It finally happened. Manny Machado was traded to the Dodgers on Wednesday, ending the months-long saga that was destined to end with the All-Star shortstop playing for an organization other than the Orioles for the remainder of 2018.
While the Machado deal was hardly a surprise, the trade market was busy again Thursday, when the Padres dealt All-Star closer Brad Hand and reliever Adam Cimber to the Indians for top prospect Francisco Mejia. Hand had been a rumored trade target for weeks, though given his contract status (he's under control through 2021), it was far from a lock that he was going to be moved.
With only less than two weeks until the July 31 non-waiver Trade Deadline, whose stock is on the rise? Here's a look at some players who have seen their value increase:
Jeurys Familia, Mets
The Mets' closer is nearly perfect this month, allowing one hit and one walk while striking out six in seven scoreless July innings. The Mets seem unlikely to trade either of their big-name starters (Jacob deGrom and Noah Syndergaard), but Familia is headed for free agency, making him a near-lock to get moved. He's the best rental reliever on the market.
Potential fits: Astros, Red Sox

James Dozier, Twins
Dozier had a monster game last Sunday, homering and driving in five runs to end his first half on a high note. Dozier has a 1.001 OPS with five homers and 17 RBIs in 15 July games, looking like a player headed for a big second half. With Machado off the market, Dozier -- who is owed about $4 million for the rest of 2018 -- could be a popular target for teams seeking middle infield help and are OK taking on a half-season rental.
Potential fits: Brewers, Red Sox

Zach Britton, Orioles
Britton started out slowly after returning last month from right Achilles surgery, but Baltimore's closer has been effective in July, posting six scoreless innings with a sub-1.000 WHIP and a strikeout per inning. Britton is holding hitters to a .158 average and a .449 OPS during the stretch, thrusting himself back into the conversation for best rental reliever. With the Machado deal done, the Orioles can now turn their attention to moving Britton, who is owed about $5 million for the remainder of the season.
Potential fits: Astros, Braves

Kirby Yates, Padres
The Padres dealing Hand opened the door for Yates to become San Diego's new closer. Of course, the Padres have been getting plenty of calls about the 31-year-old, making him the odds-on favorite to be the next San Diego player traded. Yates has allowed a run in only one of his past 17 outings dating back to the beginning of June, and with only about $500,000 owed to him for the rest of 2018 season and two more years of arbitration-eligibility, he's a valuable trade chip.
Potential fits: Dodgers, Braves

Tyson Ross, Padres
In a relatively weak starting pitching market, Ross remains an intriguing option -- especially since the free-agent-to-be is owed less than $1 million for the rest of the season. Ross had a solid outing against the Dodgers (two runs in 6 1/3 innings) before the break, but scouts will surely be watching him closely in his starts leading up to July 31.
Potential fits: Mariners, Red Sox

Asdrubal Cabrera, Mets
Cabrera has been on fire in July, slashing .293/.420/.634 with four home runs in 14 games this month. The teams that lost out in the Machado sweepstakes will turn to other infield options, and given that the versatile 32-year-old can play either middle infield spot, Cabrera figures to be attractive. He's also owed a little less than $4 million this season before becoming a free agent, giving the Mets reasons to move him.
Potential fits: Brewers, D-backs

Mike Moustakas, Royals
The Royals have been trying to stir up interest in Moustakas for a couple weeks, though Machado was holding up the infield market. He's quietly putting up a solid season (19 home runs, .772 OPS), though his July has been relatively quiet. With only about $3 million owed for the rest of the season, Moustakas -- who can't be given a qualifying offer this offseason -- should be a relatively inexpensive rental in terms of prospects it will take to deal for him. (His deal has a mutual option for 2019, but at this point, it's a near certainty he'll test the market, especially with the qualifying offer out of the way.)
Potential fits: Phillies, Indians

Raisel Iglesias, Reds
Thursday's Padres-Indians trade shows the value teams put into controllable relievers. It's still unclear whether the Reds will move Iglesias, but it will be awfully tempting if another team offers a prospect on the same level as Mejia. The closer is owed about $13 million total through 2020.
Potential fits: Astros, Braves

J.T. Realmuto, Marlins
The Marlins don't appear motivated to move the All-Star catcher, but with Wilson Ramos and Francisco Cervelli on the disabled list, a catcher-desperate team might try to pry Realmuto away from Miami this month. The catcher market is pretty dry beyond those three, and while Ramos is headed for free agency and Cervelli is signed for one more year, Realmuto is under control through 2020.
Potential fits: Astros, Nationals

Joakim Soria, White Sox
The 34-year-old overcame an early-May stumble, posting a 0.83 ERA in 22 appearances since May 21. Soria is owed about $4 million for the rest of this season and has a mutual $10 million option (with a $1 million buyout) for 2019, but the White Sox are focusing on youth and would surely move the reliever for the right price.
Potential fits: Dodgers, Cubs