MLB·Analysis

Top-5 MLB trades that could happen ahead of July 31 non-waiver deadline

All eyes are on Baltimore shortstop Manny Machado as baseball’s July 31 non-waiver trade deadline nears, but other big names could be on the move. Would the Dodgers acquire a rental player like Brian Dozier? Should Boston deal with the Blue Jays to fill a rotation need?

Should Blue Jays deal J.A. Happ, Seunghwan Oh to rival Red Sox for pitching prospects?

J.A. Happ has a 10-6 record and 4.29 earned-run average in 19 starts for the Blue Jays this season, but he will likely be on the move ahead of the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline. Boston has a rotation need but would the Red Sox deal with their division rivals? (Chris O'Meara/Associated Press)

All eyes are on Baltimore Orioles shortstop Manny Machado as baseball's July 31 non-waiver trade deadline nears, but he isn't the only big name that could be on the move.

With disparity perhaps never higher across the league, it's clear which teams are in the hunt for the post-season and those that find themselves ready to sell.

So who else might be dealt, and where?

Here are five potential deals that could make sense for each of the parties involved:

5. Los Angeles Dodgers acquire 2B Brian Dozier from Minnesota Twins for SS/2B Gavin Lux

The Dodgers were said to have big interest in Dozier after his 42-homer 2016 season, though the Twins' asking price appeared to be too high. That shouldn't be the case anymore, as Dozier has come back to earth offensively, hitting .230 with 16 home runs this season.


There's a clear need for the Dodgers to add a rental option in the middle infield with star shortstop Corey Seager (Tommy John surgery) out for the year, and the Twins can stand to part with  Dozier, who said in March he intends to become a free agent when his contract expires this fall.

Lux, the Dodgers' 2016 first-round pick, is having a strong year at high Class-A, though he isn't considered one of their top 10 prospects.

4. Houston Astros acquire RHP Raisel Iglesias from Cincinnati Reds for LHP Cionel Perez, RHP Jorge Alcala and RHP Corbin Martin

The Astros showed when they swung a deal to acquire Ken Giles in 2015 that they weren't afraid to gut the farm for a reliever. Now, the underachieving Giles is in triple-A following a demotion last week, and Houston is in desperate need of an established closer.

Iglesias, 28, hasn't been doing the job for long, but he possesses the high-powered arsenal for the role and is a bargain at $5 million US owed in base salary each of the next two seasons. Breakout lefty Perez could headline a package for the Astros, who have considerable pitching depth to deal from for the arm-needy Reds.

3. New York Yankees acquire 1B/3B Mike Moustakas from Kansas City Royals for RHP Jonathan Loaisiga and RHP Juan Then

The Yankees are said to be among teams interested in Moustakas at first base, where he would be an extreme upgrade over what New York has going on at the position right now. The 29-year-old has played four games at first this season, including two this month, as the Royals market him to potential suitors.


Moustakas' 19 homers from the left side of the plate would look good in the lineup between righty sluggers Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton, and he comes with a much lower price tag than Machado, whom the Baltimore Orioles likely don't want to trade in the division. Loaisiga gives the Royals a major-league-ready arm to slot into the rotation while Then, 18, would be more of a future asset.

2. Boston Red Sox acquire LHP J.A. Happ and RHP Seunghwan Oh from Toronto Blue Jays for RHP Travis Lakins, RHP Kutter Crawford and 2B/OF Kervin Suarez

The Red Sox have needs in the rotation and bullpen, but this is the type of deal fans should expect from them. Several big trades in recent years have gutted Boston's farm system, and the team's payroll can't get much higher than the current figure that's already leading the majors. Happ and Oh (vesting option) can both potentially leave after this season, giving the Red Sox the temporary upgrades they need while costing a few lower-tier prospects at most.

Happ slots into the rotation, while Oh gives the Red Sox a setup option with closer experience if Craig Kimbrel needs a rest day. And both are American League East tested, which is important come the playoff stretch.

1. Philadelphia Phillies acquire SS/3B Manny Machado and LHP Zach Britton from Baltimore Orioles for 3B Maikel Franco, RHP Adonis Medina, RHP Franklyn Kilome and SS Arquimedes Gamboa

This is the move the Phillies need to make if they are serious about contending this season and beyond. Philadelphia perhaps has more money to spend this off-season than any other club, making it likely the Phillies view Machado, who they are said to aggressively be pursuing, as more than a rental player. Britton is also believed to be on their radar, as the team has lacked an established closer most the season yet is still 53-42 and atop the National League East.


The price would be high — Medina and Kilome are among the club's top arms while the 20-year-old Gamboa is on the rise and Franco is a former top prospect — but the Phillies can hold on to top pitching prospect Sixto Sanchez while getting the chance to convince Machado the City of Brotherly Love should be his home for the next 10-plus seasons.