MLB Trade Deadline Odds, Picks & Predictions: Ohtani Staying with Halos

The MLB trade deadline is just around the corner, and Sportsbook Review betting analyst Neil Parker shares his insights and picks after checking the available MLB odds from our best sports betting apps.

There are definitely clear buyers and sellers across the majors ahead of the MLB trade deadline on Aug. 1, and the Los Angeles Angels showed their hand and moved into buy mode Wednesday. 

The Halos acquired starting pitcher Lucas Giolito and right-handed reliever Reynaldo Lopez from the Chicago White Sox. So it’s all but guaranteed superstar Shohei Ohtani is set to stick around in Anaheim to take a run at a postseason berth.

But two National League clubs in the gray area could make this year’s deadline exciting.

The San Diego Padres and Chicago Cubs could be major players, but playoff aspirations might limit their impactful moves.

DraftKings pulled the MLB trade deadline markets for a number of high-profile players following the Giolito deal. The sportsbooks released new markets Thursday afternoon, though. 

Of course, Ohtani has been taken off the board after being -250 to stick with LA on Wednesday.

Editor's note: All picks of July 26.

MLB trade deadline picks

• Shohei Ohtani next team: Angels (-250 via DraftKings) ⭐⭐⭐
• Blake Snell next team: Padres (-200 via DraftKings) ⭐⭐⭐⭐
• Justin Verlander next team: Mets (-200 via DraftKings) ⭐⭐⭐⭐
• Max Scherzer next team: Mets (-235 via DraftKings) ⭐⭐⭐⭐
• Josh Hader next team: Padres (-180 via DraftKings) ⭐⭐⭐⭐

MLB trade deadline odds: Blake Snell 

Contract status: Unrestricted free agent following 2023 season.

If we know anything about the San Diego Padres, it’s that they can’t pin their poor play on NL Cy Young candidate Blake Snell. 

The 30-year-old southpaw has been dealing since the calendar flipped to June and padded his 6-2 record with a nasty 0.78 ERA and 13.3 strikeouts per nine innings. He’s back to his 2018 Cy Young form, and the Friars aren’t completely out of the playoff picture despite the underwhelming start to the campaign.

Simply put, a two-week heater would be all it took for San Diego to be back in the thick of the wild-card race, and the roster is loaded with starpower.

The DraftKings odds also reinforce the likelihood Snell sticks in SD.

MLB trade deadline odds: Cody Bellinger

Contract status: Mutual option for 2024 season with Cubs includes a $5.5 million buyout.

Senior writer Patrick Mooney of The Athletic suggested Bellinger will not be traded as long as the Chicago Cubs keep winning, and I agree.

Bellinger has an NL MVP award on his resume, won a World Series with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2020 and is a prototypical franchise cornerstone who just turned 28.

An upcoming four-game set against the St. Louis Cardinals will probably be the deciding factor. If the North Siders can’t close the gap in the standings, they should be able to move Bellinger for a king’s ransom if the right trading partner arrives at the table. 

MLB trade deadline odds: Marcus Stroman

Contract status: Opt-out option following 2023 season with Cubs.

There have been rumors of Stroman taking advantage of his opt-out option following the 2023 season, and he could end up being the best pitcher truly available ahead of the Aug. 1 trade deadline.

Additionally, I don’t anticipate many contenders balking at the option of bolstering their rotation by adding the 32-year-old righty. 

Stroman has slid slightly over his past five starts, but it’s hard to argue with his year-long 3.09 ERA, 57.8 ground-ball rate and 9.3 HR/FB percentage.

His start Wednesday could also impact his trade value and, thus, the likelihood he’s dealt.

MLB trade deadline odds: Paul Goldschmidt

Contract status: Unrestricted free agent following 2024 season.

The St. Louis Cardinals are reportedly keeping Goldschmidt and looking ahead to the 2024 season, and the DraftKings odds align with USA TODAY Sports Major League Baseball columnist Bob Nightengale.

Goldschmidt continues to produce high-end numbers, and St. Louis rebounding in 2024 isn’t far-fetched.

MLB trade deadline odds: Justin Verlander

Contract status: No-trade clause, vested option for 2025 season with Mets if 140 innings pitched in 2024.

I don’t anticipate the Mets trading Verlander. 

He’s rebounded from a slow start with a 1.98 ERA and 1.00 WHIP through his past eight starts, and there’s probably too much money remaining on his contract to make an easy swap. 

Plus, Verlander would also have to waive his no-trade clause, and he hasn’t been approached by general manager Billy Eppler about being moved.

MLB trade deadline odds: Max Scherzer

Contract status: no-trade clause and opt-out option following 2023 season with Mets.

I bet the Mets would love to trade Scherzer, but it could prove to be an incredibly tough sell, according to baseball columnist Jon Heyman of the New York Post.

• Scherzer would need to approve a deal
• Scherzer isn’t pitching to his contract
• The Mets would have to pay a significant chunk of Scherzer’s salary the next two years

I’m confident Scherzer continues pitching at Citi Field for the remainder of the season, and that he doesn’t opt out of another year of cushy pay days, either.

MLB trade deadline odds: Josh Hader

Contract status: Unrestricted free agent following 2023 season.

There’s still some time for the Padres to reevaluate and explore trade options for Hader, especially considering he’d be the best reliever on the market if made available.

I just don’t see San Diego giving up on their stars after making it to the NLCS last season.

MLB trade deadline odds: Eduardo Rodriguez

Contract status: Opt-out option following 2023 season with Tigers.

Rodriguez’s opt-out option makes his trade outlook a little trickier to handicap. If he continues to pitch well following a trade, he’s likely to enter free agency following the 2023 campaign.

However, there’s also the potential the oft-injured lefty saddles a new team with another three years and $49 million in salary. Add Rodriguez looking shaky with a 5.66 ERA through four starts following a left index finger injury that cost him all of June, and there are too many balls in the air here.

MLB trade deadline odds: Tim Anderson

Contract status: Club option following 2023 season with White Sox includes $1 million buyout.

The two-time All-Star is set to be moved ahead of the deadline, and there are a number of teams seeking help up the middle.

Anderson’s batting .366 with a .422 on-base percentage through his past 10 games, and his larger sample from 2019 through 2022 shows off .318 and .347 marks.

It could change as the deadline approaches, but I don’t have a strong lean in this particular betting market.

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