The 2026 MLB Trade Deadline arrives Monday, August 3rd at 6 p.m. ET, later than the traditional July 31 cutoff, since the Commissioner’s Office now has flexibility to set the date anywhere between July 28 and Aug. 3 to avoid clashing with that day’s games. With standings bunched up in nearly every division, front offices are heading into deadline week with more uncertainty than usual about whether they’re buyers, sellers, or something in between.

Big Name Looming: Tarik Skubal

No player looms larger over this deadline than Tigers ace Tarik Skubal. The two-time reigning AL Cy Young winner is set for free agency after the season, and Detroit has spent weeks publicly insisting it plans to “hold out as long as possible” and try to win the AL Central rather than sell. The Tigers sit a manageable but real distance behind the division-leading White Sox and outside the wild-card cutoff, which has scouts and executives split on whether Detroit moves the elite arm.

The Dodgers have been the team most persistently linked to him (what a shocker), including Jeff Passan, most notably guessing that they will acquire him. If the Tigers do pivot to selling, they wouldn’t stop at Skubal either, starter Casey Mize, relievers Kyle Finnegan and Kenley Jansen, second baseman Gleyber Torres and starter Jack Flaherty are all impending free agents who could be moved as rentals.

The New York Mets - Lots of Names

New York has emerged as one of the deadline’s defining stories. Sitting near the bottom of the National League standings and well outside playoff position, the Mets have declared themselves open for business, president of baseball operations David Stearns has said everyone is available besides a few players. Per Chelsea Janes, SNY MLB Insider, the Mets have informed teams that everyone but Juan Soto, Nolan McLean, Carson Benge, AJ Ewing, and Christian Scott is available.

The two names driving the market are starters Freddy Peralta and Clay Holmes. Peralta, an impending free agent, has been a disaster to a 5-9 record and an ERA near 5.00, however some are blaming the Mets. Holmes, who signed for $26 million and was having a strong season before a fractured fibula in May and is widely expected to opt out of his 2027 option and become a free agent, making him an interesting rental . Beyond the rotation, relievers AJ Minter, Brooks Raley and Luke Weaver are also expected to be dealt, with the Phillies reportedly among the suitors for Weaver.

Other Sellers Taking Calls

Washington Nationals: Sitting at .500 and out of a wild-card spot, the Nats say they’re “not shopping” star shortstop CJ Abrams but will “listen” and the Yankees and Brewers are both said to be interested. Abrams is having a career year, leading all MLB shortstops in home runs, RBIs, slugging and OPS. The fun story of Washington lefty Foster Griffin, an All-Star on a one-year deal, is also considered close to an inevitable trade.

San Francisco Giants: A rough season has the Giants looking at 2027 and beyond, with outfielder Heliot Ramos and infielder Casey Schmitt drawing scout attention, including from the Mariners and Phillies. Also, Devers & Arraez names to watch.

• Pittsburgh Pirates: Already active, picking up pieces like reliever Ron Marinaccio and infielder Jacob Gonzalez in smaller July deals.

Buyers Circling

The Dodgers, Brewers, Cubs, Braves, Yankees, Rays and Phillies have all been mentioned as teams willing to push chips in for a 2026 run, though the wacky standings have made some of these teams’ buy/sell status a moving target. The Yankees, even while looking to add bullpen help, are reportedly willing to move their own reliever Camilo Doval, whose control problems in high-leverage spots have undercut his electric stuff (his cutter still touches upwards of 101 mph). The Mariners, meanwhile, are dealing with their own offensive slump and are watching Brendan Donovan’s rehab closely rather than making a major addition yet.

Notable Trades Already Completed

Deadline activity has been steady through July:

White Sox get RHP José Urquidy; Pirates get RHP Felix Doroteo

Red Sox get INF Curtis Mead; Nationals get LHP Connelly Early

Phillies get OF Kameron Misner; Royals get cash

Pirates get RHP Ron Marinaccio; Padres get international bonus pool money

Royals get RHP Nate Pearson; Astros get RHP Max Martin

Dodgers get RHP Seth Halvorsen; Rockies get OF Landyn Vidourek and RHP Nick Frasso

Cubs get RHP Aaron Civale; Athletics get RHP Aiden Moffett

Pirates get INF Jacob Gonzalez and LHP Brandon Eisert; White Sox get a 2026 Competitive Balance-A round pick and LHP Jaden Woods

Conclusion

I didn’t even get to name players that will command big markets like Mason Miller or Luis Arraez, that’s how much intrigue this deadline has.

With so many teams hovering around .500 and both wild cards still up for grabs in each league, this deadline has the feel of one that goes down to the final hour on August 3rd. The Skubal decision alone could reshape the rest of the market if Detroit sells, it would instantly become the best player available and could set off a scramble among the Dodgers and other contenders. Add in the Mets’ pitching staff, Abrams’ name floating in Washington, and a handful of contenders still needing bullpen help, and this deadline has no shortage of storylines left to play out.

Some Predictions:

Tarik Skubal: Los Angeles Dodgers

Mason Miller: New York Yankees

Byron Buxton: Philadelphia Phillies

Ryan Jeffers: New York Yankees

Clay Holmes: Chicago White Sox

Joe Ryan: Chicago Cubs

Jeremy Pena: Houston Astros (Not Traded)

Reid Detmers: Tampa Bay Rays

Hunter Goodman: Boston Red Sox

Freddy Peralta: Chicago Cubs

Casey Mize: Atlanta Braves

Matt Chapman: Miami Marlins

Luis Arraez: Tampa Bay Rays

Taylor Ward: Atlanta Braves