MLB Trade Rumors: Mets, Cubs Among 8 Teams Looking to 'Buy and Sell' at 2024 Deadline

While most of the attention leading up to the MLB trade deadline is on teams that are either buyers or sellers, the New York Mets and Chicago Cubs are among a number of clubs could actually look to do both over the next six days.

Per MLB.com's Mark Feinsand, the Mets, Cubs, San Francisco Giants, Cleveland Guardians, Tampa Bay Rays, Cincinnati Reds, Arizona Diamondbacks and Milwaukee Brewers are cited as teams that could "look to thread the buy/sell needle" leading up to July 30.

"As far as the industry goes, it might even be a bigger story than any player who actually gets moved," one NL executive told Feinsand. "The conversations are unlike any we've had in the past that I can recall."

The lack of buy- and sell-only teams could be attributed to the expanded postseason. The worst team among the eight cited by Feinsand are the Giants with a 48-54 record, but they are only five games out of a wild card spot in the NL.

Last year saw the Diamondbacks, with 84 wins in the regular season, reach the World Series.

The Mets have had a dramatic turnaround over the past two months that they went from an obvious seller to a team that could do anything. They have won 28 of their last 43 games after a 24-35 start to move into the final playoff spot in the NL entering Wednesday.

Pete Alonso went from being arguably the biggest potential bat moved at the deadline to reportedly being taken off the market.

A team like the Cubs (49-54) might be better served operating as a seller, but they are only 4.5 games out of a playoff spot. President of baseball operations Jed Hoyer has said they will look to make moves with "2025 and beyond in mind."

Another complicating factor for all of these teams is they aren't looking to undertake a long-term rebuild. It's easy to see why clubs like the Chicago White Sox, Colorado Rockies or Oakland Athletics would seemingly make everyone available right now.

Most of the other teams in the league could convince themselves that one good week puts them right back in playoff contention. There are also clubs that have exceeded expectations already this year and want to do right by their current players.

The Guardians, for instance, are tied with the Baltimore Orioles for the best record in the AL. They have glaring needs in the starting rotation and lineup, but they always operate with a limited payroll that trading multiple marquee prospects now for a short-term gain actually hurt their chances to compete in 2025.

This deadline has so many fascinating potential outcomes because there are 24 teams that could talk themselves into being a playoff contender. We will find out the direction all 30 clubs decide to take very soon with the deadline approaching on July 30 at 6 p.m. ET.