MLB Trade Deadline 2026: Buyers, Sellers and the Biggest Names on the Move

The Aug. 3 MLB trade deadline is now just under two weeks away, and the league is splitting into clear buyers and sellers faster than usual this year. Several teams that entered the season with playoff hopes have already signaled they’re open to moving significant pieces, while a handful of contenders are shopping aggressively for one more difference-maker before the 6 p.m. ET cutoff.

The Sellers Are Piling Up

The New York Mets made the most dramatic shift of the week. After debating whether to buy or sell while waiting on injured players to get healthy, New York has flipped into full sell mode, according to SNY and the New York Post, and is making the majority of its roster available. Rival executives believe star shortstop Francisco Lindor won’t be dealt at the deadline and will instead be shopped over the winter, per Bob Nightengale.

The San Diego Padres have emerged as one of the more surprising sell-side stories. Despite entering the year with legitimate NL West aspirations alongside the Dodgers, the San Diego Union-Tribune reports the Padres “have not ruled out anything,” including moving All-Star closer Mason Miller, high-leverage reliever Adrian Morejon and starter Michael King. One creative idea reportedly being discussed internally is attaching Miller to Xander Bogaerts in a package designed to shed the remainder of Bogaerts’ contract — though Bogaerts would need to waive his no-trade clause for that to happen. The New York Yankees have already been connected to Miller, reportedly “loving the idea” of adding the closer, per the New York Post.

The Athletics enter the stretch run having lost 10 of 11 games and sitting 14 games under .500, and MLB Network insider Jon Heyman reports the club is “open to anything.” Jon Morosi has added that the A’s have already fielded calls from teams inquiring about their outfielders. The Cincinnati Reds, while not entirely out of the playoff race, have informed teams they’re “open for business,” with The Athletic reporting the club is focused on moving players in their final year of team control rather than blowing up the whole roster. The San Francisco Giants, sitting with one of the NL’s worst records despite a high payroll, are reportedly “all ears” on outfielder Jung Hoo Lee, according to Nightengale.

Buyers Circling the Board

The Tampa Bay Rays enter the deadline with the best record in the American League and have been the most aggressive name in rumors so far. USA Today reports the Rays “plan to be aggressive buyers,” with Detroit Tigers ace Tarik Skubal as their primary target — an unusual level of aggression for a franchise that typically avoids big short-term financial commitments. Tampa Bay has also been linked to second base upgrades, with Arizona’s Ketel Marte and San Francisco’s Luis Arraez both mentioned as names on Nightengale’s radar.

The Houston Astros have made their intentions clear and simple. A high-ranking Astros executive told Nightengale the club’s deadline focus is “pitching, pitching and more pitching,” a priority general manager Dana Brown had already flagged publicly, alongside a desire to upgrade the outfield. The Atlanta Braves are also expected to be active, with pitching high on their wish list — Skubal, Minnesota’s Joe Ryan and Mets closer Devin Williams have all surfaced as names connected to Atlanta’s search. The Philadelphia Phillies, currently pulling starters up from Double-A and Triple-A to cover an ailing rotation behind Cristopher Sanchez, Zack Wheeler, Jesus Luzardo and Aaron Nola, are looking for a back-end starter to stabilize things, according to NBC Sports Philadelphia.

The Los Angeles Angels are also expected to be sellers of a sort at their own deadline, dealing from a rotation surplus — Heyman reports the Angels are expected to make starters Reid Detmers and Jose Soriano available, with interim general manager John Mozeliak reportedly given leeway to make aggressive moves.

The Dodgers’ Deadline Math

The defending champion Dodgers are dealing with their own complications heading into the deadline. Shohei Ohtani is out of the rotation indefinitely with a left knee issue, and catcher Will Smith is expected to miss at least another month with a neck injury. Despite that, The Athletic reports Los Angeles isn’t planning to change its deadline approach and will “look to improve on the margins” rather than pursue a blockbuster. That reported restraint hasn’t stopped speculation — Ken Rosenthal has said to watch the Dodgers as a real threat to land Skubal, and ESPN’s Alden Gonzalez notes rival evaluators believe no team matches up better with the Tigers in a trade given the pitching and outfield pieces Los Angeles could offer.

Names to Watch Between Now and Aug. 3

A handful of situations remain unresolved and worth tracking closely as the deadline nears. Minnesota Twins catcher Ryan Jeffers, recently activated off the injured list from a fractured hamate bone, has scouts from catcher-needy clubs like the Yankees and Rays showing up at his games, with the Twins reportedly still undecided on whether they’re buying or selling. The Colorado Rockies have already made one notable early move, sending right-hander Seth Halvorsen to the Dodgers in exchange for right-hander Nick Frasso and outfielder Landyn Vidourek. The Chicago Cubs also struck early, acquiring right-hander Aaron Civale and cash from the Athletics for minor league pitcher Aiden Moffett, while the Astros are finalizing a deal sending Lance McCullers Jr. to the Brewers.

With this many teams still undecided on direction, the volume of rumors is only going to increase over the next two weeks. Bettors tracking postseason odds shifts should watch how quickly lines move on contenders like the Rays, Braves and Astros if any of their pitching targets actually get finalized — a single ace-caliber addition can move a team’s World Series price noticeably. Fans looking to get in on the action around deadline week can check the latest DraftKings promo code or FanDuel promo code offers before locking in any futures bets tied to how these deals shake out.

For a broader look at how sportsbooks are pricing contenders heading into August, the sportsbooks hub is a good starting point, and bettors comparing multiple books ahead of deadline-driven line movement may also want to check the BetMGM promo code and Caesars Sportsbook promo code pages for current offers.