Good morning, folks…the MLB Trade Deadline is 5:00 p.m. Central today, July 31, 2025, and we had activity around the league last night.

The biggest move is Arizona Diamondbacks third baseman returning to the Seattle Mariners, from whence he came. Seattle is reportedly sending prospects Tyler Locklear, Juan Burgos and Hunter Cranton to Arizona in this deal.

Suarez, 34, was acquired by the Diamondbacks from the Mariners after the 2023 season in exchange for Carlos Vargas and Seby Zavala, as the M’s looked to have more contact and less Ks in their lineup.

Now, the Mariners are re-acquiring Suarez, who is a free agent at season’s end, and is slashing .248/.320/.576 on the year. Suarez is considered a poor defender at third base, but he can mash, and the M’s will probably end up getting him a fair amount of time at DH anyway.

Locklear is the #14 prospect in a loaded Seattle system, per BA. A 24 year old first baseman, he is slashing .316/.401/.542 in AAA, and was the M’s second round pick in 2022 out of VCU. He had just been called up to the big leagues yesterday, but now will apparently be heading to the desert.

Burgos, 25, is a righthanded reliever who is #25 on the BA board. He has a 0.87 ERA in 31 innings between AA and AAA this year, and allowed three runs in 6.2 IP over four appearances in the majors this year.

Cranton, 24, was Seattle’s third round pick in 2024, though he was a college senior who was a way-below-slot signee, getting a $50,000 bonus. He has missed most of this season after getting hit in the head on a batted ball in spring training.

The New York Mets acquired St. Louis Cardinals closer Ryan Helsley last night for minor leaguers Jesus Baez, Nathan Dohm and Frank Elissalt. Helsley is a free agent after the season, and we had speculated that he was someone the Rangers might be interested in.

Helsley was very good for St. Louis from 2022-24, but has not been as sharp this year — he has a 3.00 ERA and 3.51 FIP, after putting up a 1.83 ERA and 2.35 FIP the previous three years, and has an xERA of 3.51. His home run rate is the highest it has been since 2020, when he pitched just 12 innings, and his K rate is the lowest it has been since 2021.

Baez is a 20 year old shortstop who is #6 on the BA board for the Mets. He has put up a .242/.334/.390 slash line, with 36 walks against 52 Ks, in 320 plate appearances this year, mostly in high-A. BA says he’s likely going to have to move off shortstop long-term, but note that he earns raves for his attitude and work ethic.

Dohm is a 22 year old righthanded pitcher who is #25 on BA’s Mets list. He was taken in the third round last year out of Mississippi State, and has a 2.87 ERA in 17 starts and a relief appearance between low-A and high-A.

Elissalt is a 23 year old righthanded pitcher who was the Mets’ 19th round pick in 2024. He has a 3.04 ERA in 56.1 IP over 20 appearances between low-A and high-A.

Other deals of note:

The Boston Red Sox acquired starting pitcher Steven Matz from the Cardinals for first baseman Blaze Jordan. Matz is a free agent after this season. Jordan was the third round pick of Boston in 2020, and is at AAA.

The Houston Astros, dealing with injuries in their infield, acquired utility infielder Ramon Urias from the Orioles for pitcher Twine Palmer. Urias is slashing .248/.300/.388, and has played primarily third base of late — a position of need for Houston, given Isaac Paredes is out for a while. Palmer, 20, was the Astros’ 19th round pick last year out of Connors State College, and has a 2.13 ERA in 13 appearances covering 42.1 IP at low-A this year.

The Chicago Cubs acquired pitcher Mike Soroka from the Nationals for minor leaguers Christian Franklin and Ronny Cruz. Soroka has a 4.87 ERA in 16 starts this year, with a 4.11 FIP.

The Rays, Reds, and Dodgers did a three way trade, with Zack Littell going from the Rays to the Reds, the Dodgers getting Adam Serwinowski, Paul Gervase, and Ben Rortvedt, and the Rays getting Hunter Feduccia and Brian Van Belle. Littell, who was in Round Rock early in 2023, was sold to the Red Sox in May of 2023, and then was claimed on waivers by the Rays later that season, has a .360 ERA in 51 starts since the start of 2024. He is a free agent after the season.