Every year, multiple big time players are traded at the MLB trade deadline. Every year there are the big names that are on every team’s radar, such as, Pete Alonso. However, every year, there are a couple of guys who get traded, at first aren’t payed much attention to, and then end up playing key roles in the early fall. Last year it was the Rangers’ acquisitions of Aroldis Chapman and Jordan Montgomery. Who will it be this year? Here are 3 great trade deadline fits that nobody is talking about:
1. ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS: LHP AROLDIS CHAPMAN/TANNER SCOTT
After getting off to a slow start, the Arizona Diamondbacks have figured it out. Arizona’s gone 14W-11L in June. Their lineup has scored 389 runs, 9th best in the MLB, and their rotation can lean on their big 3 of Zac Gallen, Jordan Montgomery, and Merrill Kelly. Only their bullpen is problematic, with a 4.54 ERA, the 6th-worst in the MLB. It won’t be as bad in the playoffs because of all of the off days. The Diamondbacks have two good right-handed bullpen arms, Ryan Thompson and Paul Sewald. Thompson and Sewald have ERAs of 0.61 and 1.89, but they can only pitch a combined 6-10 innings a week. In the regular season, that’s problematic because the pen needs to give the team 12-28 innings a week. However in the playoffs, since the games are less frequent, the pen only needs to put up 8-20 innings a week. If Arizona can add one more reliable bullpen arm, they’ll be covered.
In addition, both Sewald and Thompson are right-handed. Hence, neither of them is a great option against a left-handed hitter in a big spot. In accordance, the bullpen arm the Diamondbacks add should be a left-handed pitcher. There are two solid left-handed relievers who are in the final season of their contracts, Aroldis Chapman and Tanner Scott. Chapman is the perfect fit for Arizona. He’s a left-handed veteran with a 2.57 ERA, and has pitched in 44 playoff games, winning two rings. However, the Pittsburgh Pirates are only 3 games out of a playoff spot, so it’s not guaranteed that they’ll be willing to let go of Chapman. In that case, the Diamondbacks can acquire Tanner Scott. Scott pitches for the Marlins, who are 12.5 games out of a playoff spot and will be looking to unload their veterans. Scott is also a good left-handed reliever, but his ERA is 3.73, 1.16 runs higher than Chapman’s. Either arm would complete Arizona’s bullpen and significantly increase their odds of repeating their 2023 World Series run.
2. NEW YORK YANKEES: 1B/3B MIGUEL SANO
The New York Yankees have struggled with a lack of diversity in their lineups in the past. The 2024 Yankees have a much better OPS against right-handed pitching than against left-handed pitching. Sano hits South Paws much better than righties. Therefore, he would fit well in New York’s lineup, especially behind Alex Verdugo. The left-handed hitting Alex Verdugo has an OPS of .737 against righties, but an OPS of only .585 against lefties.
Furthermore, Verdugo and his teammate DJ LeMahieu are good at making contact but don’t hit the ball very hard. Their whiff rates are 15.5% and 19%, while their average exit velocities are 88.4 and 88.9 miles per hour. On the contrary, Miguel Sano doesn’t make contact nearly as often, but he hits the ball harder than 99% of the MLB. Sano’s whiff rate is 38.9%, while his average exit velocity is 94.9 miles per hour. Between the righty-lefty splits, the whiff rates, and the exit velocities, Sano and Verdugo are the exact opposite hitters. If an opposing team tries to bring in a pitcher that induces weak contact to face Verdugo in a big spot, having Sano hitting behind him or being available to pinch-hit would be huge. It's almost the baseball equivalent of an Uno Reverse card. Having Sano hit between Verdugo and LeMahieu would benefit all 3 players.
Since the Yankees have gotten almost no offensive production out of their 1st and 3rd basemen, there’s no reason not to try it. Sano can play either 1st base or 3rd base, and he’ll be easy to trade for. Sano is on a 1-year deal with the Angels. The Angels are 36W-46L, 8 games out of a playoff spot, and far from contending. The Angels will accept anything the Yankees are willing to give for Sano. It’s a low-risk to high-reward move for the Yankees.
1. PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES: LF/RF MARK CANHA
The Philadelphia have a very good lineup, with two issues. The first issue is that the majority of the lineup struggles with high chase rates, the worst being Harper at 33.1% and Castellanos at 38.9%. Therefore, if they don’t add a batter with a very discipline eye, they’ll get destroyed in October by pitchers with good movement. The second issue is there outfield depth. Brandon Marsh is the only outfielder on in their lineup that has been productful at the plate. Nick Castellanos, Johan Rojas, and Cristian Pache have played a combined 181 games in the outfield for Philly. They a combined batting average of .223 and their average OPS is .599. They desperately need another productive bat in the outfield.
Mark Canha will most likely be traded this July. He’s plays for the Detroit Tigers, who recently fell to 8 games out of a playoff spot, with their 4th consecutive loss. Canha will be an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season. Therefore, there’s no reason for Detroit to hang onto him. Mark Canha would help the Phillies with both issues. His 20.9% chase rate puts him in the 90th percentile. Excluding players on the IL, Canha’s .249 batting average would be the 4th-best average on the Phillies. His .765 OPS would make him their second outfielder with an above league average number. Canha’s right-handed bat would fit perfectly into the heart of their lineup, between Bryson Stott and Brandon Marsh’s left-handed bats. Canha would be a great addition for the Phillies and would allow them to round out their lineup without giving up too much.
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