MLB Trade Deadline 2026 Date, End Time, Hottest Rumors, Predictions and More

The MLB trade deadline is Monday, August 3, at 6:00 p.m. EST, and several high-profile players could find themselves at the center of deals.

None more so than Tarik Skubal, the two-time Cy Young winner with the Detroit Tigers, who is reasserting his dominance in the back half of this season.

What is the latest on the star pitcher, and who else bears watching ahead of the deadline? Find out with this collection of reports from the game's most trusted insiders.

Teams Interested in Freddy Peralta

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Will Sammon of The Athletic reported on New York Mets starter Freddy Peralta, "For some teams expressing interest, Peralta, 30, still possesses the ingredients that previously made him successful despite his 4.99 ERA, his 1.48 WHIP and half of his 22 starts ending before the sixth inning."

He added, "The Chicago White Sox and Chicago Cubs checked in. The San Diego Padres and Arizona Diamondbacks, more teams in the market for pitching, scouted his last start. The Milwaukee Brewers, Texas Rangers and Philadelphia Phillies are among the other teams looking for rotation help."

Peralta's stint in New York has been disastrous, to say the least.

The righty has a 5-9 record, an ERA of 4.99, and a 1.48 WHIP. He has given up 17 home runs in 22 starts.

Perhaps New York simply has not been a good fit for Peralta, and he will rediscover the stuff that made him a Cy Young candidate in Milwaukee. With Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns coming from the Brewers, could he make them a favorable deal that nets the club some young prospects in return for Milwaukee's former ace?

It seems more likely than trading him within the division to Philadelphia.

Whatever the case may be, Peralta was scratched from his upcoming start, suggesting the team is looking to preserve his trade value ahead of Monday's deadline.

Prediction: Peralta heads back to Milwaukee for a prospect or two

Update on Orioles Deadline Moves

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ESPN's Jeff Passan reported:

"The Orioles could be among the busiest teams before Monday at 6 p.m. ET. And they also could focus on their free-agents-to-be (outfielder Taylor Ward, left-hander Trevor Rogers and right-handed reliever Andrew Kittredge) while saving their overhaul for the winter."

The New York Post's Jon Heyman added that the Yankees, Boston Red Sox, and Tampa Bay Rays have shown interest in, and would be top contenders for, former No. 1 overall pick Adley Rutschman should he become available.

The Orioles have underperformed in each of the last two seasons yet despite a sub-.500 record thus far, remain 1.5 games out of the Wild Card.

It would be somewhat surprising to see the team's front office completely blow things up if the organization still has a realistic shot at making the postseason. Baltimore's 6-4, come-from-behind win over Philadelphia on Friday night will not make any decision-making easier.

Rutschman has been the most coveted piece of the Orioles' puzzle since the start of the season and is due for a payday. If it is not he who is moved, it could be Jackson Holliday, who is among the game's hottest hitters right now and, arguably, the most valuable player in Baltimore's lineup.

There is also a chance the O's opt not to become a seller and, instead, look to bolster the roster.

Prediction: Baltimore makes no major plays for any high-profile players, but does make a utility or bullpen trade

Latest on Tarik Skubal

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The biggest domino at the trade deadline is Detroit Tigers starter and two-time defending American League Cy Young Award winner Tarik Skubal.

Heyman reported on X that the Tigers' asking price for Skubal is "enormous."

Mark Feinsand echoed that sentiment, calling the price "astronomical." He added that the Los Angeles Dodgers, Milwaukee Brewers, Tampa Bay Rays, Atlanta Braves and Chicago Cubs are considered to be the "most likely" destinations.

Will Sammon and Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reported that the Tigers would be looking for "a controllable starting pitcher plus quality prospects" in return for their ace.

The Dodgers have the prospects, plus starter Emmet Sheehan, to get the deal done. As a result, the defending two-time World Series champions, notorious for getting the players they want, should be considered the favorite to land Skubal.

The Tigers starter has a 2.79 ERA this season, with 116 strikeouts and a 0.91 WHIP. Those numbers are not quite up to his numbers from the last two seasons, but he is heating up and should be a huge factor in a World Series run for any contending team.

Prediction: The Dodgers further embrace their role as baseball villains by executing the deal for Skubal