MLB Trade Deadline: 5 Teams Who Should be the Biggest Sellers

Washington Nationals

The Washington Nationals were flirting with the .500 for a bit this season, but leading into the All-Star break, they just fell off a cliff. There are plenty of reasons to be excited about the Nationals' future with CJ Abrams's emergence, the arrival of James Wood, and a deep farm system, but they aren’t there yet. The Nationals don’t have many high-level players to sell off, but guys like Lane Thomas and Kyle Finnegan will be sought after and could fetch decent returns to continue to add to the Nats’ organizational depth.

Chicago White Sox

What are the Chicago White Sox even trying to accomplish? They are nothing short of a complete organizational failure. While they can’t continually trade away every good player they develop, it’s hard to see this team contending anytime soon. Garrett Crochet has become one of, if not the hottest names on the trade market as he’s been one of the AL’s top pitchers this season, and the White Sox could end up with a massive haul of prospects in return for him. Luis Robert Jr.’s name is also in the headlines as an available bat, and a trade for him could quickly turn into a bidding war. If the White Sox had any organizational direction or continuity, seeing what they do with all the prospects they could get would be exciting.

Chicago Cubs

After a solid start to the season, the Chicago Cubs have fallen off a cliff and seem out of the NL Central race, but reports are that the Cubs are looking to buy, not sell, at the trade deadline. I partly understand that after they just handed Craig Counsell all this money to manage the team, but on the field, it’s obvious they aren’t good enough. Why go all-in on a roster that can’t compete with the NL’s best? Trading away guys like Cody Bellinger and Ian Happ would be wise, and some outfield-needy team would overpay for them, especially in Happ’s case.

Toronto Blue Jays

The Toronto Blue Jays have kept trotting out the same club year after year, expecting different results, but what the Blue Jays have won’t ever be good enough to contend in the AL. The AL East will be a force for years, so if the Toronto Blue Jays were wise, they would sell off their best players early rather than be too late when the team is inevitably not good enough next year. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and the Jays have been unable to agree on a contract extension, so putting him on the market could fetch the Jays a type of return that would reshape their farm system. Bo Bichette also should be on the market amid his down season, and on the mound, Yusei Kikuchi seems to be the most likely guy to be traded away.

Washington Nationals

The Washington Nationals were flirting with the .500 for a bit this season, but leading into the All-Star break, they just fell off a cliff. There are plenty of reasons to be excited about the Nationals' future with CJ Abrams's emergence, the arrival of James Wood, and a deep farm system, but they aren’t there yet. The Nationals don’t have many high-level players to sell off, but guys like Lane Thomas and Kyle Finnegan will be sought after and could fetch decent returns to continue to add to the Nats’ organizational depth.