Each team's biggest trade chip as Deadline nears

You've got to give to get during Trade Deadline season.

We've already gone through each team's biggest Deadline need, but what do these clubs have to offer to address that need? With the help of our MLB.com beat reporters, here's a look at each club's biggest trade chip.

Jump to: AL East | AL Central | AL West | NL East | NL Central | NL West

AL EAST

BLUE JAYS: SS Arjun Nimmala
This isn’t a commentary on Nimmala himself, but the Blue Jays would only trade No. 1 prospect JoJo Parker in a franchise-changing deal, and Nimmala represents that next level of value, now ranked the No. 45 prospect in baseball while enjoying a strong season in Double-A. On the pitching front, Toronto could be hesitant to deal lefty Johnny King (No. 4), but righty Gage Stanifer (No. 6) could be an attractive name.

ORIOLES: One of their three Top 100 prospects
Would the Orioles consider trading any of their three Top 100 prospects (outfielder Nate George, outfielder/first baseman Ike Irish or left-hander Joseph Dzierwa)? They might have to move one if they want to make a huge splash. There are some other strong pieces in the farm system who could be viable chips, likely more on the pitching side. If Baltimore makes any seller-type moves, it would be most likely to trade players on expiring contracts, such as left-hander Trevor Rogers or outfielder Taylor Ward.

RAYS: Prospect depth
The Rays’ deep Minor League system has only gotten better thanks to a few breakout seasons and another Draft class full of high-upside players. Theo Gillen, Nathan Flewelling and Caden Bodine are Top 100 prospects, and No. 2 overall pick Grady Emerson will join Gillen atop Tampa Bay’s system. So, take a quick scroll down their Top 30 Prospects list -- or look at recently graduated prospects such as shortstop Carson Williams -- and you can see why the Rays are well-positioned to be aggressive at this Deadline. They don’t necessarily have to deal their top prospects, because they have so many they can use to make whatever moves needed.

RED SOX: Pitching prospects
The Red Sox have built a lot of pitching depth in the farm system since chief baseball officer Craig Breslow, now in his third season, took over. While right-hander Anthony Eyanson, the team’s No. 2 prospect, might be close to untouchable, the Sox have plenty of other arms who could attract rebuilding teams, including Kyson Witherspoon and Marcus Phillips, two SEC righties who were taken ahead of Eyanson in the 2025 Draft.

YANKEES: RHP Elmer Rodríguez
With the Yankees apparently unwilling to dangle George Lombard Jr. and Carlos Lagrange, Rodríguez could anchor a difference-making deal. The right-hander has made four big league starts this season, pitching to a 4.76 ERA across 17 innings. Rodríguez, 22, was the return in the Carlos Narváez trade and is ranked as the club’s No. 3 prospect and No. 74 overall by MLB Pipeline.

AL CENTRAL

GUARDIANS: INF Angel Genao (No. 2 prospect, No. 41 overall)
The Guardians promoted Genao to Triple-A Columbus on May 4, but he doesn't have a clear path to the Majors. The 22-year-old is a shortstop who has experience playing second and third base. Cleveland has Brayan Rocchio, Travis Bazzana and José Ramírez occupying those positions. While there isn’t any rush to move Genao given the logjam, he could be a trade chip if the Guardians want to make a splash.

ROYALS: RHP Michael Wacha
The All-Star starter would likely bring the biggest return, but the Royals must decide if they’re willing to part with him -- and how other teams value the 35-year-old is going to be a big part of that conversation. The Royals will also see what interest there is in lefty reliever Daniel Lynch IV, who has two more years of control and past starting experience.

TIGERS: LHP Tarik Skubal or RHP Casey Mize
Skubal will be the biggest name in baseball around the Deadline, just as he has been since last offseason. But with just two months of control and free agency looming, dreams of a massive prospect package might be rosy -- unless the Dodgers decide to jump in and then extend him without needing to give up a Draft pick. If the Tigers indeed end up becoming sellers, Mize is a sneaky name to watch and could attract a wider market than Skubal. And like Skubal, Mize is headed for free agency at season’s end.

• Trade rumors: Skubal suitors emerge, Yanks eyeing Mason Miller?

TWINS: Prospects or a Major League outfielder or RHP Joe Ryan
It depends whether they buy or sell. The Twins have four Top 100 Prospects: Walker Jenkins, Emmanuel Rodriguez, Kaelen Culpepper and Eduardo Tait. They are highly unlikely to move Jenkins or Culpepper. If they sell, they’ll get tons of calls on Ryan and catcher Ryan Jeffers. It wouldn’t be shocking if the Twins moved someone such as outfielder Trevor Larnach to bolster their Major League pitching in a deal, clearing space for someone like Jenkins.

WHITE SOX: Prospects -- with a catch
General manager Chris Getz has meticulously rebuilt this organization, from the players to the infrastructure, and he certainly won’t tear things apart to jump up for a one-year possibility. Don’t look for shortstop Caleb Bonemer -- the No. 1 White Sox prospect and No. 16 overall -- or right fielder Braden Montgomery to be on the move. But to get something of value, Getz will have to give up something of future value.

AL WEST

ANGELS: LHP Reid Detmers
Shortstop Zach Neto is their most valuable chip, but he doesn’t seem likely to be moved because he’s under team control for three more years. However, Detmers is under control through next year and has premium stuff from the left side that is tantalizing for other clubs. He posted a 4.39 ERA in 19 starts in the first half but had strong peripheral stats with 123 strikeouts, 35 walks and 12 homers allowed in 108 2/3 innings.

ASTROS: RHP A.J. Blubaugh
With a farm system that is still ranked near the bottom, the Astros may not have the kind of trade chips required to make a major acquisition, but that doesn’t mean they can’t add an impact player. It might take trading from the Major League roster. One player to keep an eye on is Blubaugh, a hard-throwing reliever who threw at least two innings in nine of his final 11 outings before the All-Star break.

ATHLETICS: 3B/1B Tommy White
Assuming they remain buyers, the A’s are desperate for an upgrade in the pitching department -- both starting and relieving -- and White, the club’s No. 7 prospect, would be an attractive chip as a Major League-ready player with elite hitting traits. If they sell, one has to wonder if catcher Shea Langeliers becomes available, though any selling would likely be on a lower level. One example would be trading a veteran reliever, such as Mark Leiter Jr., to a contender.

MARINERS: Starting rotation
Sources have said the Mariners are more open than they’ve ever been to dealing from their rotation, but among that group, their strongest preference would be to move Luis Castillo. He comes with complications, though, chiefly the $24.15 million he’s due next season and the $25 million vesting option he could achieve by pitching 180 innings in 2027. It could hypothetically force the Mariners to package Castillo with a big league hitter and prospect capital to offset the cost.

RANGERS: They don’t really have many left
This is assuming the Rangers don’t sell and big dogs such as Corey Seager, Jacob deGrom and Nathan Eovaldi remain in Texas (though it would take a certifiable collapse for them to be on the trade block anyway). But dating back to the 2025 Trade Deadline, the Rangers have parted ways with a total of 11 prospects for Merrill Kelly, Danny Coulombe, Phil Maton and MacKenzie Gore. The farm system ranks in the bottom six, according to MLB Pipeline.

They have a pair of Top 100 prospects in Sebastian Walcott (No. 10) and Caden Scarborough (No. 63), but the depth of the farm system likely won’t net them any major names as it did in 2023, when they acquired Aroldis Chapman, Max Scherzer and Jordan Montgomery.

NL EAST

BRAVES: OF Eric Hartman
Hartman (the Braves' No. 2 prospect and No. 77 overall) might be the game’s most interesting trade chip this year. The 20-year-old outfielder has hit .281 with 21 homers, 31 stolen bases and a .902 OPS over 80 games for High-A Rome. The question: Should the Braves deal him now, with the hope his value will never get any higher? Or should they keep the young outfielder with the confidence he could soon become one of the game’s top superstars?

MARLINS: LHP Braxton Garrett
The Marlins may be hesitant to trade away a starting pitcher, considering how injuries already have impacted their depth, and with All-Star Max Meyer and Eury Pérez testing their previous workloads. Garrett was drafted by a previous front office and hasn't been recalled since mid-May despite pitching to a 1.54 ERA at Triple-A. Although Garrett struggled in two big league starts this year in his return from elbow surgery, he has a track record of success (4.16 career ERA) and postseason experience.

METS: RHP Freddy Peralta
Despite his struggles and despite the fact that he can become a free agent after this season, Peralta can still probably fetch as much as any tradeable player on the Mets’ roster. He has the pedigree of a two-time All-Star and is less than one year removed from finishing second in NL Cy Young Award voting. Given how much starting pitching is in demand around the league, the Mets would do well to explore Peralta’s market.

NATIONALS: SS CJ Abrams
Abrams was a topic of trade buzz this past offseason because of his controllable contract, and his All-Star performance has boosted that value. Abrams, who doesn’t turn 26 until Oct. 3, was the National League's starting shortstop for the Midsummer Classic. He leads NL shortstops in home runs (20), RBIs (67) and slugging percentage (.510). While Abrams is the Nats’ biggest chip, All-Star southpaw Foster Griffin could be their most likely traded player, should the team decide to sell, because of his expiring contract.

PHILLIES: RHP Gage Wood
It’s definitely No. 2 prospect Wood, if teams are looking for a big-time talent who is healthy and close to big league ready. The Phillies’ first-round pick in the 2025 Draft is pitching for Double-A Reading. The Phillies are thin after Wood. Top prospect Aidan Miller remains sidelined with an injured back. The 22-year-old shortstop hasn’t played since last season, and there is no timetable for his return.

NL CENTRAL

BREWERS: SS Luis Peña
The Brewers aren’t going to trade shortstop Cooper Pratt or outfielder Luis Lara after locking both into long-term contracts, and they aren’t going to trade the No. 1 prospect in baseball, Jesús Made. Considering how deep they are at shortstop in the organization, it could make sense for them to move Peña, a five-tool player who is baseball’s No. 18 prospect, per MLB Pipeline. Trouble is, Peña's value is down because of a health scare this season, when he collapsed in the dugout. He’s played 32 Minor League games this year.

CARDINALS: OF Lars Nootbaar
He looks healthier than he has in years -- to the point that he can even play center field -- and he is under team control through 2027. His metrics have long pointed to better results than he has sometimes seen on the field; another team would love to be the one to unlock him.

CUBS: INF/OF Matt Shaw
Shaw does not have a consistent home on the field for the Cubs, but he is a former first-rounder (2023) who is still just 24 years old and has a solid early track record in the Majors. With Nico Hoerner, Dansby Swanson and Alex Bregman all locked into Chicago’s infield spots, Shaw has worked as a super sub (mostly in the outfield) in 2026. While the Cubs are not looking to trade him, teams with a need on the infield will surely ask about Shaw’s availability.

PIRATES: 1B Spencer Horwitz
This one might come as a surprise. While the Pirates have plenty of prospects to deal, they could dig into their big league roster to acquire more pitching. Horwitz is under club control through 2030, and with the emergence of Esmerlyn Valdez in right field, Ryan O'Hearn could be better suited for first base. That would make Horwitz, who could return from a left hamstring strain this month, an intriguing chip with great value.

REDS: RHP Hunter Greene
Signed through 2028 with a club option for '29, Greene's $8.3 million salary in 2026 jumps to $15.3 million in '27 and then $16.3 million in '28. The option is worth $21 million ($2 million buyout). Especially for big-market clubs, that's not a budget killer. Greene has durability issues, with each of his five seasons being filled with lengthy stretches on the injured list. But he is one of the most talented pitchers around and coming off seven scoreless innings with 12 strikeouts on July 10 against the Cubs.

NL WEST

D-BACKS: RHP Michael Soroka or outfield prospects
If the Diamondbacks are sellers, they don't have the same number of veteran free-agent-to-be rentals to offer teams. However, Soroka, who was signed to a one-year deal in the offseason, was outstanding for them before going on the IL last month with a strained left glute. He should be back soon, and if he proves he's healthy, he could be very attractive to a contender. If the Diamondbacks buy, they could deal from their prospect inventory, especially in the outfield where they have depth.

DODGERS: Almost any of the top outfield prospects
Top Dodgers prospect Josue De Paula (No. 4 overall, per MLB Pipeline) is as close to untouchable as they come. Los Angeles has five other outfielders ranked in the Top 100: Mike Sirota (No. 11), Zyhir Hope (No. 19), Eduardo Quintero (No. 31), Charles Davalan (No. 84) and James Tibbs III (No. 93). Whether the Dodgers are assembling a trade package or looking to diversify their organizational depth, this is a clear area of strength from which to deal.

GIANTS: 2B Luis Arraez
Arraez earned his fourth career All-Star nod after joining the Giants on a one-year, $12 million deal over the offseason, so he should be an attractive target for teams that are looking to upgrade at second base this summer. The three-time batting champion is known for his elite bat-to-ball skills, but he’s also taken a huge step forward defensively this year, which should make him even more valuable for contenders down the stretch.

PADRES: C Ethan Salas … or RHP Mason Miller
General manager A.J. Preller would obviously prefer to buy at the Deadline. The Padres have a playoff core in place. They’ve got a bullpen built for October. But they need to put themselves in that position first. If they do, their biggest trade chip is their top prospect, Salas. Preller seems loath to trade Salas -- but he’s proven before that no prospect is untouchable. And if the Padres fall from contention over the next couple weeks? Things could get awfully interesting, and Miller might find his name in trade rumors for a second straight summer.

ROCKIES: Everybody and nobody
There is no big contract to unload. There also isn't an untouchable player, although it would be hard to move two-time All-Star catcher Hunter Goodman (under club control through 2029) or shortstop Ezequiel Tovar (signed through 2030 with a '31 club option). The team’s outfield prospect depth makes it logical to move Jake McCarthy and/or Mickey Moniak, but there is club control attached to both. In fact, every daily position player is under control at least through next year, and the club should use that as leverage. Most likely, the volatility can come in the bullpen. There are veterans (Antonio Senzatela, Jimmy Herget, Brennan Bernardino and new closer Jordan Romano), and -- much like last year -- young, hard throwers will be popular asks.