MLB sellers at the Deadline

The MLB trade deadline is less than three weeks away and there still aren’t many teams that can be considered potential sellers leading up to July 30.

For the sake of this column, we’ll consider a potential seller as any team at least seven games out of a postseason berth. Just seven teams fit that category: the Chicago White Sox, Colorado Rockies, Detroit Tigers, Los Angeles Angels, Miami Marlins, Oakland Athletics and Toronto Blue Jays.

Four of those teams do not plan to be full-fledged sellers.

One of those teams is the Angels where a disconnect exists between the front office and ownership. General manager Perry Minasian wants to begin a rebuild but owner Arte Moreno prefers the Angels keep trying to win each season despite the franchise not reaching the postseason since 2014.

Minasian is being limited to traded players who are eligible for free agency. The best of those is closer Carlos Estevez, who has 16 saves and a 2.79 ERA in 29 games and is generating considerable interest among contending teams.

Left-handed reliever Matt Moore, right-handed reliever Hunter Strickland, infielder/outfielder Brandon Drury and outfielder Kevin Pillar are also available.

The Detroit Tigers and Toronto Blue Jays are taking the same approach as the Angels, willing to trade only players on expiring contracts because they hope to contend next season.

The Tigers’ top trade chip is right-hander Jack Flaherty, who is having a strong season after being signed to a one-year, $14-million contract last winter in free agency. The 28-year-old is 5-5 with a 3.24 ERA and is expected to pitch Thursday after having him previous start skipped because of a back issue.

Other Tigers who could be dealt are catcher Carson Kelly, first baseman/outfielder Mark Canha and infielder Urshela.

Contrary to speculation, the Blue Jays are going to keep first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and shortstop Bo Bichette one more year and try to win in 2025. Both can become free agents after next season.

The Blue Jays do have a couple of pitchers who could bring a good return in left-handed starter Yusei Kikuchi and right-hander reliever Yimi Garcia. Other players who could be had include righty reliever Trevor Richards, catcher Danny Jansen, infielder Justin Turner and center fielder Kevin Kiermaier.

The Athletics player most coveted in trade discussions is All-Star closer Mason Miller. However, the 25-year-old does not become a free agent until after the 2030 seasons and Oakland is considering converting back into a starting pitcher next season.

Left-hander Alex Wood and right-hander Ross Stripling could be flipped if they are able to come off the injured list by the end of the month.

The Rockies have long been opposed to trading players at the deadline and that is the case again this season. However, Colorado will at least listen to offers on a pair of starting pitchers, left-hander Austin Gomber and right-hander Cal Quantrill.

That leaves the White Sox and Marlins as the most-interesting sellers.

The White Sox are willing to trade anyone on their roster as they sit 41 games under .500 at 27-68. Left-hander Garrett Crochet is currently the most coveted player on the trade market as he has 146 strikeouts in 105 1/3 innings to go with a 6-6 record and 3.08 ERA.

Another righty starter, Erik Fedde, could be had along with closer Michael Kopech. The White Sox also have a slew of outfielders available, including Luis Robert Jr., Andrew Benintendi and Eloy Jimenez.

It had been thought that the Marlins were also willing to trade on almost anyone on their roster, but it appears outfielders Bryan De La Cruz and Jesus Sanchez are off limits as first-year president of baseball operations Peter Bendix considers them building block players.