One Player At Each Position That BSN Would Trade For

Rumors are the biggest part of the trade deadline now, it’s why you’re here in the first place. Today’s special feature is going to be a fun one. While we’ve heard a few of the names i will mention down below in rumors, some are less likely to be moved. Nevertheless, let’s break down the best player from each position. While most of these may be a surprise, we are looking at a wide number of variables. Whether a certain team will eat the salary to move a player, years left on a contract, and how much they are owed. It’s got a mix of everything in here, so strap in, relax, and let’s build the perfect trade deadline rumor mill team.

SP: Luis Castillo RHP – Seattle Mariners / owed 30.4m thru 2027 (Mariners willing to eat a portion of Castillo’s salary for a ‘legitimate return.’)

The Mariners have made it clear that they plan to keep most of their pitching rotation in tact after this deadline. They have let teams know that they are willing to part ways with Emerson Hancock and Luis Castillo though. While Castillo carries a 4+ ERA this season, the Mariners are willing to eat some of his salary for a decent return. His contract also expires at the end of the 2027 campaign, meaning he has an extra year compared to a rental pitcher. While Tarik Skubal or Robbie Ray definitely crossed my mind, if I’m in the chair of a GM, I’d still wanna be competitive post 2026. Gaining Castillo with an extra year of control will be huge for any team who has a larger window to win the World Series than a year.

1B: Nathaniel Lowe – Washington Nationals / owed $589,572 thru 2026

A cheaper option at the plate, but nonetheless, still an incredible player. He is having a bit of a down year but if teams are looking for a cheap, bask-end option, then Lowe is the man. His current splits are .256/.333/.475 through 223 AB’s, he has 12 HR’s and 33 RBI’s so far, despite not being the everyday man at the plate. He’s only played 161.0 innings this season at first, and ranks near the bottom of the stat sheet with fielding percentage. While he isn’t a qualified first baseman, he ranks 49th out of 56 players who have played a minimum of 100+ innings at first base this season. It’s not the prettiest stat to look at, but he’s possibly the best available first baseman as of now, who won’t hurt the team’s bank accounts.

2B: Luis Arraez – San Francisco Giants / owed $4.042m thru 2026

Possibly one of the most enticing names available this deadline, while the kids like power and home runs. Arraez takes it a step further and does something way cooler. He’s an extremely consistent player at the dish, and has been for his entire MLB career. Since beginning his MLB career in 2019, he has only batted below .300 twice. Yes, that’s not a type, over his career, his lowest batting percentage at the end of a season was .292. Since 2020, he’s never below 13th overall in qualified batting in batting average.

2020: DNQ

2021: DNQ

2022: 4th

2023: 1st

2024: 4th

2025: 13th

2026: currently 2nd

His career batting average is at a .318, for comparison, he beats out Jackie Robinson, Derek Jeter and Home Run Baker, who despite his name, didn’t hit many home runs, (finished career with 96 home runs through 13 seasons played.) Adding Arraez to a team who is pushing for postseason aspirations, is the exact answer they need. Teams who have been mentioning that they need batters to create traffic on the base paths, well look no further than Luis Arraez. Have we also mentioned that he can play first base? Yeah, he can practically do it all, he just chooses not to pitch so Ohtani can have the spotlight. Just kidding, but Arraez is the perfect lead-off man, and any team who offers for him, will be grateful they did.

SS: CJ Abrams – Washington Nationals – team control till 2028

Before Nats fans click off of this article, let me explain the why on trading Abrams. Yes, it seems crazy to trade Abrams as the team is close to a playoff spot and the end of a rebuild. Even crazier to trade away a young guy with such upside like Abrams, but this move can help solidify those issues for the Nationals that currently lay. While the main goal is to acquire pitchers with years of control, they could stretch the idea of CJ Abrams for Tarik Skubal possibly. While the asking price for Abrams would certainly be high, if the Nats are further out of contention, they won’t be outright buyers. But, you have to believe, if a team calls with the right offer, then would the Nats seriously consider trading Abrams? It’s a tough business, but at the end of the day, we’ve learned that every player does indeed have a price, and if a team meets that. Well, expect for Abrams to be in a new uniform on August 4th.

3B: Alec Bohm – Philadelphia Phillies – owed $3.436m thru 2026

The Phillies have mentioned multiple times that they are seeking to upgrade parts of the infield, which likely translates to the third base side. Bohm is seeing a significant dip in production thus far and is batting below .230 currently. A change of scenery could be what he needs, and if the Phillies are interested in offering that, then he could be a potential name that teams call about. Don’t rule out the possibility of a potential swap either, where the Phillies swap Bohm and a prospect, in exchange for a bigger name.

LF: Jake McCarthy – Colorado Rockies – under team control till 2028

Jake McCarthy has quietly been one of the best batters this season, and likely, the most consistent for the Rockies. At the point of the writing of this piece, McCarthy is slashing an incredible .298/.340/.502 through 92 games played thus far. While some may argue it’s due to the batter-friendly Coors Field, he’d actually have more home runs if he played in Philadelphia. McCarthy splits between home and away are obvious though. He is batting a full .49 points better at home than he is on the road. While that may be worrisome to some teams, according to analytics, McCarthy would have a full seven home runs more than his overall career number, if he played in Milwaukee or Cincinnati. With both teams looking for a shot to further this advances to the playoffs, they should 100% be calling the Rockies about McCarthy. The risk is low with McCarthy being under team control till 2028, and could be a solid bat for a team looking for a cheap outfield option with control.

CF: Daulton Varsho – Toronto Blue Jays – owed $3,621m through 2026

There’s no question that the Blue Jays will be sellers at the deadline and with the need for outfielders, the phones are 100% buzzing. With multiple teams trying to figure out the Blue Jays price on expiring contract Daulton Varsho. A reunion in the offseason seems unlikely between the two sides, and Varsho has playoff experience. Which could be exactly what a young team like the White Sox could be searching for. The market for outfielders are slim this deadline, and it’s likely that most teams retain their players with a year or more of control. With Varsho’s contract set to expire at the end of this season, it’s not a matter of if Varsho will be traded, but a matter of if he’s played his final home game in Toronto.

RF: Jorge Soler – Los Angeles Angels – owed $4,379m through 2026

I was originally going to place another Angels outfielder that has received interest over the past few days into this section. Then i remembered that im writing about the ever notorious Angels, who aren’t exactly known for selling high. Jo Adell is under team control till the end of 2027 and is the cheapest between himself and Soler. If acquired, the cost for Adell would only be $1,529,412 for the remainder of the season. Compared to Soler, who costs about $2.85m more. While both are having below average seasons, it’s likely that teams will call on Adell, but to be referred to Jorge Soler at the end of the day. While he’s not a bad option to have as some extra depth, he’s not exactly the answer for a playoff spot. The market for outfielders is slim this deadline, and with high asking prices around the league for other players, Soler or Adell seem like the top options.

C: Ryan Jeffers – Minnesota Twins – owed $2,271m through 2026

Teams looking for a catcher to add at this deadline are probably ready to just make the trade and get it over with. First, the Rockies had made Hunter Goodman available, which was amazing for teams. He’s a catcher with 30+ HR power, and could probably easily eclipse 40-45 HR’s. From there, it was quickly evident that the Rockies were just gauging the market and didn’t have any serious interest in trading him. Specifically, they wanted players that would help them reach 90+ wins quicker than Hunter Goodman himself. Teams pivoted and searched for the next best option, while Ryan Jeffers was always set to be the next option. Conversations around the league started mentioning that the A’s were open to trading C Shea Langliers. Unfortunately, about a week after his name started surfacing big time in trade rumors, he suffered a devastating injury. Tearing his meniscus and likely ending his 2026 campaign.

It’s been a rollercoaster for teams in the market, but one name has remained available, and staying ready for a playoff run. That name is Ryan Jeffers. While he’s doesn’t have 30+ HR power, he’s been extremely consistent at the plate despite a small sample size. He’s currently batting a .293 through 157 at-bats, with 9 home runs and 35 RBI’s. Despite only playing a little over 33% of the games he played in 2025, he has already tied his home run total in 2025. He is also 12 RBI’s off from his 2025 high. Jeffers is finally returning to form and just in time for a teams playoff push, will it be the Yankees or the Rays? Or were the Dodgers just bluffing the whole time and have been waiting for this moment? We will have to wait and see but i wouldn’t be surprised to see Jeffers in either of those three jerseys.

DH: Luis Robert Jr.– New York Mets – owed $26,470m through 2027

The Mets front office will likely choose to forget about what they had to do to bring Robert over to New York. Unfortunately, his time has been filled with injuries, and now with no spot for Robert to everyday at, the Mets are stuck looking for a trade suitor. As well as likely picking up a hefty remainder of Robert’s huge contract. When the Mets traded for Robert Jr in the offseason, they also picked up the bill. Now, the Mets are facing the repercussions of this deal. While the end goal for any team would be to get him into the outfield, an everyday spot at DH while he gets things rolling wouldn’t be the worse idea. The Mets are doing their best to showcase him before the deadline hits in games.

Since returning from injury, Robert has gone 3/17 with 2 RBI’s and a home run on the night of his return. The power is still there, he just needs a bit more time to get his mind back into MLB games. With the Mets willing to pick up the majority of the money, the risk is definitely low for any team that decides to add Luis Robert Jr.

RP: Luke Weaver – New York Mets – owed $13,695m through 2027

While i have you thinking about the Mets, let’s keep our minds in New York for a second. It’s obvious that the Mets aren’t contenders this season. It’s also very obvious that owner Steve Cohen isn’t afraid to spend during the offseason. Which is why trading high on Luke Weaver isn’t the worse idea. The market in the offseason is expected to be insane once the lockout ends, and when that does. There’s no doubt in my mind, Cohen will be the first to make a major move, (barring the addition of a salary cap of course.) Regardless, there’s plenty of teams with the right pieces to help the Mets with MLB-level pitching, specifically in the starter role with Peralta set to be traded as well. The need for high-leverage relievers is high this deadline, and the Mets should 100% consider listening to every offer that hits the phone line.