Worries For AL Teams Before The Trade Deadline

The MLB trade deadline is rapidly approaching, with just about four weeks for sellers, buyers, and, most importantly, the teams sitting on the bubble to determine what moves they need to make by July 30.

22 teams are just four games away from earning a postseason spot, making the trade scene as chaotic as ever. Too many questions exist before anyone can accurately predict how things will stand going into the final stretch. Those answers will undoubtedly influence many teams' paths over the next few weeks.

Athletics: Are They Willing To Trade Mason Miller?

This summer, the Oakland Athletics are among five surefire sellers. Players like Austin Adams, Brent Rooker, Miguel Andujar, and Scott Alexander are expected to generate attention, but none of them will get the price that Mason Miller would.

With five more years of club control remaining, teams can acquire the hard-throwing righty, and use him for multiple seasons. The Athletics will need a sizable package of prospects in exchange for the 25-year-old. Is Oakland willing to part with their most intriguing player? Anything can be achieved with the right deal.

Guardians: Do They Have Enough Offense?

When Jhonkensy Noel was called up by the Cleveland Guardians last week, the MLB's No. 26 prospect had a resounding hit in his first at-bat. Even though the Guardians will have a tiny sample size to decide before July 30, if Noel can be reliable at the plate, he might relieve some of the weight on the front office in its hunt for an outfield bat.

President of Baseball Operations Chris Antonetti will spend the next few weeks concentrating on the starting rotation. The team lost Shane Bieber early in the season, and they are waiting on Gavin Williams' return. As long as the offense has enough internal solutions, a starter should be the primary goal, because aside from Ben Lively and Tanner Bibee, the remainder of the rotation has struggled with consistency for much of the season.

White Sox: How Much Will They Sell?

One could argue that the Chicago White Sox's sell-off started when new general manager Chris Getz moved Dylan Cease to the Padres during Spring Training. Given that the White Sox are headed for a 120-loss campaign, it only makes sense for Getz to complete the demolition and start rebuilding a farm system that was ranked No. 20 in the Majors by MLB Pipeline before the season. Several players on the White Sox roster will be highly tempting to contenders, especially for a team struggling as badly as they are.

Orioles: Can They Get The Starter They Need?

While Tyler Wells, Kyle Bradish, and John Means suffered season-ending injuries, Corbin Burnes and Grayson Rodriguez have held down the fort at the top of the rotation. The rest of Baltimore's staff, however, is significantly diminished. After a great start, Albert Suarez took a lot of hits in his last two games, Cade Povich only made four career starts, and Cole Irvin faltered.

The Baltimore Orioles, who began the season ranked number one in MLB Pipeline's organizational rankings, are a team primed to make a significant splash. Gunnar Henderson, Colton Cowser, Jordan Westburg, and Rodriguez have all improved in the last year, but Baltimore still boasts four of the game's top 20 prospects. GM Mike Elias has the resources to entice the White Sox to part with Garrett Crochet.

Yankees: What Should Their Biggest Priority Be?

The New York Yankees have been among the best teams in baseball all season, yet they have many problems. Gleyber Torres and D.J. LeMahieu have struggled most of the season, while Anthony Rizzo (likely in his final season with the Yankees) has been sidelined for two months.

The Yankees are now scrambling to find a replacement for Giancarlo Stanton while he is on the injured list. Even Jasson Dominguez, a backup plan sitting at Triple-A, is expected to miss around two months due to an oblique ailment.

The Yankees should focus on strengthening their first base position. They should also consider adding a solid bullpen arm or two to aid in their efforts to defeat Baltimore in the AL East. If Gerrit Cole can demonstrate that his elbow is healthy, the Yankees might be among the few teams not wanting to add to the rotation.

Cole will have some work to do, however, if GM Brian Cashman wants to see his team snap out of a 14-year title slump. Juan Soto and Aaron Judge can't do it alone.

Blue Jays: Will They Become Big Sellers?

The Toronto Blue Jays entered Friday with a 6 1/2-game hole in the AL Wild Card race due to their 37-44 record. GM Ross Atkins has to decide whether to start a rebuilding project now or to be more proactive with the team in 2025.

Should the latter be the case, players who will be unrestricted free agents after the 2025 season, like Bo Bichette, Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Jordan Ramano, Chris Bassitt, and Kevin Gausman, may be considered for possible transactions. The Blue Jays need to replenish a farm system that ranked No. 24 heading into the season. Several upcoming free agents in Toronto may find themselves on the move as well.