5 MLB trades we want to see before the deadline

With one week to go before MLB's Aug. 1 trade deadline, here are five deals we want to see made.

Orioles swing big for Ohtani

Predicting a return for Shohei Ohtani is incredibly challenging. There are obvious major benefits to acquiring the two-way superstar: You not only get a frontline starter but also an elite middle-of-the-order bat. How much a team will be willing to sacrifice for a potential rental is unknown, though, especially considering Ohtani will still be owed roughly $10 million for the remainder of the season - a considerable amount for a lot teams to add at the deadline.

The Orioles are ahead of schedule, loaded with young talent already at the MLB level and with a massive stash of attractive minor-league prospects. It's been reported that the front office isn't likely to make a major swing at the deadline, and it would be a gamble to part ways with key pieces of the system for what could be a two-month rental, especially after seeing how long it took to rebuild. But the Orioles have positioned themselves to make this exact kind of move. It's time to go big-game hunting, and there's no bigger game than Ohtani. The AL is wide-open, and with the addition of Ohtani and maybe a couple other supplementary pieces, there's no reason why Baltimore couldn't claim the pennant. It would be a message to the young players and long-suffering fan base that the team is 100% committed to winning.

Baltimore hasn't always played in the deep end when it comes to spending - the club is still regretting and paying for the Chris Davis extension - but it's as well positioned financially as almost any team, as far as player contracts go, to make a competitive offer to Ohtani this winter if ownership is willing to take the risk. Ohtani wants to win, and Baltimore is poised to take over Houston as the next AL juggernaut. The Orioles could show him that if they acquire him before Aug. 1.

For the Angels, who've struggled to develop talent, they'd land some key close-to-MLB ready prospects in return. This would allow the club to continue to build around Mike Trout in hopes of finally getting him back to the postseason. The front office might not ever hold a greater trade chip. - Brandon Wile

Yankees reunite with old friend

Life has been difficult for the Yankees since reigning AL MVP Aaron Judge tore a ligament in his right big toe in early June. New York hasn't produced at the plate with any consistency and has seen Luis Severino and Carlos Rodon struggle in the rotation.

It's hard to envision general manager Brian Cashman being hyperaggressive at the trade deadline given his club's current position in the standings. However, the Yankees are still within striking distance of the playoff picture, making it likely they'll still look to add ahead of the deadline.

The Yankees and Cardinals hooked up for a trade last season when Harrison Bader moved to the Bronx in exchange for Jordan Montgomery. St. Louis has already made its intentions to sell clear, and Montgomery, an impending free agent, could help stabilize a Yankees rotation that has been without Nestor Cortes Jr. since late May.

Dylan Carlson is an interesting piece for the Yankees. St. Louis has a surplus of outfielders, and Carlson has seen his playing time slashed as a result. The 24-year-old is only arbitration-eligible for the first time following this season and isn't scheduled to hit free agency until the conclusion of the 2026 campaign.

Carlson has been a decent offensive player in his career but possesses above-average skills defensively. He could be a longer-term option in the outfield if Bader departs via free agency in the offseason.

The Cardinals want to improve the rotation. Adding Luis Gil and Clayton Beeter gives them some options who could emerge as contributors for a staff in desperate need of a talent infusion. - Josh Goldberg

Snell heads back to Tampa

Snell's tenure with the Tampa Bay Rays ended somewhat unceremoniously, but the AL East powerhouse is trying to win a division and has seen its lead disappear to the ascendant Orioles thanks to myriad injuries to the rotation. Why not bring back a guy who won a Cy Young with the organization?

The 30-year-old lefty is playing his best baseball since that dominant 2018 campaign, authoring an MLB-best 2.67 ERA, and would slot in nicely as a co-ace to Shane McClanahan. Regardless of whether this deal would help propel the Rays to AL East supremacy, it at least makes the rotation, which also features Tyler Glasnow and Zach Eflin, arguably the most daunting to run into in a postseason series. Snell is on an expiring deal and the Rays have shown some hesitancy in buying in on rentals at the deadline, but hanging a banner should be this team's only goal.

Heading the other way is a piece from the deal that sent Snell to San Diego. Luis Patino has struggled with injury during his residency with the Rays, and the 23-year-old projects more as a reliever going forward. Perhaps a return to the system that originally developed him could get him more on track to becoming an elite high-leverage guy by next year.

The real key piece here for the Padres, though, is Kyle Mazardo, a slugging first baseman who's ready to graduate to the majors. The Friars aren't really in a position to sell for the sake of it; they need to stay in the hunt after investing so heavily this past winter and put themselves in a good spot for a legitimate World Series run in 2024. By FanGraphs WAR, the Padres are a top-10 team at every offensive position this year other than first base, catcher, and center field. - Michael Bradburn

Cardinals send Goldschmidt to Astros

A Paul Goldschmidt trade seems unlikely, but it's also a deal that the Cardinals should be making. So let's send him to the Astros, who could really use his help.

Houston has some very good hitters when everyone is healthy, yet first base remains a weak link. Yes, Jose Abreu has been hitting a bit better of late, but his Astros career has been a disaster overall. Abreu's woeful numbers stand out even more in a lineup without Yordan Alvarez and Jose Altuve, who've both struggled to stay healthy this year.

Adding Goldschmidt, who's in the midst of another typically solid season in St. Louis, would fix a lot of Houston's offensive troubles. A middle-order trio of Goldschmidt, a healthy Alvarez, and Kyle Tucker - with Altuve (once he returns) and Alex Bregman above them - would be as formidable as they come. Goldschmidt would lengthen the Astros' lineup as a whole, allowing Abreu to move down in the order.

Defensively, Goldschmidt would obviously supplant Abreu at first base, with the latter moving into a DH role. That would force Alvarez to play left field every day and push Chas McCormick over to center, but the Astros can probably live with that for the offensive upgrades that come with this deal. Houston would also land JoJo Romero, a much-needed lefty for the bullpen who's been quietly effective this year.

The Astros' best prospects are outfielders, and the Cardinals are desperate for pitching, so it's not a perfect fit. However, Goldschmidt's no-trade clause might limit what the Cardinals can do here. While he's shown little public desire to leave St. Louis, it feels safe to assume that he'd waive it to return to his hometown of Houston. That would put the Astros in the driver's seat as far as negotiations are concerned.

St. Louis would end up with the Astros' three best pitching prospects, and though they're not ranked among the best in baseball, they'll help the Cardinals' system overall. Jake Meyers is also added into the deal as a young outfielder who can play for the team right now, especially if Carlson and/or Tyler O'Neill are moved. - Simon Sharkey-Gotlieb

Blue Jays land Bellinger

The Blue Jays finally get Cody Bellinger after reportedly showing interest in the 2019 NL MVP during the offseason. He's exactly what Toronto's underperforming offense needs, too. The club ranks 16th in the majors with 114 homers this season after finishing seventh last year and sits 25th with a .244 batting average with runners in scoring position. Bellinger's 14 homers over 68 games and .295/.364/.492 slash line with RISP would make a difference.

But what about Daulton Varsho? The Blue Jays' prized offseason acquisition has been a major disappointment in his first campaign with Toronto. He's accrued 0.7 fWAR after posting 4.7 fWAR in 2022 and might be better suited as a fourth outfielder who can provide some power and speed off the bench for the rest of this season. Varsho's calling card has always been his defensive play. However, Bellinger wouldn't be a big step back in left field, as he's amassed a minus-0.8 defensive rating with the Cubs in 2023, according to FanGraphs. Bellinger could also man center when Kevin Kiermaier needs a day off.

Selling high on Bellinger as a rental player is an ideal scenario for the Cubs, who aren't ready to contend. The 28-year-old has found his All-Star form again heading into free agency after years of struggles possibly related to shoulder issues.

Chicago could use a player like Addison Barger, who's the No. 6 prospect in the Blue Jays' system. The 23-year-old hit 26 homers with a .933 OPS over three levels last year. He also plays third base, which is an organizational weakness for the Cubs. Nate Pearson rounds out the trade. The former top pitching prospect has managed to stay healthy for the first time in his major-league career. He's shown the potential to be a high-leverage reliever who can reach triple digits with this fastball, which is always desirable. - Tom Ruminski