MLB trade rumors on Pirates, Diamondbacks, Rangers, and Yankees as deadline nears

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Here’s the latest MLB trade rumors for Wednesday.

The 2025 MLB Trade Deadline is hours away, and the rumors are flying.

Over the next 24-plus hours, teams will reshape their rosters in an effort to either push for a playoff run, or rebuild for next year.

Let’s dive into the latest MLB Trade Deadline rumors with one more day to go.

Pittsburgh Pirates need to be “blown away”

Two Pittsburgh Pirates pitchers — relief pitcher David Bendar and starter Mitch Keller — are getting a lot of interest as the deadline approaches.

But the Pirates might need to be blown away with trade offers for either pitcher, and one in particular might not be moved at all.

According to Noah Hiles of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, the asking price for Bendar would be a “top-five prospect,” as Hiles told The PM Team on 93.7 The Fan. Bendar was sent down to the minors for a brief five-game stint earlier this season, but has rebounded since then and collected 17 saves while posting an ERA of 2.37 and a WHIP of 1.105.

The closer has been linked with teams including the Rangers, the Phillies, and the Tigers.

As for Keller, who has been a subject of trade rumors for weeks, Hiles believes that Pirates general manager Ben Cherington might hold onto him through the deadline and revisit trading him in the offseason.

“It sounds like the Pirates are looking toward moving Mitch Heller in the offseason,” Hiles told The PM Team before adding, “unless they’re blown away.”

Hiles believes the Pirates would want a “bat that is as consistent as Keller is as a pitcher.” The right-hander is in the middle of a career season, with an ERA of 3.69 over 127 innings of work, and he is signed to a reasonable deal for a starting pitcher through 2028.

Arizona looking for an “astronomical” package for Eugenio Suárez

Arizona Diamondbacks slugger Eugenio Suárez is leading the majors with 87 RBI, a mark that has him among the most coveted bats on the trade block.

But the Diamondbacks are reportedly seeking an “astronomical” package for the veteran’s services.

According to Daniel Kramer of MLB.com, Arizona was asking for “multiple” Top-100 prospects from the Seattle Mariners, as the two teams discussed a potential deal before the Mariners reportedly pivoted to other trade targets.

Whether the Mariners or other interested teams, such as the Tigers, Cubs, Reds, Brewers, and Astros, pay such an “astronomical” price might come down to Suárez’s health. He was hit with a fastball on his right hand in a game against the Tigers Monday night, and while x-rays came back negative, he was not in the starting lineup for Tuesday.

The market for Sandy Alcantara is heating up

With several teams looking for pitching help, the market for Miami Marlins starting pitcher Sandy Alcantara is heating up, according to former general manager Jim Bowden:

Alcantara is working back from Tommy John surgery, which cost him all of the 2024 season. This year has not been kind ot Alcantara overall, as he is just 5-9 with an ERA of 6.66 and a WHIP of 1.433, but some recent starts could convince teams that he is slowly knocking off the rust, and is worth a trade before the deadline.

First came his outing against the San Diego Padres on July 23, where he went seven innings — his longest start this season — and did not allow an earned run, giving up just four hits.

Then on Tuesday night, in what might be his last start for the Marlins, Alcantara went five scoreless innings against the St. Louis Cardinals, allowing just four hits and striking out three.

Having those two starts right before the deadline certainly boosts his stock.

When you add in the fact that he is under contract through 2026 and has an option for 2027, any team acquiring him would have Alcantara under team control for multiple seasons. That too helps boost his stock.

Cardinals closer Ryan Helsley expects to be traded

The reliever market looks like the hottest position group ahead of the deadline, and one of the names on the list “expects” to be dealt.

St. Louis Cardinals closer Ryan Helsley said last week that he anticipates he will be traded before the deadline.

“It’s a little bit different this time The likelihood is probably as great as it’s ever been for me to get traded,” Helsley said last week. “I would say it’s 90% I go, 10% I stay.”

Among the teams vying for Helsley, who is 3-1 this year with 21 saves, along with an ERA of 3.00, a WHIP of 1.389, and a WAR of 1.1, are the Yankees, Mets, and Dodgers, according to Mark Feinsand of MLB.com.

Feinsand also notes that the Blue Jays are an option, even after trading for Seranthony Domínguez:

Steven Kwan and Luis Robert Jr. are likely OF trade candidates

According to Thomas Harrigan of MLB.com, a pair of All-Star outfielders out of the AL Central — Stevan Kwan with the Cleveland Guardians and Luis Robert Jr. of the Chicago White Sox — are expected to be dealt.

Earlier this month, many believed the Guardians would be buyers rather than sellers, making Kwan an unlikely trade candidate. But with closer Emmanuel Clase now on the “non-disciplinary paid leave” list through August 31 as part of a league investigation into sports betting, Cleveland is likely re-evaluating their Deadline plans.

That could mean Kwan, one of the league’s best contact hitters and a standout defender, will be on his way out of town. Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic listed the Dodgers, the Blue Jays, the Phillies, and the Padres as the teams believed to be interested.

As for Robert, who has slashed .318/.412/.545 with three homers and four steals in July as he comes back from his latest IL stint, Rosenthal believes the Mets, the Phillies, and the Padres are in the mix.

Both players are also controllable through the 2027 season. Robert’s 2025 salary is $15 million, with a pair of $20 million club options after that. Kwan’s 2025 salary is just $4.175 million, with two years of arbitration eligibility remaining after this season.

Rangers and Rays talking about closer Pete Fairbanks

July has not been kind to the Tampa Bay Rays. With their 7-6 loss to the New York Yankees on Tuesday night, the Rays are just 7-16 in the month of July, and now sit 8.5 games out in the AL East, and 3.5 games out in the Wild Card chase.

That might make the Rays sellers, and according to Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News the Rangers have cast a wide net in search of bullpen help, including “preliminary” talks with the Rays about Fairbanks.

The Rays closer has a 2.75 ERA with 18 saves in 21 opportunities in 39.1 innings of work. It would also be a homecoming of sorts for Fairbanks, who was drafted by the Rangers in the ninth round of the 2015 MLB Draft.