Former GM Calls MLB Trade Deadline 'The Most Bizarre I Can Remember'

Newsweek

a day ago

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Circumstances beyond the control of major league teams have conspired to create a confounding week for MLB executives looking to improve their teams' fortunes before Thursday's trade deadline.
Jim Bowden of MLB Network on SiriusXM and The Athletic, writing on his Twitter/X account Tuesday, rattled off a variety of unusual issues that combine to make this year's deadline "the most bizarre I can ever remember."
This is most bizarre trade deadline I can ever remember: some of best starting pitchers having subpar yrs incl: Cease,Gallen,Alcantara; the best closer Clase on Admin leave; the best Pwr hitter Suarez gets HBP; the best 2 CF Robert and Mullins struggle & best avail DH Ozuna… — Jim Bowden⚾️ (@JimBowdenGM) July 29, 2025
Those issues include:
· Three of the best starting pitchers reported to be made available in trades — San Diego Padres right-hander Dylan Cease, Arizona Diamondbacks right-hander Zac Gallen, and Miami Marlins right-hander Sandy Alcantara — are suffering through arguably the worst seasons of their careers.
· Cleveland Guardians closer Emmanuel Clase, whom Bowden reported was available in trades last week, was placed on paid administrative leave by MLB on Monday while the league investigates unusual betting activity related to his on-field performance.
· Eugenio Suarez, who is tied for the MLB lead in RBIs, was injured Monday when he was hit by a pitch in the Diamondbacks' game in Detroit, leaving his health in doubt just three days before Thursday's 6 p.m. ET deadline.
· Center fielders Luis Robert of the Chicago White Sox and Cedric Mullins of the Baltimore Orioles, both Silver Slugger Award winners in the past, are hitting .205 and .221, respectively.
· Three-time All-Star Marcell Ozuna, who's hitting .233 himself, can block any trade because of his veteran status (players with 10 years in the league, and five with their current team, have the right to veto any trade).
More news: MLB Puts Guardians All-Star on Paid Leave in Connection With Gambling Probe
None of these factors suggest Thursday will be an exciting trade deadline — or, at least, one in which several big-name stars change teams. Most if not all of the best available players are struggling in one way or another.
Zac Gallen #23 of the Arizona Diamondbacks looks on from the mound with teammates Eugenio Suarez #28 and catcher Gabriel Moreno #14 prior to leaveg a game against the New York Mets in the first...
Zac Gallen #23 of the Arizona Diamondbacks looks on from the mound with teammates Eugenio Suarez #28 and catcher Gabriel Moreno #14 prior to leaveg a game against the New York Mets in the first inning at Citi Field on May 30, 2024 in New York City. MoreBaseball executives sometimes struggle with decisiveness as it is. Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reported Tuesday that four teams just outside the postseason bubble — the San Francisco Giants, Los Angeles Angels, Tampa Bay Rays and Texas Rangers — haven't signaled to other teams whether they will buy or sell.
More news: Yankees Make Trade, Send Veteran Pitcher to Atlanta Ahead of Trade Deadline
A year ago, 11 trades were executed the day before the deadline and 32 on the day the clock ran out, according to Baseball Reference (via Cespedes Family BBQ on Twitter/X).
using @baseball_ref transaction data, here's a look at how many trades have been made on each day leading up to the trade deadline over the past 25 years
quantity of trades has soared recently, so we're basically guaranteed to have a flurry of activity over the final 48 hours pic.twitter.com/jcjfP34UYO — Céspedes Family BBQ (@CespedesBBQ) July 29, 2025
The quantity of deals made Thursday might be large, but the quality remains questionable.
Bowden, the former Washington Nationals and Cincinnati Reds, reported Tuesday that Alcantara's market is heating up in spite of his performance, and "there is a real chance he gets traded by Thursday."
More news: Brewers Make Trade to Acquire Veteran Catcher From AL East Contender
So while industry executives froth over a pitcher with a 6.66 ERA (Alcantara), fans can be forgiven for their ambivalence.
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