Top MLB Trade Rumors Before 2026 All-Star Game

With a pause in regular season action for the 2026 MLB All-Star Game, front offices around the league have a chance to assess what they have—and, perhaps more notably, what they're missing—ahead of the upcoming trade deadline.

As one might expect, the rumor mill is really starting to churn.

Let's break down the latest buzz to find out who might be on the move and where they could be heading.

Dodgers Looming Largest in Tarik Skubal Sweepstakes?

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The Los Angeles Dodgers have the best record in baseball, the most loaded roster in the league and a few potential difference-makers working their way back from injuries (Edwin Diaz, Tyler Glasnow and Blake Snell). They also have such a stacked farm system that they could chase any trade deadline target they desire.

Their level of desire is hard to gauge. While they have indicated "limited interest" in Detroit Tigers ace Tarik Skubal, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reported that rival teams "worry that the Dodgers might be underselling their interest."

Those worries might be well-founded, as ESPN's Jeff Passan noted on Get Up that the Dodgers appear Skubal's most likely landing spot.

The Dodgers might still feel they don't need to make this move. The Tigers, who've gone 22-14 since June 1, might want to keep this group together and hope for the best with Skubal's impending free agency. If there's a major deal to be made, though, these seem the likeliest parties.

Mariners Moving a Starting Pitcher?

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The Seattle Mariners have more starting pitcher depth than they can use. Just ask elite pitching prospect Kade Anderson, who is doing everything he can to earn a promotion but can't get the call with so much congestion already in the rotation.

Now, longtime baseball observers might scoff at the notion that teams can ever have too much pitching, but there's still an imbalance with this roster. And using said starting pitching depth to correct that might be the best plan of action.

The Mariners seem to think so at least, as Bob Nightengale of USA Today reported they "are letting teams know that they are willing to trade one of their prized starters for a back-end reliever and right-handed hitter, most likely Luis Castillo."

Castillo, of course, probably isn't the first Seattle starter potential trade partners are hoping to pry loose, but it's easy to see why the Mariners would deem him the most expendable. He isn't young (33) or cheap ($22.75 million this season and next), and he's not having a good season. Still, as a three-time All-Star with playoff experience, you can see why pitching-needy clubs could give him a long look.

Rays Eyeing Impact Additions?

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The Tampa Bay Rays entered intermission with the AL's best winning percentage (.596). They apparently have zero interest in sitting back and celebrating what they've done.

Per Nightengale, the Rays "plan to be aggressive buyers at the deadline."

Aggressive might not even be strong enough to describe what they're reportedly after. They "have their eyes on Skubal," per Nightengale, who added they have "shown interest" in both Ketel Marte of the Arizona Diamondbacks and Luis Arraez of the San Francisco Giants.

Given how good the Rays routinely are at getting more than expected from lesser known or lesser regarded players, it's scary to think what they could do with stars this bright. Stay tuned.