The Mead-Early trade could be a sign of things to come, as it was between two teams with a shot at a postseason spot rather than a trade between a true buyer and a true seller. We could see several of those types of deals, as only a handful of teams are further than five games out from at least a wild-card berth.<\/p>\n
That deal also shows that teams will have to overpay for right-handed power. Putting aside Mead\u2019s injury (which was just bad luck), when evaluating the trade, the Nationals got the better end of the deal in terms of value, but both teams got exactly what they needed. Front offices aren\u2019t looking to \u201cwin\u201d trades but rather to put their team in a better position to win a championship. The Red Sox likely didn\u2019t \u201cwin\u201d this deal in terms of future value, but before Mead\u2019s unfortunate injury, it put them in a much better position to win this year. This could be a sign of things to come in future deals at this year\u2019s deadline.<\/p>\n
In talking with front-office heads in both leagues, I\u2019m hearing that teams are not expecting a flurry of moves until the weekend. According to the execs I\u2019ve spoken with, several teams are still deciding not only whether to buy or sell, but also what they are looking for to improve. For several teams, their needs are different than they were even a week ago. That indecision has made deals more difficult to close so far.<\/p>\n
With all of that in mind, here are the things you need to keep track of as we head into the heart of trade deadline mania.<\/p>\n
First, let\u2019s look at the buyers, sellers and everyone in between:<\/p>\n
Definite buyers\u00a0<\/p>\n
American League: Rays, Yankees, Red Sox, White Sox, Guardians, Rangers, Mariners and Astros<\/p>\n
National League: Dodgers, Brewers, Braves, Phillies and Cubs<\/p>\n
Definite sellers<\/p>\n
American League: Angels, Royals, Athletics and Blue Jays<\/p>\n
National League: Mets, Giants and Rockies<\/p>\n
Expected to buy, but could also sell<\/p>\n
American League: Orioles and Twins<\/p>\n
National League: Pirates, Cardinals, Padres and Diamondbacks<\/p>\n
Still on the fence<\/p>\n
American League: Tigers<\/p>\n
National League: Marlins, Reds and Nationals<\/p>\n
Five storylines to watchTarik Skubal: Will he stay or will he go?<\/p>\n
The headliner of this year\u2019s deadline is two-time AL Cy Young Award winner Skubal. But will the Tigers actually trade him? If they do, they\u2019ll likely also trade their second-best starting pitcher, Casey Mize, and their closer, Kenley Jansen.<\/p>\n
It really could go either way. They are still within arm\u2019s reach of the wild-card but aren\u2019t playing well at the moment. However, through Tuesday\u2019s games, they were tied with the Rays in run differential (+39), reflecting the talent on their roster. If they trade Skubal and\/or Mize, their season is basically over.<\/p>\n
![\"Detroit](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/AP26206014579138-scaled.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
\n The Tigers remain undecided on whether to trade their ace, and the decision will have a ripple effect on the entire trade market. (Paul Sancya \/ Associated Press)<\/p>\n
That said, since they haven\u2019t been able to extend Skubal and aren\u2019t even negotiating a new deal right now, I believe they would be better off trading him and getting back a haul of prospects who will make them better in the long term. They have a strong core of young players, including the best catcher in baseball in Dillon Dingler, one of the best young hitters in the game in rookie Kevin McGonigle and an emerging superstar in left fielder Riley Greene.<\/p>\n
If there are trades available that allow them to load up on pitching at both the major- and minor-league levels in deals for Skubal and Mize, then that\u2019s the direction they should go. I don\u2019t think the Tigers are a World Series team this year despite the parity in the AL.<\/p>\n
I do understand the argument for going for it because there isn\u2019t a dominant team in the AL, but if the Tigers keep Skubal and Mize and don\u2019t make the playoffs, they\u2019ll have set the organization back a few years.<\/p>\n
New York, New York: Mets and Yankees the biggest seller and buyer?<\/p>\n
The Mets are expected to be the most aggressive and most prolific sellers, as they have two starting pitchers to dangle in Freddy Peralta and Clay Holmes and a plethora of bullpen arms, including Luke Weaver, A.J. Minter, Brooks Raley and Huascar Brazob\u00e1n. They also have right-handed hitting outfielders Luis Robert Jr. and Tyrone Taylor and a couple of catchers everyone wants in Francisco Alvarez and Luis Torrens.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, the Yankees could be the biggest buyers with their needs growing rapidly due to injuries. The latest blow came when star left fielder Cody Bellinger was placed on the IL with a hamstring injury. He will be out four to six weeks, which means they might not get Aaron Judge or Bellinger back until September or later.<\/p>\n
The Yankees have a lot of needs, from a right-handed hitting outfielder to a right-handed hitting catcher to a starting pitcher to a high-leverage reliever. They\u2019ll also be in play if any impact players are actually traded, like Skubal and Padres closer Mason Miller. The Yankees have plenty to offer in trades thanks to a deep farm system, multiple major-league starters they could include in deals, as well as left-handed hitting outfielders already in The Show.<\/p>\n
New York, New York \u2026 Frank Sinatra and Jay Z, get ready to sing, baby.<\/p>\n
Will contender-to-contender trades dominate over buyer-seller trades?<\/p>\n
There just aren\u2019t a lot of sellers, and most of them don\u2019t have a lot to sell. The Rockies could deal their star catcher Hunter Goodman, but beyond that, they only have back-of-the-rotation and bullpen arms to deal. The Royals could dangle starting pitchers Michael Wacha and Seth Lugo along with Lane Thomas \u2014 who is more of a fourth-outfielder type \u2014 or a set-up reliever, but not much beyond that. The A\u2019s are likely to hold on to their young core, leaving back-end starters and role players as their only major trade chips.<\/p>\n
Among the other sellers, the Angels have Reid Detmers, Jos\u00e9 Soriano, Zach Neto and Jo Adell to offer. The Giants and Blue Jays have some solid veterans on expiring contracts available: Robbie Ray, Tyler Mahle and Luis Arraez in San Francisco and Kevin Gausman, Shane Bieber, Daulton Varsho and George Springer in Toronto. Aside from those teams and the Mets, most of the teams making deals will be contenders.<\/p>\n
Several big names rumored to be available are not likely to be moved<\/p>\n
A few weeks ago, all we kept hearing was how Mike Trout was going to be traded to the Phillies. Well, we can stop the rumors; it\u2019s not happening. He doesn\u2019t want to be traded, he has a full no-trade clause, Angels owner Arte Moreno doesn\u2019t want to trade him and the Angels interim GM John Mozeliak says he\u2019s not going to trade him.<\/p>\n
Similarly, Mason Miller isn\u2019t going anywhere. Teams may offer the Padres their best prospect, and the answer will still be no. The only way he is traded is if it\u2019s a Juan Soto-type deal where the Padres get four top-10 prospects in return. As of this writing, no one has made an offer close to that.<\/p>\n
For much of the season, it was rumored that the Twins would be open to trading stars Joe Ryan and Byron Buxton, but that isn\u2019t happening. In fact, the Twins are looking to add and are trying to improve their bullpen.<\/p>\n
The Marlins\u2019 season took a turn recently with a 12-game losing streak, but even that isn\u2019t likely to push them to trade Sandy Alcantara. And the Giants aren\u2019t trading Rafael Devers, Willy Adames and Matt Chapman at this trade deadline. Their bad contracts and current underperformance complicate any potential deals. Of course, I learned a long time ago in baseball that anything can happen, but as of now there is zero momentum.<\/p>\n
Can the Brewers and Rays prove there is no need for a hard salary cap?<\/p>\n
If the Dodgers win their third consecutive title this year with a payroll that is $300 million more than that of the Brewers and Rays, it will just fuel MLB owners who want to impose a lockout for the entire 2027 season in order to get a hard salary cap like in the NFL, NBA and NHL. However, if there is a World Series between the Brewers and Rays and one of them acquires Skubal at the deadline and the other team also adds big, then the argument for the cap should lessen during these labor negotiations and open a clearer path to an agreement in time for a 2027 season.<\/p>\n
The MLBPA should be rooting hard for those small-market teams to outmaneuver the big-market teams at the deadline.<\/p>\n
Front office leaders under the most pressure<\/p>\n
David Stearns, New York Mets<\/p>\n
Yes, he\u2019s under contract for two more years, but in all probability has one more year to turn things around and keep his job long-term. He has the most talent to trade at the deadline, and he also will be under the most pressure.<\/p>\n
Brian Cashman, New York Yankees<\/p>\n
As the Yankees GM, he\u2019s always dealing with the most pressure, but unlike Stearns, Cashman isn\u2019t fighting to keep his job but rather to get the Yankees back to the World Series.<\/p>\n
![\"Jerry](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/GettyImages-1422566469-scaled.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
\n The Mariners need to take advantage of their current window to make a deep playoff run. (Steph Chambers \/ Getty Images)<\/p>\n
Jerry Dipoto, Seattle Mariners<\/p>\n
The Mariners are the most disappointing team in baseball. Based on their present roster, they should be in first place with a healthy lead, but instead are fighting for their survival. Seattle needs to trade for a right-handed impact bat and another high-leverage reliever if they\u2019re going to win the AL West. The pressure is on while this team\u2019s window for winning is still open.<\/p>\n
Dave Dombrowski, Philadelphia Phillies<\/p>\n
The Phillies are an aging team with a roster filled with stars and scrubs. When the trio of Cristopher S\u00e1nchez, Zack Wheeler and Jes\u00fas Luzardo start, they are a playoff team. When anyone else starts, they are one of the worst teams in baseball.<\/p>\n
Their offense is centered around Kyle Schwarber, Bryce Harper, Trea Turner and Brandon Marsh, but after that they don\u2019t have a major-league-average performer this year and Turner has really struggled. They are built to win in October but might not get there if Dombrowski doesn\u2019t deal for a back-end starter (or two), another reliever and a right-handed hitting outfielder.<\/p>\n
The pressure is on with the Phillies\u2019 contention window closing rapidly.<\/p>\n
Chris Getz, Chicago White Sox<\/p>\n
Getz has taken Chicago from 102 losses last year to first place in the AL Central. If he\u2019s going to hold on to the division lead, he needs to trade for a starting pitcher, a reliever and a catcher. The White Sox are the best story in baseball, and now it\u2019s time to finish the job.<\/p>\n
Dana Brown, Houston Astros<\/p>\n
Brown is working under an expiring contract. With most of his offseason moves to improve their pitching backfiring, he might need a strong trade at the deadline and a playoff berth to get what would be a well-deserved contract extension. <\/p>\n
Front office leaders under the least pressure<\/p>\n
Andrew Friedman, Los Angeles Dodgers<\/p>\n
Easily the least pressure in baseball. Friedman\u2019s organization has the most money, the best front office and the best talent top to bottom. He doesn\u2019t have to make a single trade for his team to be the favorite to win it all once again.<\/p>\n
Matt Arnold, Milwaukee Brewers<\/p>\n
Arnold has the second-best team in the sport despite having one of the smallest payrolls. His farm system is loaded. Even if he does nothing, the Brewers are very likely to win the NL Central. He\u2019ll try to make an impact and take a shot at acquiring another playoff starter, but there is no pressure if he doesn\u2019t land one.<\/p>\n
What other surprises could we see?<\/p>\n
If there is going to be a surprise at this year\u2019s deadline, it\u2019s going to come from a small- to middle-market team that hasn\u2019t been able to sign their young star players to long-term contracts deciding they want to trade them now while their trade value is at its peak.<\/p>\n
Examples of this could be CJ Abrams of the Nationals, Elly De La Cruz of the Reds, Oneil Cruz of the Pirates or Adley Rutschman of the Orioles.<\/p>\n
Best available playersStarting pitchers
\nTarik Skubal, LHP, Detroit Tigers
\nHunter Greene, RHP, Cincinnati Reds
\nCasey Mize, RHP, Detroit Tigers
\nFoster Griffin, LHP, Washington Nationals
\nTrevor Rogers, LHP, Baltimore Orioles
\nKevin Gausman, RHP, Toronto Blue Jays
\nShane Bieber, RHP, Toronto Blue Jays
\nEmerson Hancock, RHP, Seattle Mariners
\nJos\u00e9 Soriano, RHP, Los Angeles Angels
\nReid Detmers, LHP, Los Angeles Angels
\nRobbie Ray, LHP, San Francisco Giants
\nMichael Wacha, RHP, Kansas City Royals
\nClay Holmes, RHP, New York Mets
\nFreddy Peralta, RHP, New York Mets
\nLuis Castillo, RHP, Seattle Mariners
\nKris Bubic, LHP, Kansas City Royals
\nDustin May, RHP, St. Louis Cardinals
\nTyler Mahle, RHP, San Francisco Giants
\nSeth Lugo, RHP, Kansas City Royals
\nBrady Singer, RHP, Cincinnati Reds
\n![\"San](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/USATSI_29376648-scaled.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
\n If the Padres make Mason Miller available, he\u2019ll be the top reliever on the market. (Denis Poroy \/ Imagn Images)<\/p>\n
Relievers
\nMason Miller, RHP, San Diego Padres
\nLouis Varland, RHP, Toronto Blue Jays
\nAdrian Morejon, LHP, San Diego Padres
\nLuke Weaver, RHP, New York Mets
\nHuascar Brazob\u00e1n, RHP, New York Mets
\nA.J. Minter, LHP, New York Mets
\nKenley Jansen, RHP, Detroit Tigers
\nBrooks Raley, LHP, New York Mets
\nJohn Schreiber, RHP, Kansas City Royals
\nLucas Erceg, RHP, Kansas City Royals
\nPeter Fairbanks, RHP, Miami Marlins
\nJeff Hoffman, RHP, Toronto Blue Jays
\nAntonio Senzatela, RHP, Colorado Rockies
\nTop position players<\/p>\n
Catchers<\/p>\n
Hunter Goodman, Colorado Rockies
\nShea Langeliers, Athletics (injured; likely out for season)
\nAdley Rutschman, Baltimore Orioles
\nFrancisco Alvarez, New York Mets
\nLiam Hicks, Miami Marlins
\nRyan Jeffers, Minnesota Twins
\nBrandon Valenzuela, Toronto Blue Jays
\nKeibert Ruiz, Washington Nationals
\nLuis Torrens, New York Mets
\nTyler Stephenson, Cincinnati Reds<\/p>\n
First base<\/p>\n
Rafael Devers, San Francisco Giants
\nLuis Garc\u00eda, Washington Nationals
\nSpencer Steer, Cincinnati Reds (injured; off the market)<\/p>\n
Second base<\/p>\n
Luis Arraez, San Francisco Giants
\nGleyber Torres, Detroit Tigers
\nWilli Castro, Colorado Rockies
\nMarcus Semien, New York Mets<\/p>\n
Shortstop<\/p>\n
CJ Abrams, Washington Nationals (highly doubtful)
\nElly De La Cruz, Cincinnati Reds (highly doubtful)
\nZach Neto, Los Angeles Angels
\nJackson Holliday, Baltimore Orioles
\nWilly Adames, San Francisco Giants
\nXander Bogaerts, San Diego Padres<\/p>\n
Third base<\/p>\n
Bo Bichette, New York Mets
\nMatt Chapman, San Francisco Giants
\nRoyce Lewis, Minnesota Twins
\nEugenio Su\u00e1rez, Cincinnati Reds
\nBrett Baty, New York Mets<\/p>\n
Outfielders<\/p>\n
Oneil Cruz, Pittsburgh Pirates
\nColton Cowser, Baltimore Orioles
\nGeorge Springer, Toronto Blue Jays
\nTeoscar Hern\u00e1ndez, Los Angeles Dodgers
\nLawrence Butler, Athletics
\nLuis Robert Jr., New York Mets
\nTaylor Ward, Baltimore Orioles
\nLane Thomas, Kansas City Royals
\nJo Adell, Los Angeles Angels
\nDaulton Varsho, Toronto Blue Jays
\nTrevor Larnach, Minnesota Twins
\nJJ Bleday, Cincinnati Reds
\nHeliot Ramos, San Francisco Giants
\nTyrone Taylor, New York Mets
\nLars Nootbaar, St. Louis Cardinals
\nMickey Moniak, Colorado Rockies
\nJake McCarthy, Colorado Rockies
\nJorge Soler, Los Angeles Angels<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Happy Trade Deadline Week, as the clock goes tick tock, tick tock\u2026 Discussions are heating up, with all…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":309692,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[31976,14275,13831,15492,3472,25677,17705,32318,448,51156,2589,35073,30930,37072,7482,37495,17704,16861,20,9,11,320,10,321,5389,19217,29911,6928,7580,44602,25678,24627,10747,35514],"class_list":["post-309691","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-new-york","tag-arizona-diamondbacks","tag-athletics","tag-atlanta-braves","tag-baltimore-orioles","tag-boston-red-sox","tag-chicago-white-sox","tag-chicago-cubs","tag-cincinnati-reds","tag-cleveland-guardians","tag-colorado-rockies","tag-detroit-tigers","tag-houston-astros","tag-kansas-city-royals","tag-los-angeles-angels","tag-los-angeles-dodgers","tag-miami-marlins","tag-milwaukee-brewers","tag-minnesota-twins","tag-mlb","tag-new-york","tag-new-york-headlines","tag-new-york-mets","tag-new-york-news","tag-new-york-yankees","tag-philadelphia-phillies","tag-pittsburgh-pirates","tag-san-diego-padres","tag-san-francisco-giants","tag-seattle-mariners","tag-st-louis-cardinals","tag-tampa-bay-rays","tag-texas-rangers","tag-toronto-blue-jays","tag-washington-nationals"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/309691","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=309691"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/309691\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/309692"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=309691"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=309691"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=309691"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}