Some observers suggested that the seven-time All-Star was falling victim to age, making it seem unlikely that he would return to his previous form as a dominant hitter who posed challenges for pitchers over the past decade. However, Goldschmidt’s transition to New York has revitalized his career: he entered the weekend with an impressive .323/.380/.471 batting line and a 141 OPS+, contributing significantly to the first-place Yankees in 2025.
The takeaway? A change in environment can sometimes be the catalyst for a player to rediscover their form. Numerous players are struggling this season—or have been for multiple years—who might benefit from a fresh start with a different team.
With the Trade Deadline approaching in eight weeks, let’s examine eight players (listed alphabetically) who might find themselves in this situation.
All statistics are current through Thursday.
The Angels are currently below .500 and face significant obstacles in a competitive AL postseason race. With Detmers heading into his second of four arbitration years this winter, he may still attract interest from other teams as a potential starter. After posting a 3.77 ERA in 25 starts during his age-22 season in 2022—and a no-hitter—he followed that with a 4.48 ERA in 28 starts in 2023. While he struggled significantly last season, he’ll turn 26 next month. His early career success could entice teams to take a chance on him as a long-term starter.
Christian Encarnacion-Strand, 1B/DH, Reds
Encarnacion-Strand hasn’t managed to replicate the success he found as a rookie in 2023, where he posted a slash line of .270/.328/.477 with 13 homers and 37 RBIs. In 44 games since the start of 2024, he’s only managed a .179/.208/.295 line with four home runs and 21 RBIs. However, he performed well in Triple-A, giving the Reds hope that he can still contribute after returning from the injured list (he homered in last Friday’s suspended game). His health, which has been an issue, will be crucial moving forward.
Jarred Kelenic, OF, Braves
Kelenic was once listed among top baseball prospects, debuting on MLB Pipeline’s Top 100 list in 2019. After a promising 2023, where he hit 11 home runs with a .746 OPS, his trade to the Braves has not panned out well. Since the start of 2024, he has a .222/.279/.381 line with 17 homers and 47 RBIs. His path to playing time has diminished following the addition of Alex Verdugo and Eddie Rosario. Kelenic’s struggles continued prior to his demotion to Triple-A, leaving teams pondering whether a fresh start elsewhere could be beneficial.
