MLB's Biggest Buyers and Sellers If 2025 Deadline Was Today
On May 19, we don't yet know which teams are definitely going to be buyers and sellers in advance of the July 31 trade deadline.
For example, the St. Louis Cardinals have had a tremendous May and look like a contending team. But it's entirely possible that a club that acknowledged coming into the season that it's more worried about 2026 than 2025 will come back down to earth and trade pieces like Ryan Helsley and Erick Fedde.
The flip side is the Baltimore Orioles, who have had a putrid start. They were a playoff team the last two seasons, and it's possible they have a 2019 Washington Nationals-esque rebound in them over the next six weeks that turns them into buyers.
But for now, here's a look at some—not all—of the potential buyers and sellers.
Buyer: Detroit Tigers
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In a wide-open American League, A.J. Hinch's Tigers look like the early favorites to represent the Junior Circuit in the World Series.
They have a tremendous top three in their starting rotation with Tarik Skubal, Casey Mize and Reese Olson. With a bounce-back from Jack Flaherty and/or Jackson Jobe coming of age, the Tigers would definitely have a World Series-caliber rotation.
The Tigers likely regret not signing Alex Bregman in the offseason, as he's performing like an AL MVP candidate for Boston, while Jace Jung was recently optioned to Triple-A after hitting just .111 in 18 games. Whether it's Nolan Arenado, Ryan McMahon or someone else, the hot corner appears to be the most-pressing need in Detroit.
Like just about everyone else, the Tigers could also probably use another back-end-of-the-bullpen arm, although the relief corps in Detroit has been one of baseball's best this year.
The Tigers are likely at the front half of a World Series window, but there's no time like the present. President of baseball operations Scott Harris would be wise to strike while the iron is hot this summer.
Seller: Pittsburgh Pirates
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We'll see if replacing Derek Shelton with Don Kelly as manager gets Pittsburgh to turn its season around, but the Pirates have dug themselves such an early hole that it's going to be very difficult for them to buy this summer, even if general manager Ben Cherington's seat is warm.
Tommy Pham seems to get traded every summer, but he's as much of a DFA candidate as a trade candidate.
There may come a day when the Pirates have to entertain the possibility of trading Paul Skenes, but things aren't yet there. The reigning NL Rookie of the Year isn't even going to be eligible for arbitration until 2027, and the Pirates need to find a way to compete while they still have Skenes at a relatively cheap price.
Reliever Dennis Santana could become a popular name this summer for teams looking to improve at closer and/or setup man. He's got a 1.96 ERA and can't become a free agent until after the 2026 season, giving the acquiring club multiple potential posteasons with him.
Super-utility man Isiah Kiner-Falefa and catcher Joey Bart are two other players on Pittsburgh's roster who would likely intrigue contenders. IKF is in a contract year, so he's all but certain to be moved. Bart is under team control through 2027, so the Pirates might want to hold on to him, though it may be worth listening to what teams have to say.
Buyer: Seattle Mariners
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The Los Angeles Angels—more on them in a minute—are the only team in the AL West that you can rule out of the playoff picture. The other four teams in the division could all wind up buying in some capacity.
The Seattle Mariners lead the AL West. They have Bryan Woo and Luis Castillo atop their rotation, with George Kirby and Logan Gilbert likely to return later in the season. As we've said for a long time, the Mariners have a World Series-caliber rotation.
But while Jorge Polanco has had a tremendous season at DH, the Mariners still have glaring holes in their lineup at both first and third base. As always, president of baseball operations Jerry Dipoto will enter trade season looking to add thump to the lineup. Just as we said at this time a year ago, Julio Rodríguez also needs to provide more at the plate.
Elsewhere, Andrés Muñoz has probably been the best closer in baseball this season. But the Mariners would benefit from adding another trustworthy arm to Dan Wilson's bullpen.
Seller: Baltimore Orioles
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We're not advocating for a teardown in Baltimore that would see the Orioles listen to offers for Gunnar Henderson. Unless there's a massive turnaround, though, general manager Mike Elias might have to consider selling this summer.
Elias has made his name on having a tremendous eye for young talent, and the O's have pieces that could help get the team even more prospects. In particular, Baltimore needs more starting pitching talent, as it's done a great job spotting position players, specifically outfielders.
The two top arms in their starting rotation are Tomoyuki Sugano and Zach Eflin, both of whom are in contract years. Each would be among the top starting rotation options on the market.
It's unlikely the Orioles would move former Mariano Rivera Award winner Félix Bautista when he can't become a free agent until after the 2027 season, but veterans Seranthony Domínguez and Gregory Soto each could be rentals who are of interest to bullpen-needy teams.
Finally, Baltimore isn't going to deal its core offensive pieces in Henderson and Adley Rutschman, but Cedric Mullins, Ryan Mountcastle, Ryan O'Hearn and, if healthy, Tyler O'Neill, are notable pieces that would likely be expendable if the team does indeed sell.
Buyer: San Diego Padres
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It's usually a pretty safe bet that A.J. Preller is going to make moves at the trade deadline. Considering that the Padres are competing for postseason positioning with the Los Angeles Dodgers, San Francisco Giants and Arizona Diamondbacks, standing pat isn't an option.
The Padres are surely thankful that they didn't re-sign the since-suspended Jurickson Profar, but they haven't replaced his production in left field, as Jason Heyward is hitting under .200.
Michael King, Nick Pivetta and Randy Vásquez have all pitched well, and Dylan Cease's numbers look worse than he's actually been because he gave up nine runs during a start in Sacramento in April. Still, it might make sense to add another arm capable of making a postseason start. Ideally, it would be someone who isn't a rental since King and Cease can both become free agents after this season.
Whether they'll be able to beat out the Dodgers for the NL West title or not, the Padres have a chance to make noise in the playoffs. San Diego could win their first World Series title if they hit on adding an outfielder and another front-line starter.
Seller: Miami Marlins
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If the Marlins had held onto Jesús Luzardo, he likely would have been one of the top trade candidates this summer given how he's performed for the Philadelphia Phillies. Instead, they sold low on him coming off an injury-riddled 2024.
Still the Fish could wind up with one of the most coveted trade candidates if former NL Cy Young Award winner Sandy Alcántara starts to look like himself. It's been a disastrous start to the season for the two-time All-Star, who missed all of last year recovering from Tommy John surgery. But, if he puts together a good June, that might be all that it takes to intrigue contending teams.
It is worth noting that the Marlins don't have to trade Alcántara, who is due to make $17.3 million in 2026, with an affordable $21 million club option for 2027.
If the Marlins hold onto him for another year, it might be a relatively uneventful trade season, though. Reliever Anthony Bender is another obvious trade candidate, but Miami has such a nondescript lineup that there aren't a ton of other pieces likely to garner much interest.
Buyer: Chicago Cubs
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With only one guaranteed year of Kyle Tucker, Jed Hoyer and the Cubs should be motivated to try to win it all in 2025.
Tucker has been a tremendous addition, while Pete Crow-Armstrong has played like a superstar, but the Cubs still have some work to do to realistically compete in a loaded NL this fall.
They lost Justin Steele for the season to Tommy John surgery, and Shota Imanaga (hamstring) is on the injured list as well. Clearly, another front-line starter is a need for the Cubs.
The same can be said for closer, as both Ryan Pressly and Porter Hodge have struggled so far this season. Entering the season, those were the top two projected relievers in Craig Counsell's bullpen.
There's a lot of positivity surrounding the Cubs, and rightfully so. But they need to improve their pitching staff to have a chance to defeat the heavyweights from the NL West and East in the playoffs.
Seller: Los Angeles Angels
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There are four teams who are contending in the AL West, and then there's the Angels.
Any early-season thought of trading Mike Trout has been squashed by yet another trip to the injured list, and at this point, the Halos might as well have him try to spend his entire career in Anaheim and hit his milestone homers in their uniform.
Left fielder Taylor Ward is hitting below .200 but has continued to produce from a power standpoint. If the Angels make him available, he'll be a hot commodity. He's under team control through 2026, so he wouldn't be a rental.
35-year-old lefty Tyler Anderson might not bring a ton back, but his 2.58 ERA over eight starts will definitely intrigue some teams. The only issue is that his 4.58 FIP suggests some regression could be coming.
Other veterans like Jorge Soler and Kenley Jansen could become trade candidates, but neither has performed well enough so far to really get the attention of contenders. Soler is a former World Series MVP, but his OPS is just above .700 and he's in the second season of a three-year, $42 million deal. Jansen is a rental, but might have finally hit a wall at age 37.
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