking on close to $4 million of his remaining salary. Lynn has an $18 million team option for 2024 ($1 million buyout) that is not expected to be picked up regardless of where he’s traded, whether it’s to the Reds, Rangers, Orioles or anyone else that’s in play.

(Top photo of Tim Anderson: Matthew Grimes Jr. / Atlanta Braves / Getty Images)