Ken Rosenthal says we could see trades in June and the calendar says believe him
The trade deadline is still nearly two months away, but one of the most plugged-in reporters in the sport thinks the action might start early. Ken Rosenthal floated the idea that teams will not wait, and given how many clubs already know what they are, it is easy to believe him.
Speaking on Foul Territory, Rosenthal said “you will see teams try. We may see a move or two in June. I would not be surprised by that,” noting the Pirates want bullpen help and the Red Sox are hunting a right-handed bat.
Why an early move makes sense
The logic is sound. Plenty of teams have already separated into clear buyers and clear sellers two months into the season, and a contender that identifies a specific need has no reason to wait until August and pay a premium in a crowded market. Getting ahead of the deadline means more selection and less competition, and a struggling team that knows it is selling can cash in a useful piece while another club is desperate enough to overpay early.
Why the deadline usually wins anyway
The counter is history. The vast majority of meaningful trades happen in the final days before the deadline, because sellers want to squeeze every last bidder and buyers want to be sure they are actually contending before mortgaging the future. June deals tend to be smaller, role-player swaps rather than the blockbusters that move the sport. Tarik Skubal, the biggest name out there, is also working back from elbow surgery, which pushes any serious pursuit of him toward late July regardless.
How June plays out
Rosenthal is right in spirit, and the timeline is the only quibble. A small move or two in June is very plausible, with bullpen help for a team like the Pirates or a bat for the Red Sox the most likely kind of early action. The franchise-altering deals, the Skubal sweepstakes chief among them, will still wait for the deadline. Expect appetizers in June and the main course in late July, which is more or less exactly what he said.
