The Toughest 2026 MLB Trade Deadline Question For Every Team
The 2026 MLB trade deadline won't be until Aug. 3, so teams will have a few extra days than usual before they have to decide how to proceed this summer.
Still, in the days and weeks leading up to the trade deadline, decision makers lose sleep knowing that one hot or cold stretch could drastically change their playoff positioning, or lack thereof.
As we prepare for #TradeSZN to commence, here are the toughest questions for all 30 teams.
AL East
1 of 6
Tampa Bay Rays: How big of a splash will they try to make?
At the time of publication, the Rays lead the American League in wins, and are atop baseball's most competitive division.
As always, the question facing president of baseball operations Erik Neander is how big a swing should he take knowing the financial limits ownership as traditionally placed on executives in Tampa.
All things being equal, this is a team that could use another big outfield bat. The guess here is they are probably more likely to be in the rental market, rather than trying to land a star like Ketel Marte, Byron Buxton or Yordan Alvarez.
New York Yankees: Can they upgrade infield?
Between Josรฉ Caballero and Jazz Chisholm Jr., the Yankees have some flexible chess pieces in the infield. That may come in handy when general manager Brian Cashman tries to upgrade the infield.
Let's say the Yankees were to acquire Marte to play second base. Chisholmโwho is in his contract yearโhas shown the ability to play third base in the past. It might be hard for CJ Abrams and Anthony Volpe to co-exist, but if the Yankees acquired the former to play shortstop, Caballero would slide into more of a super-utility role, with the bulk of his time likely coming at third base.
One way or another, the Yankees can't enter the postseason with Ryan McMahonโwho is hitting .187 with a .559 OPSโgetting regular at-bats at third base.
Toronto Blue Jays: Just how aggressive will they be?
Even though they're a few games under .500 right now, it's hard to imagine a scenario where the defending AL champions sell. It's just a matter of to what extent they will buy.
If the Blue Jays are hovering around the final wild-card spot in the junior circuit in early August, would general manager Ross Atkins try to land a bona fide closer after Jeff Hoffman blew Game 7 of the World Series last year?
If Toronto had the ninth inning locked down and got a Hoffman bounce-back after a slow start to 2026, their bullpenโwhich also includes Louis Varland, Tyler Rogers and Braydon Fisherโwould be one of the best in the postseason. But that's only the type of move you make if you think you can win the World Series this season.
An alternate scenario would be if the Blue Jays are in a bad enough situation to consider selling and teams call on someone like Kevin Gausman, who will be a free agent after this season.
Boston Red Sox: Would this team sell?
Their record says they are trending towards being a seller. But after firing Alex Cora and much of his staff in April, there's quite a bit of pressure on chief baseball officer Craig Breslow to get things right.
Is he in a position to take a step back at the trade deadline if that's the right long-term move for the Red Sox?
Jarren Duran has long been a trade candidate, but he's having a miserable season so the Red Sox would be selling low. And presumably, they aren't going to be interested in trading Wilyer Abreu, so they don't have a ton offensively, unless Willson Contreras would again be willing to waive his no-trade clause.
Sonny Gray is in a similar situation to Contreras, as he waived his no-trade clause to be moved from St. Louis last offseason. Would the 36-year-old be willing to change addresses for the second time in a year?
Even at age 38, Aroldis Chapman is pitching as well as he ever has. He would probably be the most coveted trade chip the Red Sox have, although his $13 million conditional mutual option for 2027 may tempt Breslow to hold onto the future Hall of Famer.
Baltimore Orioles: Is Mike Elias in a position to be a seller again?
A lot of what we said about Breslow also applies to Baltimore president of baseball operations Mike Elias.
Following a disastrous 87-loss season last year, Orioles ownership greenlight an offseason that saw Elias sign Pete Alonso and Ryan Helsley, while trading for Shane Baz and Taylor Ward. So far, things haven't worked for the O's. Will David Rubenstein remain patient with Eliasโwhom he inherited from the prior ownership groupโif he sells this trade deadline and looks towards 2027?
If the Orioles did sell, Taylor Ward would be one of the biggest names on the trade market as a right-handed hitting outfielder with pop. Helsley, assuming health, would be one of the top relievers available, as would Yennier Cano. If you really want to get spicy, teams would definitely call on a resurgent Adley Rutschman, who has one remaining arbitration year after 2026.
In some senses, the Orioles might be a team that determines how juicy this trade deadline is.
AL Central
2 of 6
Cleveland Guardians: Can they add another bat?
Led by Cade Smith, Tim Herrin and Erik Sabrowski, the Guardiansโas per usualโhave a really good bullpen. They always seem to figure out their starting pitching as well, with Gavin Williams headlining a formidable group that also includes Tanner Bibee, Parker Messick and Joey Cantillo.
What Stephen Vogt's club really needs is another big bat. It may be that they cross their fingers that former No. 1 overall pick Travis Bazzana emerges as a superstar as the season goes along, and/or that Steven Kwan starts to hit again. Even still, the Guards feel like a team that needs another big bopper to go with future Hall of Famer Josรฉ Ramรญrez.
Maybe the answer is that they just try to upgrade from Rhys Hoskins at DH, assuming he doesn't heat up. If the Cincinnati Reds wound up sellingโwhich probably isn't especially likelyโEugenio Suรกrez would be an interesting rental.
Chicago White Sox: Would they listen on any young core pieces?
White Sox fans probably don't want to hear this, but we're going to assume that by the time the trade deadline rolls around, Chicago isn't going to be in playoff position.
If that proves to be the case, it would be interesting to see how general manager Chris Getz operates in advance of Aug. 3. Maybe he would just make some minor veteran moves, like dealing Erick Fedde, Austin Hays and Randal Grichuk.
But what if a power-needy team tried to overwhelm them to get Munetaka Murakami, who is only signed through 2027? How about if a club in need of starting pitching made a push for Davis Martin, and put a lot on the table because the late bloomer can't become a free agent until after 2030?
The feeling here is Getz's best move would be to stand pat at the deadline, assuming the White Sox aren't buyers. There will be some temptation to sell, however.
Minnesota Twins: Is now the time to move Byron Buxton?
Byron Buxton is healthy, hitting for power and still capable in center field. He's guaranteed just $30 million in salary on his incentive-laden contract between 2027 and 2028. At a time where there are so few impact right-handed hitting outfielders available, this might be the best time to maximize the return for Buxton.
We know, he's long stated that he wants to spend his entire career in Minnesota. But what if the Twins trade Joe Ryan, signaling they don't intend to compete for the remainder of Buxton's contract. Would he say no to a chance to play for his hometown Atlanta Braves, or a veteran team like the Philadelphia Phillies?
Buxton has a full no-trade clause through the end of this season, so if he doesn't want to be moved, he won't be. At some point, though, you would think he would want to chase a World Series.
Kansas City Royals: Will they trade from pitching?
The Royals have been one of baseball's most disappointing teams, and appear to be trending in the direction of selling to some degree. They would probably be wise to target young outfielders in trade talks, as they've struggled to get offense in the outfield for a few seasons now.
If Kansas City were to sell, president of baseball operations J. J. Picollo has plenty of pitchers teams would have interest in. Lucas Erceg could be a set-up man or closer for a contender. Veteran reliever Matt Strahm is a left-hander on an expiring contract. What about productive veteran starters signed beyond 2026, like Seth Lugo and Michael Wacha?
Kansas City probably isn't going to tear it down completely, but they might consider reallocating resources differently in 2027. Moving off of Lugo and/or Wacha would open up some money to do that.
Detroit Tigers: Should they trade Tarik Skubal?
The trade deadline all rests on this.
Tarik Skubal is the two-time defending AL Cy Young Award winner. He would be a pure rental, as the Scott Boras client is sure to test free agency in the winter regardless of where he finishes the 2026 season at.
But think about the impact Randy Johnson had as a rental for the 1998 Houston Astros, or CC Sabathia with the 2008 Milwaukee Brewers. Skubal could be this generation's version of that type of rental for the right team.
Obviously, this is contingent on him getting healthy and proving he is back at 100 percent from the procedure he had on May 6 to clean up his pitching elbow. That's not a guarantee. Nor is it that the Tigersโwho entered the season with World Series aspirationsโare going to want to sell before the trade deadline.
Detroit isn't in contention currently, and if they don't plan to make a serious effort to retain Skubal this offseason, trading him this summer might be the best thing for the organization.
AL West
3 of 6
Athletics: Do they care about making the playoffs while they're in Sacramento?
The Athletics are currently in first place in the AL West, and while we can question whether they have the pitching for that to be sustainable, it does set up an interesting scenario for general manager David Forst.
If the A's are leading the AL West around the trade deadline, how much will they be willing to dip into the farm system for short-term gains? Perhaps the most important question is: Does John Fisher care whether the A's make the playoffs while they're playing their home games in a minor-league ballpark that seats just over 14,000 fans?
It will be at least another season in Sacramento before the A's move to Las Vegas. Maybe the compromise here would be they trade for a pitcher under control through at least 2028, which projects to be their first season in Las Vegas.
If healthy, Cole Ragans could be an interesting piece to target and try to get back on track. He's shown ace form in the past for the Royals, and can't become a free agent until after the 2028 season.
Seattle Mariners: Will veterans get back on track?
The Mariners finished a win away from the first World Series appearance in franchise history a year ago. It's fair to say they've had a bit of a hangover after blowing that 3-2 ALCS lead last fall.
Whether or not these four stars can get back on track will go a long way in determining how president of baseball operations Jerry Dipoto operates. If the M's actually fall out of the race, free-agent-to-be Randy Arozarena would be one of the big-ticket bats available before the trade deadline.
Texas Rangers: How much interest would veterans generate if they sold?
In Skip Schumaker's first year on the job, the Rangers are a few games under .500, but still very much in the race in a wide-open AL West. It's possible president of baseball operations Chris Young ends up buying in some form.
If the Rangers don't stay in the race, they have some accomplished veterans that could help contenders, although it's hard to know how willing teams would be to absorb their contracts.
Corey Seager is going to miss 30-40 games every regular season, but he's a two-time World Series MVP that puts up Hall of Fame-caliber production when he's on the field. The 32-year-old is owed $157.5 million over the next five seasons. He has an eight-team no-trade clause, and is the face of the franchise, so the Rangers may not be able and/or willing to move him.
Brandon Nimmo, 33, has a .791 OPS in his first season with the Rangers, which would be his highest mark since 2023. It might be a tough sell to get someone to take on the $82 million he will make between 2027 and 2030, but he could help a contending team.
Jacob deGrom and Nathan Eovaldi are each very accomplished pitchers with lengthy injury histories that are on the wrong side of 35.
In June, deGrom will turn 38. He has a 3.11 ERA in 43 starts since returning from Tommy John surgery, and is owed $37 million in 2027, the final season of a five-year deal. Eovaldi is 36, and in the second campaign of a three-year, $75 million pact.
The Rangers are a team to keep an eye on.
Houston Astros: Is there any price that could pry away Yordan Alvarez?
If the Astros don't rebound from a nightmarish start, Isaac Paredes, Bryan Abreu and a resurgent Christian Walker might all be traded.
The most intriguing player in Houston by far is Yordan Alvarez, one of the game's preeminent hitters who has reasserted himself after being limited to 48 games last season. Astros general manager Dana Brown probably is inclined to hold onto Alvarez, who will turn 29 in June and is owed a very manageable $53.66 million between 2027 and 2028. But the Astros could probably get a bounty for the three-time All-Star, which might be the right course of action if they feel the greatest run in franchise history is over.
If Alvarez were to be traded, he would almost certainly deliver the biggest impact, even more than Skubal because he's not a rental.
Los Angeles Angels: Does Mike Trout want to be dealt to a contender?
Mike Trout is going to turn 35 four days after the trade deadline. If he's ever going to ask for a trade for the opportunity to pursue a World Seriesโor even a chance to play in the postseason for the first time since 2014โthis year is probably it.
Trout is likely headed for his 12th All-Star Game appearance, and to this point, he's held up despite moving back to center field. In a time where there are so few impact right-handed hitting outfielders, Trout would be one of the crown jewels at this year's trade deadline, if available.
The three-time AL MVP holds all the cards because he has a full no-trade clause. He's always indicated a desire to spend his whole career in Anaheim, as his idol Derek Jeter did with the Yankees. If he doesn't want to move, the Halos should keep him and have him hit all his milestone homers in their uniform. But if Trout finally wants to tap out, the Angels should honor that request. He's been loyal to a fault.
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NL East
4 of 6
Atlanta Braves: How will they upgrade in left field?
The Braves lost a key middleโofโtheโorder bat in spring training when Jurickson Profar was suspended for the entire 2026 season after a second positive test for performanceโenhancing drugs; he had been projected as their primary DH who could also see time in left field.
Nonetheless, they have been baseball's best team to this point, and it would be scary to see what they would look like if GM Alex Anthopoulos is able to acquire a star left fielder.
We mentioned Buxtonโwho is a native of Baxley, GAโas someone who would be interesting. He would not only have to waive his no-trade clause, but probably be willing to move out of center field, where the Braves have Michael Harris II. If those two hurdles could be cleared, he would be the perfect addition to Walt Weiss' lineup.
Philadelphia Phillies: Can they land a right-handed middle-of-the-order bat?
The Phillies have an elite one-two punch in their starting rotation with Cristopher Sรกnchez and Zack Wheeler, plus a lineup duo of Kyle Schwarber and Bryce Harper that's one of the best in the league.
But the Phillies are way too reliant offensively on Schwarber and/or Harper homering to win games. They need more from Trea Turner, who has struggled after winning the NL batting title last season. Ditto for Adolis Garcรญa, Alec Bohm and Edmundo Sosa. To this point, the right-handed hitting has been dreadful against southpaws.
Even if there are some internal improvements, president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski is going to have to take a big swing to add another bat before the trade deadline. This is an older team, so it wouldn't be ideal to add another veteran signed into their 30s to the roster. At the same time, this core is running out of opportunities to get over the hump in October, and the chance to acquire someone like Buxton, Trout or Marte might be too sweet of a short-term opportunity to pass up.
Washington Nationals: Would they listen on James Wood?
Considering James Wood can't become a free agent until after the 2031 season, we're probably at least a year away from having this conversation.
Then again, the Nationals traded Juan Soto to the Padres in August of 2022 when he was in his age-23 season and had two-and-a-half years left before free agency. Plus, first-year president of baseball operations Paul Taboni didn't acquire Wood in the Soto deal, so perhaps he isn't as married to keeping him if he doesn't believe they'll retain him beyond his arbitration years.
It would take a Soto-esque trade package to land Wood, who is still only 23. That might mean that a trade for CJ Abrams is more likely.
Miami Marlins: How much could veterans get in a trade?
We'll see if the Marlins are contending for an NL wild-card spot when the trade deadline rolls around. Right now, they're a few games under .500, which leads us to believe president of baseball operations Peter Bendix will be open for business later this summer.
There's no reason to think that the Fish would listen on either member of their middle-infield duo of Xavier Edwards and Otto Lopez. But with very strong organizational pitching depth, the Marlins might be willing to deal a veteran pitcher or two.
The question is, what would they get for former NL Cy Young Award winner Sandy Alcantara, who has a 4.00 ERA and 3.74 FIP across 11 starts this year. The 30-year-old's contract does include an affordable $21 million club option for 2027.
Their other veteran is closer Pete Fairbanks. There would definitely be interest in Fairbanks, who signed a one-year, $13 million deal after posting a 2.98 ERA for the Rays between 2023 and 2025. But as a rental with an 8.25 ERA this season, he likely wouldn't bring back a ton in return.
New York Mets: Is selling a possibility?
The Mets have been one of baseball's worst teams, but it's still hard to imagine president of baseball operations David Stearns selling, particularly if he believes his job may be in jeopardy.
Even if the Mets wanted to sell, what would that look like? Soto isn't going anywhere. Francisco Lindor, we think, would also be off limits. Would someone want to trade for Bo Bichette, knowing he can opt out this offseason if he has a strong finish?
There would be interest in Freddy Peralta, Clay Holmes and David Peterson. But the Mets changed so much about their core last offseason that there aren't a ton of pieces left to switch out. Stearns better hope they play their way back into the pennant race.
NL Central
5 of 6
Milwaukee Brewers: Can they upgrade the left side of the infield?
Color us shocked; the Brewersโdivision champions in four of the last five seasonsโare leading the NL Central. Will president of baseball operations Matt Arnold make a move that allows Milwaukee to get back to the World Series for the first time since 1982?
The biggest area of need for the Brew Crew would seem to be on the left side of their infield, where they are getting minimal offensive production from Joey Ortiz (.526 OPS) and Luis Rengifo (.519 OPS). As nice as adding a superstar would be, imagine if the Brewers just had replacement level players at these positions.
Pat Murphyโthe two-time defending NL Manager of the Yearโalways seems to get more out of his team than you would expect. That formula typically hits a wall in the postseason, though, so it will be interesting to see how aggressive Arnold is this summer in trying to set the team up for October.
St. Louis Cardinals: Will they be buyers?
Entering the season, the Cardinals seemed destined to be a 90-plus loss team as president of baseball operations Chaim Bloom began to rebuild the team in his image.
Instead, the Cardinals have been a pleasant surprise, as they are seven games above .500 at the time of publication. That might not be sustainable, but Jordan Walker has emerged as one of the game's elite sluggers, while JJ Wetherholt has hit the ground running as a rookie and Michael McGreavy has been a breakout starter.
This team might just be more talented than what we expected.
Still, the guess here is that Bloom is more likely to tread water at the trade deadline and maybe make a minor addition or two, if the Cardinals are still contending. He's made his name off of player development, and he's not going to mortgage the future when the big picture is still in mind.
Chicago Cubs: How much do they believe in their current starting pitching?
The Cubs can really pick it in the field, and they're going to be a problem if any combination of Alex Bregman, Pete Crow-Armstrong and Dansby Swanson starts to hit.
For president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer, the hardest part of his team to evaluate is going to be his starting rotation:
At their best, the Cubs rotation has a high ceiling. But they clearly aren't at their best right now, and that may force Hoyer to make a major move for a starter this summer.
Cincinnati Reds: What level of internal regression can they expect?
While regression is usually used in a negative sense, positive regression is also a thing. And trying to project regression to the mean is one of the hardest parts of being an MLB executive.
On one hand, Eugenio Suรกrez is probably going to start hitting homers. On the other hand, it's hard to think that JJ Bleday is going to finish the year with a .953 OPS, or that Nathaniel Lowe will have a 141 OPS+ when the season ends. So it's difficult to get a picture for what the Reds really have offensively around Elly De La Cruz and Sal Stewart.
What we do know is that Terry Francona's crew needs to get more offensive production at both second and third base. Will Matt McLain ever resemble the star player he looked to be in his 2023 rookie season? Can the Reds continue to punt on offensive production at third base if Ke'Bryan Hayes plays world-class defense? These are key questions facing president of baseball operations Nick Krall.
Pittsburgh Pirates: Do they try to make a splash?
A common sentiment around baseball is that Paul Skenes needs to pitch in the postseason, and that PNC Park needs to return to October as well. If the Pirates can smell their first playoff appearance since 2015, that may force general manager Ben Cherington to be aggressive this summer.
We think of the Pirates as being a young team, and Konnor Griffin is just 19 and signed through the 2034 season. But Paul Skenes can become a free agent after the 2029 season, and who knows whether Pittsburgh will hold onto him for all of his arbitration seasons. There's probably a limited window to try to win with the reigning NL Cy Young Award winner.
It's probably unrealistic, but imagine if the Pirates traded for the aforementioned Alvarez, replacing a struggling Marcell Ozuna. Alvarez is making good money, but his deal is still relatively team-friendly, and he's under control for two more seasons after 2026, so you could justify giving up significant prospect capital for him.
NL West
6 of 6
Los Angeles Dodgers: Can they land a star middle infielder?
As much as it looked coming into the season like the Dodgers were one of the greatest teams assembled in MLB history, president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman will still have some work to do before the trade deadline if Los Angeles is going to win a third consecutive World Series.
Even if future Hall of Famer Mookie Betts heats up at some point this year, the Dodgers still probably are a middle infielder short with an upgrade likely needed over any combination of Hyeseong Kim, Alex Freeland and Miguel Rojas.
The nightmare scenario for the rest of the league would be if Friedman is able to pry the aforementioned Abrams away from the Nationals, either to play shortstop or second base. It's hard to think the Diamondbacks would trade Marte in the division, but you get the feeling that the Dodgers are going to try to reel in another big fish this summer.
San Diego Padres: What level of internal improvement can be expected offensively?
The Padres are currently in control of the top wild-card spot in the National League, despite being 24th in runs scored. Obviously, for them to hold onto that spot and have any chance to do damage in the postseason, that's going to have to change.
Here's the thing, this should not only be a more capable offense, but one of the tougher ones in the league. But the stars aren't performing:
In theory, that should be one of the scariest lineup trios in baseball. If they return to being that, the Padres could be a scary out in the postseason considering Mason Miller is headlining baseball's best bullpen.
Arizona Diamondbacks: Do they have the starting pitching to be a playoff team?
Torey Lovullo almost always seems to keep the Diamondbacks competitive, but president of baseball operations Mike Hazen is going to have to decide this summer whether the ceiling for the Snakes is 82 wins, or if a tweak or two could get them into the playoffs.
How the rotation looks is going to go a long way in determining Hazen's evaluation. Eduardo Rodrรญguez is having a rebound year, as the veteran lefty has a 2.24 ERA across 10 starts. However, the team's long-time rotation anchors have both underperformed. Zac Gallen has a 4.80 ERA and 4.33 FIP to show after returning on a one-year, $22.025 million deal. Merrill Kellyโwho returned in free agency on a two-year, $40 million dealโdoes have one complete game, but has a 5.71 ERA in his first seven starts since returning from a back injury.
Considering how well Michael Soroka is pitching, the DBacks have the chance to not only get to the postseason but be an October spoiler if Gallen and Kelly round into form. If that doesn't happen before the trade deadline, Hazen is going to have to make some tough decisions.
San Francisco Giants: Would anyone take a big deal off their hands?
There were high hopes for the Giants entering the season, but they've instead been one of the worst teams in the National League. That could change in time for them to be buyers before the trade deadline, but right now it seems that president of baseball operations Buster Posey could end up at a crossroads this summer.
If the Giants decide the core they've constructed isn't what they want to proceed with, it will be interesting to see if they can offload any of the big deals they've signed.
Assuming Logan Webb returns from right knee bursitis and looks like himself, teams would be lined up to trade for the workhorse righty, who is in the third season of a five-year, $90 million deal. The Giants almost certainly wouldn't trade the 29-year-old, who they would owe a $1 million trade assignment bonus if dealt.
There will definitely be interest in a resurgent Luis Arrรกez, but the return likely won't be drastic since he's only signed for this season. Harrison Bader is hot right now, but he also secured a $1 million trade assignment bonus when he inked a two-year, $20.5 million deal in the offseason.
Quite frankly, Posey is going to have a tough job shaking this team up in a meaningful way as a seller this summer.
Colorado Rockies: Who will they listen on?
Tomoyuki Sugano and Antonio Senzatela are veterans the Rockies seem sure to deal this summer since both will be free agents next winter.
It will be interesting to see if in his first trade deadline as president of baseball operations, Paul DePodesta is willing to consider any of his more productive controllable pieces.
We'll really get an idea of how far away DePodesta thinks the Rockies are by how he operates this summer.
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