MLB Teams That Already Have Clear Needs for 2026 Trade Deadline
The 2026 MLB trade deadline is still months away, but already some clear needs are starting to emerge for contending teams that could end up being top priorities on the trade market this summer.
However, not every team fits the narrative of having a clear need to address.
For a team like the New York Mets that is floundering right now, it's more about guys playing up to their potential than any singular glaring issue that needs to be solved.
In other words, early-season struggles do not automatically mean a team was a clean fit for this list, and a strong start also doesn't mean a team doesn't still have a notable hole that will need to be filled.
Let's dive into six clear needs that could help dictate this year's top trade deadline narratives.
Boston Red Sox: Third Baseman
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The Issue: The Red Sox third basemen are hitting .153/.247/.208 with four extra-base hits, zero home runs and six RBI in 81 plate appearances.
Outlook: An offseason deal to acquire Caleb Durbin from the Brewers seemed to give the Red Sox their third baseman of the present and future following Alex Bregman's departure in free agency.
However, the 26-year-old is off to an ugly start at the plate, hitting .141/.236/.203 over 72 plate appearances. Those numbers are backed by some of the worst batted-ball metrics of any qualified hitter, providing little optimism for a quick turnaround.
They could shift Marcelo Mayer to third base and recall former top prospect Kristian Campbell to handle second base, but he's off to a lackluster start himself at Triple-A, opening the door for a potential outside addition this summer.
Chicago Cubs: Starting Pitcher
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The Issue: The Cubs have used eight different starting pitchers through 21 games, and will now be without Cade Horton for the remainder of the season after he underwent Tommy John surgery.
Outlook: Statistically, starting pitching has not been an issue for the Cubs so far this season, as they rank ninth in the majors with a 3.58 ERA from the starting staff.
The trio of Edward Cabrera (2.38 ERA, 22.2 IP), Shota Imanaga (2.45 ERA, 22.0 IP) and Jameson Taillon (3.97 ERA, 22.2 IP) has been rock solid, but Opening Day starter Matthew Boyd is nursing a biceps strain and the Horton injury has created an early void.
Javier Assad and Colin Rea are both quality depth options that have helped fill in the gaps, and Justin Steele is expected to make his return from elbow surgery at some point before the All-Star break. Still, one more impact starter will almost certainly be atop the team's summer wish list.
Cleveland Guardians: Middle-of-the-Order Bat
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The Issue: The Guardians have scored four or fewer runs in 14 of their 23 games, and have an even run differential despite sitting atop the AL Central standings.
Outlook: Kyle Manzardo (.511 OPS, 3 RBI), Bo Naylor (.468 OPS, 3 RBI) and Rhys Hoskins (.679 OPS, 5 RBI) began the season hitting 4-5-6 in the Cleveland lineup, but all three are off to a slow start. Rookie Chase DeLauter provided an early spark, but he is hitting .163 with zero home runs and four RBI over his last 13 games.
As a result, superstar and No. 3 hitter José Ramírez is carrying a career-high 16.2 percent walk rate, and teams will pitch around him more and more if the club is unable to find suitable lineup protection.
The front office failed to make a major offseason addition, and the offense is again largely a one-man show.
Detroit Tigers: Center Fielder
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The Issue: The Tigers ranked 28th in the majors in overall value in center field last year, according to FanGraphs. They opted to entrust the oft-injured Parker Meadows with the starting job once again, and he is already on the 60-day IL after undergoing surgery on a broken left arm.
Outlook: The Tigers have used nine different Opening Day center fielders over the past 12 seasons, and the position has been a revolving door since Curtis Granderson passed the torch to Austin Jackson.
The club ended up shifting Javier Báez to center field in 2025 when Meadows was limited to 58 games, and he earned a surprise All-Star selection, but he crashed back to earth in the second half with a .548 OPS.
With Meadows sidelined once again, the trio of Báez, Matt Vierling and Wenceel Pérez have been filling in. No one from that group is an ideal everyday option, and Daulton Varsho is one name to keep an eye on as a potential trade target if the Blue Jays continue to struggle.
Milwaukee Brewers: Shortstop/Third Baseman
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The Issue: The Brewers punted third base during the offseason by settling for Luis Rengifo and David Hamilton as their top options. Slotted alongside glove-only shortstop Joey Ortiz, the left side of the infield has been an offensive black hole.
Outlook: Calling the left side of the Milwaukee infield a black hole might sound dramatic, but the numbers don't lie:
SS: 84 PA, .169/.272/.169, 0 XBH
3B: 87 PA, .197/.291/.276, 6 XBH
Luis Rengifo (66 PA, .167 BA, 39 OPS+) is playing like an early DFA candidate after signing a one-year, $3.5 million deal, while the Joey Ortiz who posted a 102 OPS+ with 11 home runs and 60 RBI in 2024 is little more than a distant memory.
Cooper Pratt could see the majors at some point in 2026 after he was inked to an eight-year, $50.75 million extension, but relying on an unproven and defensive-minded prospect to fix the situation might be wishful thinking.
San Diego Padres: Starting Pitcher
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The Issue: The Padres sit in the middle of the pack with a 3.76 ERA from their starting rotation, but the staff feels like a house of cards. With Nick Pivetta nursing a flexor tendon strain, things could get ugly quick.
Outlook: The starting rotation looked like a glaring hole for the Padres entering the season after they cast a wide net for value arms and ended up slotting Germán Márquez and Walker Buehler both into the Opening Day rotation.
With a 15-7 record, it's hard to poke holes in the early returns, but Pivetta's injury is difficult to ignore. A flexor tendon strain can often be a precursor to Tommy John surgery, and at the very least is something that will need to be monitored closely.
Who knows what to expect from Joe Musgrove once he finally returns from Tommy John surgery, potentially leaving the Padres with a hypothetical playoff rotation of Michael King, Randy Vásquez, Buehler and Márquez. There might be no contender in more serious need of a frontline arm looking ahead to the summer trade season.
