From Zac Gallen to Eugenio Suárez, here are five trade deadline deals that could reshape the 2025 MLB postseason race.
In July, every game tightens. Every pitch, every swing, every win — they start to matter more. For teams with playoff dreams, the MLB trade deadline becomes something more than strategy. It becomes a mirror. Do you believe in what you’ve built? Are you ready to bet on what’s possible, not just what’s proven?
For five clubs — the Cubs, Red Sox, Mets, Tigers, and more — the answer might come down to one move. Just one. A starter. A reliever. A veteran bat. These are the deals that could define October. Here are five we want to see.
Cubs Push In — Zac Gallen, Come Home
Chicago has already built something special. They’ve led the NL Central behind a lineup that ranks among the most potent in baseball. But without Justin Steele, and with Shota Imanaga working back from injury, the Cubs are walking a tightrope on the mound.
Enter Zac Gallen. The numbers in 2025 aren’t his best, but the pedigree is undeniable. An All-Star starter. A Cy Young finalist. Gallen doesn’t just fill a hole — he changes a ceiling. And if the Diamondbacks falter, Chicago should pounce.
Sandy Alcántara, Nasty 91mph Changeup. 👌 pic.twitter.com/b7Je0kJcYJ
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) June 10, 2025
Jed Hoyer has the depth and the urgency. The Cubs don’t need potential; they need presence. Gallen would give them both — and perhaps the push they need to make a deep run.
Verdict: Cubs trade for Zac Gallen
Red Sox Get Serious — A Frontline Arm for a Reignited Core
Boston’s rebuild has bloomed faster than expected. Mayer, Anthony, Campbell — the kids are alright. But good vibes alone won’t win a pennant. Not without arms to back it up.
Garrett Crochet has pitched like a Cy Young candidate, but the rest of the rotation has been inconsistent. If Boston wants to signal it’s ready to contend, the deadline is its loudest moment to do so.
Sandy Alcántara, Nasty 91mph Changeup. 👌 pic.twitter.com/b7Je0kJcYJ
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) June 10, 2025
The Red Sox don’t just need a warm body — they need a frontline starter. Whether it’s a resurgent Sandy Alcantara or a risk-reward play like Shane Bieber, they have to make the leap. The time to sort the future has ed. The present is calling.
Verdict: Red Sox acquire a top starter like Sandy Alcantara
Mets Build the Bridge — Seth Halvorsen Anchors the Bullpen
The Mets’ offense has shown signs of life, and their rotation — while imperfect — has held steady. But the bridge from starter to closer? It’s crumbling.
Seth Halvorsen might not be a household name yet, but his arm speaks volumes. A fastball that touches triple digits. A ground-ball rate in the 92nd percentile. Youth, upside, and under team control — the kind of move that pays dividends in September and beyond.
Seth Halvorsen, 101mph Paint. 🖌️🎨 pic.twitter.com/86i4iCFfju
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) September 17, 2024
The Mets don’t need a blockbuster. They need reliability. In Halvorsen, they’d get a weapon. And maybe, just maybe, another reason to believe.
Verdict: Mets trade for Seth Halvorsen
Tigers Rekindle the Flame — Eugenio Suárez Comes Home
Detroit has danced on the edge of contention all season. A young, dynamic roster has made strides, but third base remains a gap too wide to ignore.
Eugenio Suárez knows this franchise. He debuted here. And now, he could return as the piece that pushes Detroit over the edge. Suárez brings pop, poise, and postseason experience. His average may waver, but his power remains — 30-homer potential in a playoff chase is a currency few teams can afford to ignore.
Detroit doesn’t need nostalgia. It needs production. Suárez delivers both.
Verdict: Tigers reacquire Eugenio Suárez
Phillies Close the Gap — Félix Bautista Slams the Door
They’ve built a winner in Philadelphia — not just with bats and bravado, but with belief. The Phillies play with a defiant edge, a team that has tasted October and wants more. And if there’s one thing they’re missing in 2025, it’s a cold-blooded closer.
Félix Bautista could be that answer. Back from Tommy John surgery and showing flashes of his former dominance, the 6-foot-8 flamethrower has once again become a problem for hitters. With 12 saves and a 3.32 ERA this season — and team control through 2027 — Bautista isn’t just a rental. He’s an investment in greatness.
Most saves in #Orioles history (since 1954):
1. Gregg Olson: 160
2. Zack Britton: 139
3. Jim Johnson: 122
4. Tippy Martinez: 105
5. Stu Miller: 99
6. Jorge Julio: 83
7. Randy Myers: 76
8. Eddie Watt: 74
9. Dick Hall: 60
10. Félix Bautista: 58pic.twitter.com/lYLup4tAZn— Jake Rill (@JakeDRill) May 31, 2025
Philadelphia has no interest in waiting. They’ve seen what an elite bullpen arm can do in the crucible of October. If the Orioles slip further from contention, this is the kind of deal that turns good teams into juggernauts — and silences stadiums in the ninth.
Verdict: Phillies trade for Félix Bautista
