Nothing gets the baseball world buzzing like the Trade Deadline, and now that the calendar has flipped to June, the rumor mill will begin to churn with talk of buyers and sellers that could shape the pennant races later this summer.
The biggest problem? There may be a lack of big names on the market, because most of the notable players on expiring contracts are playing for contenders and won’t be going anywhere.
The expanded postseason format has reduced the number of sellers, at least until the final 72 hours prior to the July 31 Trade Deadline, when executives must decide which path to take: buy, sell or stand pat and hope for the best.
With roughly eight weeks remaining until the Deadline, here are eight pressing trade-related questions that will shape the conversation between now and July 31.
Which teams are likely sellers?
The list is relatively small as we begin June. Only six of baseball’s 30 teams already find themselves at least eight games out of a Wild Card spot.
Things can always turn around for some of these clubs, but the Rockies, White Sox, Marlins, Nationals, Athletics and Pirates appear headed on a seller’s path.
Which teams are likely buyers?
This category is far trickier, especially for clubs hovering around the .500 mark. There are some that absolutely figure to be buyers barring some kind of unforeseen collapse, with the Yankees, Tigers, Astros, Phillies, Mets, Cubs and Dodgers leading the way.
The Mariners, Padres, Giants and Cardinals certainly appear to be on a buying track, as do the Blue Jays, Twins, Guardians and Royals, all of whom are firmly in the AL Wild Card mix.
Which teams fall somewhere in the middle?
The Rays, Red Sox, Rangers, Angels, Braves, Brewers, Reds and D-backs are all hanging around in their respective league postseason races, but a lot will happen between now and the end of July to shape their approach leading up to the Trade Deadline.
Only three AL teams were more than five games out of a Wild Card spot entering Monday, while all but three NL clubs were within 5 1/2 games of a postseason spot. That means 24 of the 30 clubs are still within striking distance, setting up a crucial six or seven weeks for the standings to shake out.
You’ve mentioned 29 teams so far. What about the Orioles?
Baltimore might be the most intriguing team to watch during the next eight weeks, especially after winning three in a row and six of its last eight games, finally showing some signs of life.
If the Orioles are able to turn things around, GM Mike Elias could look to add some much-needed pitching with the hope of a second-half run, but the more likely scenario is that Baltimore opts to sell off some pieces and look to contend in 2026.
Pitchers Zach Eflin, Tomoyuki Sugano, Charlie Morton, Gregory Soto and Seranthony Dominguez and outfielders Cedric Mullins, Ryan O’Hearn and Ramón Laureano are all slated to become free agents after the season, giving the O’s a number of expiring contracts to dangle on the trade market. Eflin, Sugano, Mullins and O’Hearn would all help a number of contenders should they get moved.
Although Baltimore seems unlikely to move any of its young, controllable talent, first baseman Ryan Mountcastle has one year of control remaining, and with Coby Mayo waiting in the wings, Mountcastle could be an intriguing trade candidate.
Will the Rays be sellers for the second straight year?
As we detailed back in March, the Rays made a number of deals last summer that helped set up the club for 2025 and beyond. Tampa Bay doesn’t operate like most clubs, so even if the Rays are in contention – they entered the week at 30-29, trailing the Yankees by 6 1/2 games in the AL East but facing only a 1 1/2-game deficit in the Wild Card race – we could see president of baseball operations Erik Neander use his club’s depth to do some buying and selling between now and July 31.
A lot will depend on how things shake out in the coming weeks. If Ha-Seong Kim is healthy and effective, their need for a better shortstop is answered. If Shane McClanahan is close to his old form, they’ve got an ace. The depth in the organization could provide the answers to any needs they have, but the Rays are always cognizant of their players’ contractual status, which could open the door for some deals.
Closer Pete Fairbanks has one more year of control, Brandon Lowe has a club option for 2026 and Yandy Díaz is signed through 2026 with an option for '27. Zack Littell is headed for free agency this winter. If the Rays are firmly in the race next month, it’s hard to see them moving any of these key pieces, but with Tampa Bay, you never know.
The Rockies appear to be sure-fire sellers, but who do they have to sell?
It’s tough to imagine other clubs itching to acquire much off the roster of the 9-50 Rockies, who are off to a historically bad start. Colorado has yet to win a series this season, and their nine wins are six fewer than the 2024 White Sox – who lost a record 121 games last season – had heading into June.
There are a few potential trade candidates on Colorado’s roster, however. Ryan McMahon is not off to a great start (six homers, 17 RBIs, .675 OPS), but he’s hit at least 20 home runs in each of his five full seasons in the Majors, plays a solid third base and is signed for $16 million in both 2026 and '27. Teams could view him as a prime change-of-scenery candidate.
Germán Márquez is 1-7 with a 7.13 ERA, though he’s been very good in three of his past four starts. The right-hander is headed for free agency after the season and could be a solid mid-to-back end rotation piece for a pitching-needy contender.
A pair of relievers could also draw interest. Jake Bird is having a fantastic season (1.60 ERA, 42 strikeouts in 33 2/3 innings) and Seth Halvorsen has a triple-digit fastball and a 58.2% ground-ball rate, ranking in the 94th percentile in MLB.
Would the Pirates really trade Paul Skenes?
No. We’ve had some fun projecting the types of packages that Pittsburgh could get for the reigning NL Rookie of the Year, but GM Ben Cherington has done everything possible to throw cold water on the possibility.
Executives around baseball were split on whether trading Skenes is the right move for the Pirates, but barring the type of offer that Cherington simply couldn’t refuse – if such an offer even exists – Skenes will be taking the mound every five days for Pittsburgh for the foreseeable future.
That’s not to say the Pirates won’t be active this summer. Andrew Heaney figures to be an attractive rotation option for a number of clubs, while relievers Dennis Santana and David Bednar could also be potential trade chips for Pittsburgh.
Will the Marlins trade Sandy Alcantara?
Our recent executive poll asked a number of MLB’s decision-makers to predict the biggest name who will be moved by the Trade Deadline, and 12 of the 19 respondents went with Alcantara.
The fact that the former Cy Young winner was off to a poor start (2-4, 8.42 ERA at the time of the poll) didn’t seem to matter to executives, who seemed to be banking on Alcantara’s track record as he returns from Tommy John surgery.
Since the poll, Alcantara’s performance hasn’t gotten any better, though: He entered the week 2-7 with an 8.47 ERA in 11 starts. His Statcast page is filled with below-average numbers – he ranks in the lower 25% in nearly every category – but his fastball is averaging 97.2 mph (92nd percentile) and his ground-ball rate is 49.7% (78th percentile), two encouraging signs for the 29-year-old.
Alcantara is signed for $17.3 million both this year and next, with a $21 million club option for 2027. If he shows any signs that he’s ready to return to his previous form, he could find himself in a new uniform before the end of July.