{"id":227709,"date":"2025-08-05T21:30:13","date_gmt":"2025-08-05T21:30:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/227709\/"},"modified":"2025-08-05T21:30:13","modified_gmt":"2025-08-05T21:30:13","slug":"10-players-to-watch-down-the-stretch-red-soxs-dustin-may-yankees-cam-schlittler-mariners-cole-young-and-more","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/227709\/","title":{"rendered":"10 players to watch down the stretch: Red Sox’s Dustin May, Yankees’ Cam Schlittler, Mariners’ Cole Young and more"},"content":{"rendered":"

Now that the dust has settled after a wildly busy trade deadline<\/a>, we have a clearer understanding of the rosters teams will be deploying for the remainder of the season. Across the league, contending teams have addressed needs with fresh faces, while non-competitive clubs have shipped off older players, yielding playing time for younger ones.<\/p>\n

Every summer, many players\u2019 outlooks and the lens through which they\u2019re viewed are altered by the whirlwind of trade activity. The fallout of the deadline can impact the trajectory of a player\u2019s career in myriad ways, whether or not a player himself is traded. With that in mind, here are 10 players I\u2019ll be watching closely down the stretch and how the deadline has impacted their roles and expectations moving forward.<\/p>\n

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OF Jesus Sanchez, Houston Astros<\/p>\n

While the undisputed headline of Houston\u2019s trade deadline was its stunning reunion with Carlos Correa, Sanchez\u2019s addition via trade with Miami is also a critical one for the Astros in their quest to secure yet another AL West title. With Kyle Tucker no longer around and star slugger Yordan Alvarez still on the injured list, the Astros\u2019 lineup has lacked any semblance of left-handed power this season. No team has hit fewer lefty homers<\/a> than Houston\u2019s measly total of 12: three from Alvarez, seven from switch-hitting catcher Victor Caratini, two from Taylor Trammell.<\/p>\n

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It\u2019s quite clear that Sanchez was added to address this severe hole in the roster. The 27-year-old is virtually unplayable against southpaws, but that\u2019s just fine; he simply needs to mash right-handers when called upon to help balance out a lineup that has become troublingly lopsided. That Sanchez ended up being the only key Marlin shipped out at the deadline is also a compelling subplot, as the outfielder was one of the longest-tenured Fish but no longer fit on a roster that features a host of up-and-coming position players. Now Sanchez is in a completely new setting tasked with filling an ultra-specific role for a team set on competing for a championship; can he rise to the occasion? We\u2019re about to find out.<\/p>\n

SP Dustin May, Boston Red Sox<\/p>\n

One of the clear themes of this year\u2019s deadline was the lack of starting pitching on the move<\/a>, with interested teams largely failing to meet the sky-high asking prices for impact arms. Boston was one of the primary contenders seeking high-end controllable starting pitching that was unable to secure a deal. Instead, the Red Sox managed to reel in two pitchers with notably less fanfare in lefty reliever Steven Matz and May.<\/p>\n

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Interestingly, May \u2014 who has missed a ton of time due to injury over the past handful of years \u2014 had been one of the Dodgers\u2019 most durable pitchers this season, but his inconsistency and the recent return of several higher-profile arms squeezed him out of the rotation. May faces significant questions about both his effectiveness (his 4.85 ERA ranks 73rd out of 85 pitchers with at least 100 innings) and how he\u2019ll manage his burgeoning workload (he just crossed the 100-inning threshold for the first time since 2019). But now he gets a fresh start of sorts in a Red Sox rotation that is also seeking stability.<\/p>\n

Dissatisfaction from the fan base regarding Boston\u2019s inability to land a higher-caliber starter<\/a> such as Joe Ryan is obviously not May\u2019s responsibility, but he might bear the brunt of that sentiment if he\u2019s unable to deliver reliable results. And even if Boston isn\u2019t explicitly counting on him to start a playoff game, each regular-season outing down the stretch will be pivotal, considering the elevated stakes of the AL postseason race. Add the fact that May is scheduled to hit free agency this winter, and these next few months will have an enormous impact on where his career goes from here \u2014 arguably even more so than if he had remained a Dodger.<\/p>\n

\"Cade<\/p>\n

Cade Horton of the Cubs and Dustin May of the Red Sox could be surprise contributors to the rotations of playoff hopefuls down the stretch. (Stefan Milic\/Yahoo Sports)<\/p>\n

SP Cade Horton, Chicago Cubs<\/p>\n

The Cubs were another team that reportedly made strong attempts to acquire impact starting pitching at the deadline, only to end up with a handful of rentals in Andrew Kittredge, Taylor Rogers and Michael Soroka. Soroka could be spotlighted for similar reasons to May, but I\u2019ll instead turn my focus to the rookie Horton, whose spot in the Cubs\u2019 rotation appears unbothered for now.<\/p>\n

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Horton has pitched quite well of late \u2014 four of his past five starts have been scoreless outings \u2014 but the Cubs might be facing a bit of a conundrum with him in the coming weeks. He has already thrown 102 \u2154 innings this season between the minors and majors, a massive increase over the 34 \u2153 frames he completed during an injury-marred 2024. That\u2019s a considerable jump in workload year-over-year for a young pitcher, the kind that might need to be monitored as the season progresses.<\/p>\n

With veterans Javier Assad and Jameson Taillon expected back in the coming weeks, perhaps Horton downshifts to a relief role down the stretch in an effort to manage his innings. On the flipside, Horton has looked like one of Chicago\u2019s best rotation options at times, so the Cubs might face some tough decisions about how to deploy him over the next couple of months, decisions that will be made only more difficult by the Cubs\u2019 not adding more rotation help at the deadline.<\/p>\n

SP Cam Schlittler, New York Yankees<\/p>\n

As evidenced by their bevy of moves to address their position-player depth and bullpen, the Yankees might not have viewed upgrading their rotation as a top priority at the deadline. But New York\u2019s starting staff is an unproven cast of characters beyond the headlining duo of southpaws Max Fried and Carlos Rodon, with Schlittler the most anonymous hurler of the bunch.<\/p>\n

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That we are even discussing the 24-year-old rookie righty as a viable rotation option is both a credit to his development and the result of a remarkable turn of events, considering the number of arms that were ahead of him on the depth chart entering the season. Yet here we are, with Gerrit Cole and Clarke Schmidt out for the season due to elbow surgery and veteran Marcus Stroman freshly released, leaving Schlittler a place in the rotation with the Yankees in the thick of a playoff race.<\/p>\n

Luis Gil\u2019s recent return from injury is encouraging, but it might take a while for him to rediscover his form. Will Warren, another rookie, has consistently found whiffs but not always enough outs. That leaves Schlittler and his high-90s heater as an unlikely key character for the Yankees just a handful of starts into his major-league career, even if the restocked bullpen should ease the burden on the starting staff to some extent. How Schlittler looks with each progressive outing could play a major role in determining the club\u2019s outlook come October.<\/p>\n

2B Cole Young, Seattle Mariners<\/p>\n

For the past two months, half of the Mariners\u2019 infield has consisted of rookies, with Young at the keystone and Ben Williamson at third base. Williamson acquitted himself well, considering his relative lack of minor-league experience, but his minimal offensive production ultimately made his position one worth upgrading, which Seattle accomplished with the acquisition of Eugenio Suarez<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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Young, meanwhile, arrived with much more acclaim than Williamson as a former first-round pick and top-100 prospect, but it took him some time to adjust to the highest level. He posted a .541 OPS over his first 30 games but seems to be finding his footing of late, hitting .264\/.391\/.491 in his past 18 games. That includes a titanic, 456-foot home run last week against Texas<\/a>, a rare display of raw power for a hitter known more for his contact ability and advanced approach.<\/p>\n

On paper, Young \u2014 the fourth-youngest position player in the big leagues, older than only Jackson Holliday, Roman Anthony and Jackson Chourio \u2014 is the most glaring weak spot in a suddenly loaded lineup with the additions of Suarez and another All-Star in first baseman Josh Naylor. But if Young can provide quality at-bats and even league-average production at the bottom of the order, it would make this offense all the more dangerous with October fast approaching. He might not be in Rookie of the Year discussions, but Young is one of the more important first-year players on any contending team right now.<\/p>\n

SP Quinn Priester, Milwaukee Brewers<\/p>\n

Acquired from Boston in a trade back in April, Priester might not count as a deadline acquisition but has been a tremendously valuable in-season add for the first-place Brew Crew<\/a>. The addition of a cutter and the complete removal of his four-seamer in favor of his sinker have helped Priester become the mid-rotation workhorse scouts envisioned when he was a first-round pick out of high school back in 2019.<\/p>\n

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The Brewers have won Priester\u2019s past 12 starts \u2014 a span in which he has posted a 2.45 ERA in 69 \u2154 innings \u2014 and Milwaukee\u2019s decision to trade away Nestor Cortes Jr. signified the team\u2019s confidence in Priester as the fifth starter. The 24-year-old right-hander might not rack up whiffs like his rotation mate, rookie sensation Jacob Misiorowski, but Priester is an elite groundball-getter<\/a> and an ultra-dependable presence whenever he\u2019s on the mound. He has suddenly become a crucial cog in Milwaukee\u2019s push for the NL Central title and could be a mainstay in the Brewers\u2019 rotation for years to come.<\/p>\n

1B\/3B Coby Mayo, Baltimore Orioles<\/p>\n

With Ryan Mountcastle still on the injured list and Ryan O\u2019Hearn dealt away, the runway is officially and finally clear for former top prospect Mayo to get regular reps at first base and DH for the Orioles.<\/p>\n

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But this window will not be open forever. The next wave of heralded young Baltimore bats (Samuel Basallo, Dylan Beavers) is already knocking on the big-league door and should be arriving in search of at-bats sooner rather than later, making it imperative for Mayo to seize the opportunity at hand before he ends up in limbo like the similarly hyped Heston Kjerstad.<\/p>\n

The 23-year-old has proven virtually all he can in Triple-A, but his dwindling defensive versatility \u2014 he has played just three games at third base and zero in the outfield with Baltimore this season \u2014 and lack of consistent production in the big leagues thus far paint an ominous picture for his future in the organization. But for a hitter as talented as Mayo, let\u2019s not be too hasty in discarding the possibility that his breakout is just around the corner.<\/p>\n

SS Brooks Lee, Minnesota Twins<\/p>\n

Another player who should benefit from the deadline departures around him, Lee is primed to take over at shortstop full-time for the Twins in the wake of Correa\u2019s trade to Houston. With the pitchers Minnesota opted not to trade (Ryan, Pablo Lopez, Bailey Ober) plus the new arms brought in (Taj Bradley, Mick Abel, Kendry Rojas), it\u2019s reasonable to hold a favorable projection for this Twins rotation, lending optimism that contention in 2026 is not so farfetched, even after a dramatic amount of roster turnover at this year\u2019s deadline.<\/p>\n

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However, beyond the face of the franchise Byron Buxton, it\u2019s less clear who the foundational pieces are on the offensive side of the ball, and Lee\u2019s seemingly stagnant development as a sophomore is a big part of that sobering reality. The switch-hitting Lee has struggled to find consistency from either side of the plate and has also rated poorly with the glove, leaving a lot to be desired from a player who was drafted eighth in 2022 and projected to be a core piece to build around in the infield. Lee still has a lot to prove in order to justify those forecasts, and now the pressure is on him to elevate his game or risk falling to the periphery of the organization’s plans moving forward.<\/p>\n

INF Ronny Mauricio, New York Mets<\/p>\n

There was some speculation that the Mets could deal from their surplus of young infielders (Mauricio, Brett Baty, Mark Vientos, Luisangel Acu\u00f1a) at the deadline in an effort to upgrade the roster elsewhere, but president of baseball operations David Stearns opted to trade away exclusively prospects, leaving this widely discussed group of players intact for at least the remainder of this season.<\/p>\n

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Since returning in June from the ACL injury that cost him all of 2024, Mauricio has been the primary third baseman against right-handers, with Baty at second base, Vientos handling the bulk of DH reps and Acu\u00f1a now back in Triple-A. Vientos was a difference-maker with the bat last season but has taken a sizable, if predictable, step back this year and was never a net positive with the glove. Baty has become a viable role player. But Mauricio stands out as the most intriguing of this group, the one who we still know the least about at the major-league level and, in turn, the one who is easiest to dream on in terms of his potential to make a meaningful impact on both sides of the ball.<\/p>\n

At his best, Mauricio could be a game-changing force toward the bottom of the Mets\u2019 lineup and one whose excellent arm could shine at the hot corner. Whether he projects as the Mets\u2019 long-term answer at third alongside Francisco Lindor at shortstop is a much larger question for the winter, but for now, Mauricio has the opportunity to play a huge role for the Mets in their quest to claim their first division title in a decade.<\/p>\n

INF JJ Wetherholt, St. Louis Cardinals<\/p>\n

Let\u2019s finish with a player yet to make his MLB debut in Wetherholt, who has been absolutely fantastic in his first full pro season after being selected seventh overall by St. Louis in last year\u2019s draft. A shortstop by nature who has also spent time at second base, Wetherholt played his first professional game at third over the weekend for the Triple-A Memphis Redbirds, a significant development when it comes to projecting his fit in the Cardinals\u2019 infield moving forward.<\/p>\n

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As expected, the Cardinals traded away a handful of pitchers at this year\u2019s deadline but opted to hang on to All-Star second baseman Brendan Donovan, despite inquiries from rival clubs about his availability. Donovan and the slick-gloved Masyn Winn are a terrific tandem up the middle for St. Louis to build around, but Wetherholt has raked his way into the conversation (1.179 OPS in 16 Triple-A games), necessitating an expansion of his defensive versatility to allow for a possible promotion to the big leagues before the end of the season. It might come amidst another mediocre season for St. Louis, but Wetherholt\u2019s call-up is one to anticipate among top prospects over the season\u2019s final two months, and he is unquestionably a hitter to get excited about entering 2026.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Now that the dust has settled after a wildly busy trade deadline, we have a clearer understanding of…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":227710,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2375],"tags":[1516,760,47,5,4806,141,48,2542,4492,358,1391,2223,735,20455,3225,2004,1216,583,12342,161,39,126,92,227,2281,1752,54,3875,1514,11714,5173,159,4942,1455,94,29,2277,2279,228,1553,108,778,1353,5158,59,60,4,61,62,1997,1559,2248,89,2543,793,4804,1359,65,673,67,1555,763,6922,9356,1567,3614,772,2264],"class_list":{"0":"post-227709","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-boston-red-sox","8":"tag-andrew-kittredge","9":"tag-bailey-ober","10":"tag-baltimore-orioles","11":"tag-baseball","12":"tag-ben-williamson","13":"tag-boston","14":"tag-boston-red-sox","15":"tag-bostonredsox","16":"tag-brendan-donovan","17":"tag-brett-baty","18":"tag-brooks-lee","19":"tag-byron-buxton","20":"tag-cade-horton","21":"tag-cam-schlittler","22":"tag-carlos-correa","23":"tag-carlos-rodon","24":"tag-clarke-schmidt","25":"tag-coby-mayo","26":"tag-cole-young","27":"tag-cubs","28":"tag-dodgers","29":"tag-dustin-may","30":"tag-eugenio-suarez","31":"tag-francisco-lindor","32":"tag-gerrit-cole","33":"tag-heston-kjerstad","34":"tag-houston-astros","35":"tag-jackson-chourio","36":"tag-jackson-holliday","37":"tag-jacob-misiorowski","38":"tag-jameson-taillon","39":"tag-javier-assad","40":"tag-jesus-sanchez","41":"tag-joe-ryan","42":"tag-josh-naylor","43":"tag-kyle-tucker","44":"tag-luis-gil","45":"tag-marcus-stroman","46":"tag-mark-vientos","47":"tag-masyn-winn","48":"tag-max-fried","49":"tag-miami","50":"tag-michael-soroka","51":"tag-mick-abel","52":"tag-milwaukee-brewers","53":"tag-minnesota-twins","54":"tag-mlb","55":"tag-new-york-mets","56":"tag-new-york-yankees","57":"tag-pablo-lopez","58":"tag-position-players","59":"tag-quinn-priester","60":"tag-red-sox","61":"tag-redsox","62":"tag-roman-anthony","63":"tag-ronny-mauricio","64":"tag-ryan-mountcastle","65":"tag-seattle-mariners","66":"tag-st-louis","67":"tag-st-louis-cardinals","68":"tag-steven-matz","69":"tag-taj-bradley","70":"tag-taylor-rogers","71":"tag-taylor-trammell","72":"tag-texas","73":"tag-victor-caratini","74":"tag-will-warren","75":"tag-yordan-alvarez"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"","error":"Validation failed: Text character limit of 500 exceeded"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/227709","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=227709"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/227709\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/227710"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=227709"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=227709"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=227709"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}