As Major League Baseball’s trade deadline approaches, teams are facing a notable scarcity of right-handed hitters, a frustration that is shaping many trade discussions this season. The difficulty in acquiring impact righty batters has elevated their market value, especially as injuries have recently sidelined a number of players, further tightening the supply.
Among the affected players are the Athletics’ Shea Langeliers, Giants’ Casey Schmitt, and Reds’ Spencer Steer, all of whom have been taken off the trade market due to injuries. This depletion of available right-handed hitters adds pressure on teams seeking to bolster their lineups for postseason runs, with clubs like the New York Yankees actively pursuing right-handed bats, including a catcher. Despite having one of the better on-base plus slugging (OPS) rates for righty hitters, the Yankees’ needs have intensified given the ongoing absences of Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton and the struggles of Amed Rosario in his platoon role.
Other teams, such as the Minnesota Twins, have shown little intention to trade, further reducing potential targets. The Twins’ Ryan Jeffers, a right-handed hitting catcher, is expected to be difficult for the Yankees to acquire, especially with Byron Buxton recently placed on the injured list and unwilling to waive his no-trade clause. Additionally, the Houston Astros’ options like Isaac Paredes and Jeremy Peña are reportedly off-limits amid their competitive push.
Several other righty hitters are believed to be available, including the Angels’ Jo Adell, Kansas City’s Lane Thomas, and Toronto’s George Springer, though Springer holds a full no-trade clause. The Yankees have also shown interest in Washington Nationals outfielder Jacob Young, known for his defensive skills, but he appears unavailable. Meanwhile, outfielders from other teams—such as the Miami Marlins’ Heriberto Hernández and Baltimore Orioles’ Taylor Ward—remain topics of speculation, though the cost to acquire them is expected to be high.
The overall shortage of qualified right-handed hitters is underscored by statistics: only 62 right-handed batters currently qualify for the batting title, the lowest figure since 2015. Among those, just 39 have an OPS+ at or above the league average, marking the lowest number since 1982, a year before the American League adopted the designated hitter and when the league consisted of fewer teams. Furthermore, right-handed hitters’ performance against left-handed pitching has been notably weak, with OPS numbers among the lowest recorded since the early 1990s.
Baseball executives suggest several factors may contribute to this trend. The rise of pitches like sliders and sweepers, predominantly thrown by right-handed pitchers, could be making it harder for right-handed batters to succeed. Additionally, changes in game rules—such as the 2020 mandate requiring relievers to face a minimum of three batters—have diminished the effectiveness of left-on-left specialist pitching, forcing teams to develop pitchers capable of retiring right-handed hitters.
The decline of the traditional “righty-hitting, righty-throwing corner” player profile in drafts has also been noted, with some organizations delaying selection of such players until later rounds. Overall, this combination of strategic, technical, and structural factors has resulted in fewer strong right-handed hitters available at a time when contenders are eager to add that specific skill set, intensifying the market competition ahead of the trade deadline.