MLB trade deadline: Teams desperate to make a move - ESPN

The trade market this year is a little like grocery store shelves just before a major snowstorm: mostly empty, with buyers frantically grabbing something that looks good rather than leaving empty-handed. There are very few teams unloading players, and even some of the available ones, executives say, are complicated by injury history.

Some of the biggest needs have been satiated with the first wave of trades on Thursday and Friday. The Seattle Mariners got a hitter in outfielder Randy Arozarena. The Baltimore Orioles pulled in a starting pitcher, Zach Eflin, who can help them this year and next. And the Boston Red Sox reacquired someone they know well, lefty James Paxton, as well as catcher Danny Jansen to add some thump.

But lots of desperation remains. Who are the most desperate teams to bring in fresh blood?

1. New York Yankees

Brian Cashman, the Yankees' general manager, was reminded this weekend about his most desperate need: On Friday night, Aaron Boone's bullpen melted down, surrendering a three-run lead in the last three innings; Aaron Judge's three-run, 470-foot homer wasn't enough. The Yankees have typically built strong, deep bullpens in recent years, but that has not been the case in 2024. The Yankees could use a high-end reliever, but really, they need two bullpen arms (they could really use a left-hander; they were in the conversations for the Marlins' A.J. Puk before that lefty was swapped to Arizona).

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But the Yankees' needs don't stop there. The ex-Yankee Luis Severino noted that lately, the team's offense has been largely reliant on Juan Soto and Judge, and even with better swings from the likes