Last-Minute Blockbuster MLB Trade Pitches Before 2025 Season

The end of spring training isn't normally a time for attention-grabbing trades, but we just got one that sent a former playoff hero from Atlanta to Anaheim.

So, what the heck? Let's assume that anything can happen and pitch a few last-minute blockbusters before the season opens on Thursday.

It would be silly to get too carried away here, so on the docket are just six trade proposals. Each in its own way is realistic, concerning reasonably available players and teams that need to have them.

Let's start with a relatively minor blockbuster and end with a truly seismic one.

Note: Farm system and prospect rankings are courtesy of B/R's Joel Reuter.

Trade Proposal: Baltimore Orioles get RHP Bobby Miller, Los Angeles Dodgers get OF Vance Honeycutt (Orioles No. 4)

Why It Works for Orioles

The Orioles weren't uninterested in replacing Corbin Burnes after he left to join the Arizona Diamondbacks. They were connected to legitimate aces throughout the winter, from Dylan Cease to Luis Castillo.

Nothing panned out, however, and Baltimore's rotation is worse for it. And since options are few and the club's payroll is bloated, an upside play may be its only hope.

Hence Miller, who was a sensation as a rookie in 2023. He certainly had ace-caliber pitches, ultimately tying for fifth among starters in Stuff+.

Miller's stock nose-dived in 2024, as he was sidelined by a shoulder issue in April and never really recovered. He's now on the outside looking in at the Dodgers' rotation, whereas he'd have a spot waiting for him in Baltimore.

Why It Works for the Dodgers

True, the Dodgers started last year with a ton of pitching yet were short-handed by the end because of injuries. Hoarding arms may be their best play for 2025.

Even if they do, though, Miller isn't the next man up as things stand now. He's been sent to the minors, and the Dodgers may first call on Tony Gonsolin and Clayton Kershaw if they're healthy when a need arises.

With this trade, the Dodgers would instead do Miller, who turns 26 on April 5, the solid of a change of scenery.

As for Honeycutt, he's a 21-year-old who has plus speed and power but a below-average bat. The Dodgers could hope to fix that and turn him into a fixture in center field down the road.

Trade Proposal: Boston Red Sox get RHP Triston McKenzie, Cleveland Guardians get 2B Vaughn Grissom

Why It Works for the Red Sox

Alas, poor Grissom. He arrived in Boston hoping to justify the Chris Sale trade, and he's instead gone from struggling in 2024 to sidelined in 2025.

Not that the Red Sox necessarily mind right now, of course. Grissom's flop this spring opened the door at second base for Kristian Campbell, who will start the season as a contender for the AL Rookie of the Year.

What the Red Sox need in the meantime is more pitching. Lucas Giolito, Brayan Bello and Kutter Crawford are opening the year on the IL, a rather rough introduction for a rotation that is high on upside and low on durability.

McKenzie would at least be another option, and he has some upside in his own right. He had a sub-3.00 ERA over 191.1 innings in 2022, and he's still just 27.

Why It Works for the Guardians

The Guardians used to have Andrés Giménez at the keystone, but he's in Toronto now and the default at the position is...Gabriel Arias?

It might have been Tyler Freeman, but the Guardians sent him to the Colorado Rockies for Nolan Jones on Saturday. Second base doesn't look stronger as a result, with FanGraphs projecting the position to produce just 1.9 WAR.

Grissom, 24, is at least another possibility for second base, and Cleveland could hope to capitalize on whatever hunger he would be feeling after flopping in Boston. Also, he was a .330 hitter at Triple-A as recently as 2023.

As for McKenzie, he's already been demoted from the rotation to the bullpen. Not undeservedly, mind you, but he likewise could use a change of scenery.

Trade Proposal: New York Mets get LHP Jordan Montgomery, Arizona Diamondbacks get RF Starling Marte

Why It Works for the Mets

The Mets absolutely have an offense worthy of a World Series run. But the pitching...well, it's not good.

It was a weak spot even before camp opened, and now Sean Manaea and Frankie Montas are hurt and guys like Paul Blackburn and Tylor Megill have been humbled this spring.

Pickings are slim on the trade market as aces go, but Montgomery at least offers readily available innings. And maybe, just maybe, some upside as well.

Yes, he had a bad year in 2024 and is set to pitch out of the bullpen for Arizona in 2025. But in case anyone's forgotten, he had a 3.20 ERA over 188.2 innings in 2023 and he was a postseason hero by the end of the year.

Why It Works for the Diamondbacks

Diamondbacks owner Ken Kendrick famously regrets signing Montgomery, but he was powerless to stop the lefty from exercising a $22.5 million option for this year.

To this end, swapping Montgomery's salary for Marte's $20.8 million salary would save the Snakes a little money. And between the two, Marte is the more immediately useful player.

He doesn't have a clear role to play in New York, where Juan Soto is in right field and Jesse Winker figures to see most of the reps at DH. The Diamondbacks, however, could platoon him at both spots.

It would be a good role for Marte, who notably had an .844 OPS against lefties in 2024.

Trade Proposal: Houston Astros get 3B Nolan Arenado, St. Louis Cardinals get RHP Lance McCullers Jr., RHP Miguel Ullola (Astros No. 6)

Why It Works for the Astros

The Astros thought they had a deal for Arenado in December, only for the 10-time Gold Glover to say "nope" as punishment for the Kyle Tucker trade.

Houston was nonetheless checking back in as recently February. This was a couple weeks before manager Joe Espada confirmed Jose Altuve as his new left fielder, a move that has all of us going, "Um, are you sure about that?"

Trading for Arenado wouldn't necessarily alter the Altuve scheme, but it would upgrade the Astros in the aggregate.

If they had Arenado to man third base, they could move Isaac Paredes to second base and keep using Gold Glover Mauricio Dubón as a utility player. And who knows? Daikin Park could be just what Arenado needs to revive his bat.

Why It Works for the Cardinals

If the Cardinals do this deal, their primary motivation would be clearing salary.

Whereas they owe Arenado $64 million through 2027, McCullers' contract has $34.4 million remaining through 2026. As he hasn't pitched since 2022, there probably isn't much to be gained from the latter at this point.

This, of course, is where Ullola enters the picture.

The 22-year-old righty is not a sure thing by any stretch, but he has a plus fastball and he's fresh off fanning 31.1 percent of the batters he faced in the minors last year. He clearly has ample merit as an upside play.

Trade Proposal: Detroit Tigers get CF Luis Robert Jr., Chicago White Sox get 3B/2B Jace Jung (Tigers No. 4, MLB No. 58)

Why It Works for the Tigers

The Tigers never did get the star hitter they craved during the winter, though it's hard to fault them. They made a legit push for Alex Bregman.

There are only so many ways for the Tigers to atone now, but trading for Robert is attainable in the abstract if nothing else. And given Parker Meadows' uncertain timeline and now an injury to Wenceel Pérez, the concept should be on the table.

Robert is an injury risk in his own right, having played in 100 or fewer games in three of the last four seasons. Yet he's dynamic when he's right, particularly as he showed with a 38-homer, 20-steal, 5.3-WAR season in 2023.

Would the Tigers really sacrifice Jung to get Robert? Perhaps it's a reach, but bear in mind that the 27-year-old Robert need not be a rental. His contract has $20 million club options for 2026 and 2027.

Why It Works for the White Sox

With Garrett Crochet gone, Robert is the last big piece for the White Sox to deal as they seek to further flesh out their farm system.

To this end, there is risk in holding on to him. There's also risk in trading him now, but at least now he has .966 OPS and four homers on his line for spring training.

As for Jung, Joel is seemingly higher on him than most. MLB Pipeline, for example, has him outside the top 100 and at No. 7 within Detroit's system.

Yet despite questions about where he fits defensively, Jung is going to hit. He certainly has in the minors, posting a .845 OPS over three seasons.

Trade Proposal: New York Yankees get RHP Sandy Alcantara, Miami Marlins get RHP Will Warren, OF Spencer Jones (Yankees No. 2, MLB No. 100), SS George Lombard Jr. (Yankees No. 4)

Why It Works for the Yankees

To say it has been a brutal spring for Yankees pitchers would be understating it. Gerrit Cole is done for the year, and Luis Gil may not be back until June.

Given these things and how much their offense figures to miss Juan Soto, making a big trade for a proper ace may be the only way the Yankees can save their season. And unless the Padres are still open to moving Dylan Cease, Alcantara may be their only practical option.

The 2022 NL Cy Young Award winner looks as good post-Tommy John surgery as he did before it. He's cranked up the heat this spring, in the process pitching 12.1 scoreless innings.

This is not a light package the Yankees would be giving up, but the rub is obvious: Beyond being very, very good, Alcantara's contract is guaranteed for 2026 with a $21 million club option for 2027.

Why It Works for the Marlins

Sure, the Marlins could hold on to Alcantara and hope that he jacks his trade value even higher throughout the year.

They'd be risking injury with that approach, however, and it's not as if they need to find out where they stand in the NL East. Coming off a 100-loss season, this year is all about rebuilding.

In the interests of full disclosure, this is not the first time I've pitched this trade. It's frankly the best the Yankees can reasonably do, though it wouldn't necessarily be a case of them stealing Alcantara from Miami.

Warren is ready to start in the majors right now, and both Jones and Lombard showed flashes of potential stardom this spring. And if the Marlins need anything, it's high-upside offensive prospects.

Stats courtesy of Baseball Reference, FanGraphs and Baseball Savant.