The 2022 MLB trade deadline is upon us!
Teams have until 6 p.m. ET Tuesday to finalize any deals. With no more August waiver-trade window, this is the last opportunity for contenders to put the finishing touches on their rosters for the stretch run.
We saw our first blockbuster deal of the summer when the Cincinnati Reds sent ace Luis Castillo to the Seattle Mariners for a stacked package of prospects last week, and Monday brought more action with Frankie Montas acquired by the New York Yankees and Josh Hader sent to the San Diego Padres.
However, a lot of big names are still in play on the trade block, led by Washington Nationals superstar Juan Soto, and it's shaping up to be one of the busiest deadline days in recent memory.
Ahead, you'll find one final round of predictions for the biggest blockbuster deadline deals as well as a quick list of some notable trade candidates we predict will stay put.
Enjoy!
Before we move on to blockbuster trade predictions, these are the notable trade candidates I predict will stay put at this year's deadline:
- SP Shane Bieber, CLE
- DH J.D. Martinez, BOS
- 2B/OF Whit Merrifield, KC
- C Sean Murphy, OAK
- DH/SP Shohei Ohtani, LAA
- SP Martin Perez, TEX
- OF Bryan Reynolds, PIT
- SP Tarik Skubal, DET
To SD: OF Juan Soto
To WAS: SS C.J. Abrams, C Luis Campusano, LHP Adrian Morejon, OF Robert Hassell III, LHP Ryan Weathers, RHP Jarlin Susana
According to MLB reporter Jim Bowden, the Juan Soto sweepstakes was down to three teams as of Sunday afternoon with the Los Angeles Dodgers, San Diego Padres and St. Louis Cardinals left in pursuit of the young superstar.
After getting shut out at the deadline last year in their pursuit of Max Scherzer and Jose Berríos, the Padres have been viewed at times as the front-runners.
"The Padres are a team—we've seen this before under general manager A.J. Preller—they are extremely aggressive," Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports reported. "They have prospects, no doubt. Preller would love to get Soto to go with [Fernando] Tatis [Jr.] and [Manny] Machado and that excellent rotation. And there are people in the industry who believe he'll do anything to get him, just about."
This package would give the Nationals four MLB-ready young players in C.J. Abrams, Luis Campusano, Adrian Morejon and Ryan Weathers. Campusano could slot in at first base as a replacement for trade candidate Josh Bell.
Abrams was the No. 6 prospect in baseball in B/R's initial Top 100 prospect list this year, while outfielder Robert Hassell III checked in at No. 23 on B/R's most recent Top 100 prospect update published last week. Right-hander Jarlin Susana has a 2.45 ERA and 44 strikeouts in 29.1 innings at rookie ball in his pro debut.
The Padres keep outfielder James Wood and shortstop Jackson Merrill as the new headliners in their system, along with young left-hander MacKenzie Gore, but give up a boatload of young talent.
The success of this proposal will hinge on how high the Nationals are on Abrams' upside. While he has struggled in his first taste of the big leagues this year, he's only 21 years old and is hitting .314/.364/.507 with 12 extra-base hits and 10 steals in 30 games at Triple-A.
To TOR: OF Ian Happ, RHP Mychal Givens
To CHC: SS Jordan Groshans, RHP Yosver Zulueta, SS Addison Barger, RHP Dahian Santos
An All-Star for the first time this season, Ian Happ has a 123 OPS+ with 36 extra-base hits and a career-high 2.8 WAR in 99 games. One year away from free agency, he is one of the top non-rental bats on this year's trade market.
"Two things have become clear in the past week as trade talks picked up: Almost everyone wants Happ, and the Cubs are likely to trade him, according to sources," Jeff Passan of ESPN wrote.
The Toronto Blue Jays have an extremely right-handed lineup with bench players Zack Collins, Cavan Biggio, Raimel Tapia and Bradley Zimmer as the only left-handed hitters on the active roster. That makes the switch-hitting Happ an obvious target in their search for another bat.
According to Jon Heyman of the New York Post, the Blue Jays are also looking for bullpen help, so a package deal that includes one of the Cubs' bullpen trade chips could address multiple needs.
Right-hander Mychal Givens signed a one-year, $5 million deal during the offseason, and he has a 2.66 ERA with two saves and six holds in 40 appearances.
In return, the Cubs bring back a top-tier prospect in Jordan Groshans and three players who are enjoying stellar seasons in the minors.
Hard-throwing Yosver Zulueta (3.45 ERA, 69 K, 44.1 IP) and teenager Dahian Santos (3.11 ERA, 104 K, 63.2 IP) would become two of the more promising pitching prospects in the Cubs system, while shortstop Addison Barger (.327/.393/.591, 25 2B, 18 HR, 62 RBI) is having one of the best MiLB seasons no one is talking about.
To STL: RHP Pablo Lopez, RHP Anthony Bass
To MIA: OF Alec Burleson, C Ivan Herrera, 1B Luken Baker, OF Moises Gomez
The St. Louis Cardinals have been one of the most popular landing spots for a number of top trade targets on the rumor mill in recent days.
However, after missing out on Luis Castillo and Frankie Montas, the Cardinals are still searching for an impact addition to the starting rotation. They reportedly acquired Jose Quintana from the Pittsburgh Pirates on Monday night, but he fits better at the back of the starting staff, and that move doesn't preclude them from targeting another starter.
"Team sources described the Cardinals as intent on upgrading the rotation, not just spackling it. There is internal hope they can change its look with a move," Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch wrote.
With a farm system that checked in No. 2 in B/R's latest updated rankings following the 2022 draft, there is no question they have the pieces to get a major deal made, and they could now shift their attention to the Miami Marlins' impressive collection of arms.
Pablo Lopez, 26, is controllable through the 2024 season and having a terrific season with a 3.41 ERA, 1.12 WHIP and 119 strikeouts in 118.2 innings. Meanwhile, reliever Anthony Bass has a 1.41 ERA and 16 holds in 45 appearances, and he comes with an affordable $3 million club option for 2024.
The Marlins announced last week that they are open for business on everyone not named Sandy Alcantara, and upgrading the offense figures to be a priority for the Fish.
Slugger Alec Burleson (84 G, .332/.375/.549, 18 HR, 71 RBI at AAA) and Ivan Herrera (38 G, .287/.380/.420, 12 XBH) are both close to MLB-ready with the potential to be impact everyday players.
Outfielder Moises Gomez (83 G, .305/.384/.656, 29 HR, 71 RBI) is having a huge season in the upper levels of the minors, while Luken Baker (85 G, .701 OPS, 17 HR, 47 RBI) has 60-grade power and middle-of-the-order potential.
The Marlins get four bats capable of making some serious noise, and the Cardinals get a controllable starter to bolster their rotation and some late-inning bullpen help.
To NYM: C Willson Contreras, RHP David Robertson
To CHC: 3B Mark Vientos, RHP Calvin Ziegler, C Tomás Nido, SS Junior Tilien
Will the New York Mets trade Mark Vientos for a rental? What about for two rentals?
That'll be the question in their pursuit of Willson Contreras and David Robertson, a package they have been discussing with the Cubs for some time now, according to Andy Martino of SNY.
Vientos, 22, has an .874 OPS with 19 home runs and 54 RBI in 75 games at Triple-A this season, and he is widely regarded as the most MLB-ready prospect in the Mets farm system. That said, he has limited long-term appeal to the club with Pete Alonso and prospect Brett Baty viewed as the corner infielders of the future.
Building a package around him and 19-year-old right-hander Calvin Ziegler, a second-round pick in the 2021 draft who has a 3.57 ERA and 57 strikeouts in 35.1 innings at Single-A, should pique the Cubs' interest.
Adding Tomás Nido to help the Cubs ease the loss of Contreras and 19-year-old infielder Junior Tilien (.763 OPS with 12 doubles, 11 home runs and 37 RBI in 59 games at Single-A) helps account for the addition of Robertson—arguably the best reliever on the market—to the trade package.
Despite last year's ill-advised decision to trade Pete Crow-Armstrong for two months of Javier Báez, the Mets should not balk at the idea of upgrading their roster with another Cubs trade.
To MIN: LHP Carlos Rodon
To SF: OF Matt Wallner, RHP Matt Canterino, LHP Cesar Lares
A seven-game losing streak coming out of the All-Star break seemingly pushed the San Francisco Giants into the seller's column, with left-hander Carlos Rodon and outfielder Joc Pederson their two most likely trade candidates.
Rodon has an opt-out after the first season of his two-year, $44 million deal. With a 3.00 ERA, 1.07 WHIP and 158 strikeouts in 123 innings this season, there is no reason to believe he won't test the market again.
He is the best rental starter on the market, ahead of guys like Noah Syndergaard, Nathan Eovaldi, Jose Quintana and Chad Kuhl.
Bringing back slugger Matt Wallner and electric right-hander Matt Canterino would be a great return for the Giants as they look to make the most of a bad situation.
Wallner, 24, has a .948 OPS with 21 home runs in the upper levels of the minors this year, though he also has 123 strikeouts in 88 games. The 24-year-old Canterino has dealt with injury issues throughout his career but has a 1.48 ERA with 130 strikeouts in 85 career innings in the minors.
Rounding out the package with left-hander Cesar Lares gives the Giants an intriguing flier in the lower levels of the minors. The 19-year-old has a 2.43 ERA with 57 strikeouts in 33.1 innings in his pro debut in the Dominican Summer League.
All stats courtesy of Baseball Reference and accurate through Monday's games.