One move each AL Central team must make before the trade deadline
The MLB trade deadline is July 30 at 6 p.m. ET, and because several teams are in the mix for a wild-card spot, it promises to be the most intriguing day of the season.
The AL Central wasn’t considered much of a postseason threat entering the season, but it’s now July and three teams hold playoff spots. While the Chicago White Sox and Detroit Tigers are expected to be sellers, the Cleveland Guardians, Minnesota Twins and Kansas City Royals are poised to make upgrades.
With that in mind, here is one move each AL Central team must make ahead of the trade deadline.
Chicago White Sox (24-62)
The move: Trade LHP Garrett Crochet
The lowly White Sox are set to hold the biggest fire sale of this year’s trade deadline. According to ESPN’s Jeff Passan, Chicago is open to trading star outfielder Luis Robert Jr. and fireballer Crochet. Even though Robert would fetch a massive haul in a trade, moving the 26-year-old isn’t as much of a necessity as trading Crochet is.
Since there are many teams vying for a wild-card spot, it’s hard to predict which starting pitchers will be available at the deadline. This could pave the way for the former first-round pick Crochet to become the most sought pitcher on the trade market.
A converted reliever, Crochet has excelled in his first opportunity as a starter at the MLB level, ranking 17th in innings (101.1), 14th in ERA (3.02) and first in strikeouts (141).
As the type of talent who can potentially swing a playoff series, Crochet should draw the most interest from top contending teams. White Sox GM Chris Getz would be wise to deal Crochet to teams who boast elite farm systems and are expected to be aggressive at the deadline, namely the Baltimore Orioles and Los Angeles Dodgers.
Cleveland Guardians (52-30)
The move: Acquire Blue Jays RHP Chris Bassitt
The Guardians, owners of the best winning percentage in the American League (.634), would benefit from adding another outfielder at the deadline, such as Oakland’s Brent Rooker. Even so, Cleveland has a deep enough lineup to make noise in the postseason, but its starting rotation is undoubtedly the team’s Achilles’ heel.
Guardians starters have posted a 4.41 ERA this season, the fourth worst in the AL, and have only pitched 418 innings, the fourth fewest in MLB. Although it’s unclear how the starting pitching market will shape up in the coming weeks, it may be difficult for the Guardians to acquire a top arm because their division rivals have the best available options. Nonetheless, the best move isn’t always the flashiest, and landing an innings-eater like Bassitt could give the team the boost it needs.
Bassitt, who has two seasons remaining on his current contract, will likely be one of the players Toronto dangles at the deadline, and for good reason. The 35-year-old has a 3.24 ERA this season, the lowest among Blue Jays starters, and a 1.37 WHIP in 97.1 innings pitched. With the load Bassitt can shoulder, Cleveland’s dominant bullpen (MLB-best 2.50 ERA) would consistently get ample rest to become that much more imposing.
