2027 Trade Deadline: American League Buyers Edition

The 2027 deadline for team's hoping to make a playoff push is a little over 9 hours away. Calls are being made and prices negotiated. Seller's are still holding out hope for team's to meet their asks while buyers try to negotiate the best deal that works for them. There are several clubs who are already looking towards 2028 and beyond, but with the addition of an extra team in the postseason in each league and the elimination of the one game wildcard more teams are finding themselves still in the picture to add talent as the clock ticks down.

Here's a brief look at this year's buyers and where they could be looking to add.

The American League East

Toronto, Boston and the New York Yankees find themselves in the middle of a three team race for the East. The Yankees are returning three key pieces to their lineup in the coming week, Joey Gallo, Harrison Bader and Austin Meadows, with Corbin Martin and JJ Goss not far behind to help the pitching staff. My sense is that they may hope that that is enough of a trade deadline 'acquisition' in itself and see how the season plays out. Still, I think there's plenty of room to add another starting option to support Gerrit Cole and Martin in the rotation. Oakland's Grant Holmes and Texas' Johan Oviedo could be potential targets. The Red Sox have blossomed since General Manager Harris Lechtzier has come into the fold and currently would be the second Wild Card team in the American League. Only being 0.5 games behind Toronto in the East, the focus should be on stabilizing the rotation behind the big three of George Kirby, Jimmy Frick and Kerry Wright. Ki-heon Bang? Bang's sophomore season in the States has been a resurgence and my gut tells me that Seattle wants out of that contract. A change of scenery to a contender would likely only elevate Bang's performance even more and the cost, I would have to think, would have to be cheaper to acquire given his contract making this a worthwhile target. The Jays are leading the East once again as they will attempt to capture their first Division title since 2015 and make the postseason for the first time since 2023. Royce Lewis has escalated to a perennial MVP contender since arriving in Toronto and the staff has ranked amongst the best in the American League. With Jordan Lawlar and Brandon Marsh set to return in August, the Jays look like the most complete team in the East at this moment. If I were them? I'm calling Texas about Drew Waters or Nashville about Giancarlo Stanton to add to the already potent lineup.

The American League North

The Cleveland Spiders have a 6.5 game lead over the Detroit Tigers leading up the deadline with the Tigers claiming the first Wild Card spot. The Pirates are still in the Wild Card picture, but might deem their odds as too low to make any type of move of significance given they are six games back. The Spiders are one of the elite franchises over FTD's history and, like any other year, 2027 is no different. Their roster is star studded and they don't need to add anything. They will make the postseason and they will likely make another deep postseason run to defend their World Series title. Nolan Jones' name has been floated around for quite some time now as being available. It would undeniably make the Spiders squad a worse team for 2027 and bring them back to the pack a bit as you don't just plug in and replace 40+ home run production. Find me a better defensive team in FTD than the Tigers. You won't be able to. Their lineup is as complete as you'll find, led by Jo Adell's resurgence to MVP contention. Getting Casey Mize healthy and keeping him healthy into October has to be priority number one, but the bullpen could be upgraded on deadline day. Nick Bambini will have to get creative financially to accomplish this, but expiring deals with retention possible could be one route. Silvino Bracho, Joe Jimenez, Joely Rodriguez and Colton Hock could be names to monitor. The Pirates recently dealt Kyle Tucker away to create a roster spot 2024 first round pick Steve Richardson. I think it is more than likely that the Pirates ride the wave of their young talent for the remainder of 2027 before addressing the roster in this upcoming offseason than it is that they add any type of talent at the deadline. One off the radar name to watch with Izaac Pacheco's recent contract extension? Ed Howard. Can Pittsburgh extend two of their big, young stars to long term deals?

The American League South

Insert Vince Carter 'It's OVA!' gif here. The Colorado Rockies have run away with the South and will look to find a way to get to their first World Series as a member of the American League in this years postseason. Sitting 19.5 games ahead of the Kansas City Royals, the Rockies should be looking for a left handed bat to insert into their lineup, postseason weapons to utilize off their bench and a bullpen replacement for Jordan Holloway. Holloway was recently lost for the season with ulnar nerve entrapment. Montreal's Ryan McMahon could be a reunion consideration, but I'd look more towards Oakland's Carlos Aguiar, Baltimore's Matt Olson or Tristan Casas and the Dodgers' Cole Roederer as options.

The American League West

The San Francisco Giants have returned to form after a World Series hangover 2026 season. The Giants sit comfortably atop the West. Their 7.5 game lead ahead of the Minnesota Twins is the second largest in the American League. The Giants have the best pitching staff in the American League, bar none, and there's plenty of depth options looming in the minors in the event of injury. Despite how good the Giants have been, they've received virtually nothing from names like Marco Luciano and Heliot Ramos. Gabe Rincones has been one of the worst regulars in FTD this season. There are upgrades to be had in the San Francisco outfield and given the strength of their likely foes in the American League playoffs names like Texas' Drew Waters, Seattle's Garrett Mitchell and Oakland's Jose Azocar are names that make sense. I'm not sure which way the Twins will wind up going. The early consensus seems that they want to sell despite only being 1 game out of a Wild Card spot and not having made the postseason since 2023. The lineup is under the radar good, one of the best the American League has to offer. The pitching staff is what needs to be addressed. General Manager Justin Niles is going to have to think outside the box to do it given the Twins crunch on the cap, but starting options like Nashville's Bobby Miller, Los Angeles' Triston McKenzie, Texas' Johan Oviedo and Oakland's Grant Holmes and Parker Dunshee all offer rotation upgrades with (potential) limited salaries.