MLB trade deadline rumors: Jameson Taillon draws looks, Dodgers eye outfield help, Yankees narrow to-do list

The 2024 MLB trade deadline is less than a week away. Luis Arraez, Aaron Civale, and Hunter Harvey have already been traded, and you can be sure more players will be on the move between now and next Tuesday. Here are the latest deadline rumors.

Red Sox sort out shopping list

The Boston Red Sox are in the thick of the American League wild-card chase and also can’t be ruled out for the AL East title. As such, they’re looking like buyers at the deadline. On Wednesday, lead executive Craig Breslow laid out his specific deadline objectives to reporters, including Alex Speier of the Boston Globe:

“I think if we were to be pretty specific, pitching is always what we look for at the deadline, especially given some of the injuries that we’re currently battling through, some of the ones we had on the starting pitching side earlier in spring training and at the beginning of the season between [Lucas] Giolito, [Garrett] Whitlock, and now [Justin] Slaten and [Chris] Martin. Hopefully we’ll get those guys back here soon, but definitely looking for pitching.

“And given how lefthanded we are — not only right now but also a lot of our really exciting young players are lefthanded — if we could add a righthanded bat, it would be something that we would want to do.”

Given what figures to be a limited supply of sellers in the coming days, pitching will be a competitive space for deadline buyers like Boston. Landing on a right-handed bat, however, should be a much lighter lift for Breslow and the rest of the front office.

Rangers want to add bat, reliever

Despite being 49-52, the Rangers are only three games out in the AL West, and they would like to add a bat and perhaps a reliever with long-term control at the deadline, reports The Athletic. Texas could move rental starter Michael Lorenzen, maybe even Jon Gray, though they are reportedly less inclined to deal Andrew Heaney and postseason stalwart Nathan Eovaldi.

Third baseman Josh Jung, who has not played since an errant pitch broke his wrist in the fourth game of the season, is inching closer to a return and will provide a lineup boost. Even then, the Rangers could use a big DH bat since Josh Smith, who is filling in at third for Jung, is versatile enough to play almost anywhere. Texas ranks 17th in runs scored per game.

Yankees focused on bullpen, offense

Not surprisingly, the Yankees are focused on adding to their bullpen and their offense at the trade deadline, according to ESPN. Third base in particular needs an upgrade, possibly second base as well. New York could also use more rotation depth. The Yankees are reportedly open to trading top prospects Jasson Domínguez and Spencer Jones, which opens some doors.

Here is our Yankees’ deadline preview. Third base has been a problem all year — DJ LeMahieu is hitting .183/.275/.229 since making his season debut on May 28 — and the Yankees need help against lefty pitching. Jahmai Jones and J.D. Davis hit leadoff and cleanup, respectively, against lefty Jose Quintana on Tuesday, and it’s not clear either is an MLB-caliber player at this point.

Dodgers in on Arozarena, Robert

The Dodgers are among the teams with interest in Rays outfielder Randy Arozarena and White Sox center fielder Luis Robert Jr., reports MLB.com. Arozarena and Robert were both among our top-10 trade candidates. Arozarena is available because Tampa will trade anyone at any time. Robert is available because the White Sox are terrible and in the early stages of a rebuild.

Teoscar Hernández has been the one constant in the Los Angeles outfield this season. Rookie Andy Pages has had his moments and is currently the every day center fielder, and Jason Heyward recently returned from the injured list. There is room to add a bigger bat like Arozarena or Robert to the outfield, though the Dodgers figure to prioritize pitching help at the trade deadline.

Taillon drawing interest

Cubs righty Jameson Taillon is drawing interest around the league, according to The Athletic. “There’s definitely noise going on,” the 32-year-old pitcher acknowledged. Taillon held the Brewers to one run in 7 1/3 innings Tuesday and has a 2.96 ERA in 17 starts this season. He’s owed $18 million in both 2025 and 2026, so he’s not a rental, but he’s not cheap either. The money will have to be worked through.

Basically every contender except the Mariners and Phillies is looking for rotation help. The Astros, Cardinals, Orioles, and Red Sox stand out as clubs that need a rotation upgrade for the stretch run this year and also the next few years. They could all be in play for Taillon, though that is only my speculation. At 49-54, the Cubs are teetering on the edge of selling as the deadline approaches.

Reds willing to trade relievers

The Reds have informed teams they are willing to trade from their bullpen, reports The Athletic. They have several rental relievers who could appeal to contenders — Buck Farmer, Lucas Sims, Justin Wilson — though players with more team control left, like Alexis Díaz, would be harder to pry loose. Sims in particular has appeal as a spin rate monster with a history of better than average strikeout rates. Cincinnati is looking to clear up a bullpen roster crunch more than launch a rebuild.