Possible Deadline Moves for the NL West
Photo via Clutch Points
The second half of the 2023 MLB season has shown it could be more exciting than the first. Fresh off the All-Star break in Seattle, front offices around the league are looking for any final pieces that could benefit their teams’ before the August 1st trade deadline.
The NL West division is looking to be a hotspot in the league that could see many moves in the coming weeks from all five teams. The Los Angeles Dodgers have overtaken the Arizona Diamondbacks for first place after an incredible first-half run. However, the race is far from over with Arizona eager to retake the driver’s seat and San Francisco looking for a piece to help push for a Wild Card.
Let’s go over the biggest moves we could see out West by the deadline.
Colorado Rockies
Currently last place and 18.5 games behind the NL West, the Rockies will be looking to be sellers before another “rebuilding” offseason comes in October. However, this deadline could be beneficial to Colorado due to the talent they’re serving up this year. The most important right now seems to be Randal Grichuk.
Photo via Purple Row
Grichuk in 56 games with the Rockies this year is putting up a team-high batting average of .300 and is fifth in hits (62). It is also important to note that the Rockies outfielder, who was traded to Colorado from Toronto in 2022, will be an unrestricted free agent this Winter.
If the team is considering a more drastic rebuild strategy this upcoming year, then Grichuk and other pending free agents like Charlie Blackmon and Jurickson Profar could be on the move sooner than expected. The Yankees have emerged as leading buying candidates for Grichuk as they look to shake their own last-place woes and repair an injured outfield that’s missing Aaron Judge.
The @Rockies could be making some Mile High trades over the next few weeks, according to manager Bud Black.#Rockies pic.twitter.com/lJBHMkAZCu
— MLB Network Radio on SiriusXM (@MLBNetworkRadio) July 18, 2023
San Francisco Giants
The silent, but deadly 2023 San Francisco Giants are dying to get that first-place taste that the Diamondbacks, and now Dodgers, have enjoyed. Looking to the find the spark that was ignited in 2021, the Giants are in talks for big names both on the mound and in the outfield.
According to MLB Trade Rumors, the Giants are currently looking at New York Mets starting pitcher and future Hall of Famer, Justin Verlander. The 40-year-old reigning and three-time Cy Young winner appears to be of ageless value for teams league-wide. After signing a two-year deal with the Mets last December, it seemed Verlander had found his final home before ending his outstanding career. However, a Giants rotation that is barely being held together by Logan Webb and Alex Cobb needs a big push, and with the talent that has brought them this far, they may have pieces that can afford a force like Verlander.
Photo via Marquee Sports Network
The Giants are also said to be looking at Chicago Cubs outfielder Cody Bellinger. The former NL MVP with the Dodgers might be having his Midwestern stay cut short and be heading back to California. This time however, he could be heading north to join former teammate Joc Pederson, and the man leading San Francisco in home runs, Michael Conforto, in the outfield.
Los Angeles Dodgers
The Dodgers finally took the NL West lead over the D-Backs and are currently three games ahead of both Arizona and San Francisco. However, it will not be smooth sailing for the Blue Crew this second half as they have holes to fill. One of the biggest was the shortstop spot that the Dodgers had to scramble when they lost starter Gavin Lux to a torn ACL back in Spring Training.
Photo via Kamil Krzaczynski (USA TODAY Sports)
An unexpected but intriguing name the Dodgers are looking at is struggling Tim Anderson of the Chicago White Sox. In fact, there has been a noticeable decline in his statistics in the last couple of seasons. He has yet to hit a single home run this year, and that must be why he is perfect for Los Angeles. The Dodgers have been well known to revive the struggling careers of veterans or those heading toward retirement. It has most recently worked with 35-year-old J.D. Hernandez and 33-year-old Jason Heyward.
The Dodgers could even look to make a bigger package with the White Sox should they also want starting pitcher Lucas Giolito. Giolito is on pace for a high-strikeout season and currently has a WHIP of 1.20. He could be a serious benefit to a Dodgers rotation that cannot seem to stay consistent or healthy.
San Diego Padres
The surprisingly flat San Diego Padres have been one of the teams most looked to this season to make mid-season moves. Now 10 games behind in the division, the Padres are looking to sell some of the star talent they currently have in hopes of a different spark.
"The Phillies can acquire Juan Soto, one of the greatest young hitters of all-time. Put him in left field...And the other aspect of why I want to do this, is it gets them out of the Trea Turner contract."
— SPORTSRADIO 94WIP (@SportsRadioWIP) July 14, 2023
— @JoeGiglioSports would trade Turner for Soto right now
Would you? pic.twitter.com/xhCPzpXeFd
Teams can take their pick at the Padres lineup, bullpen, or even rotation, and although they have been struggling, any deal with the Padres would be a big package. The biggest blockbuster moves the Padres realistically make could involve selling outfielder Juan Soto and/or starting pitcher Blake Snell. The Red Sox, Astros, and Rangers are among the teams who could give enough to San Diego for Snell, and Soto has been in talks to be a potential fit for the Phillies or Rays.
Photo via Jayne Kamin-Oncea (USA TODAY Sports)
Josh Hader has arguably been the most likely piece that the Padres will move for some further help in the bullpen or any intensity from the batter’s box. Hader, who was traded to the Padres from Milwaukee last season, is currently tied for fourth in saves (24) and is putting up an electric ERA of 0.97. The Texas Rangers and New York Yankees are among the teams that could be possible buyers for the star reliever.
Arizona Diamondbacks
The Arizona Diamondbacks, who took the baseball world by storm in the first half of the season, are finally a decent threat in the NL West in late July. The D-Backs have been bullying the Dodgers and Giants out of any comfortable division leads this year, and the deadline could show that their year of surprises is far from over. The depth the D-Backs have makes them respectable buyers who could even look to bigger pitching names such as Corbin Burnes from Milwaukee or Shane Bieber from Cleveland, according to Sports Illustrated.
Photo via Mike Mulholland
Like the Dodgers, the Diamondbacks need help in the rotation so that it is not a one-man-show with All-Star starting pitcher Zac Gallen. That is why they are coincidentally and sneakily, also looking at starting pitcher Lucas Giolito from the White Sox. Taking Giolito out of the market, before the Dodgers or Giants make a move, could give Arizona a scary edge for the rest of the year if they do not have to give up much of their younger talent.
