MLB trade deadline: Putting all 30 teams into tiers from full buyers to full sellers

The 2025 MLB Trade Deadline is a matter of hours away. Calls and inquiries from contenders to pretenders, from buyers to sellers have begun.

This year’s midseason transactional extravaganza is unique for a few reasons. Notably, the upcoming free-agent class is relatively light, and the biggest pieces currently play for contenders; the Cubs, for instance, aren’t trading Kyle Tucker. This means buyers are going to need to get creative to upgrade their rosters; we might see more controllable contracts switching teams than usual.

Below, we’ll put all 30 teams into tiers based on their outlook ahead of the trade deadline. This massive list seeks to bucket similar teams together to paint a picture of how this year’s deadline will go.

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Outstanding ballclubs with strong farm systems that should be all-in, but given their transactional track records and organizational DNA, it’s unlikely that the chips go flying into the pot.

Needs: Shortstop, pitching depth

The Brewers, during this period of sustained success, have never pushed all their chips in. Back at the 2021 deadline, Milwaukee had a stacked roster and 95% playoff odds and acquired … John Curtiss and Daniel Norris. Given that track record, I’m not sure there’s reason to expect anything different to happen with this year’s club, which just won 11 straight and is tied with the Cubs for the best record in baseball. General manager Matt Arnold will add some pieces — more bullpen depth, a versatile bench bat that can play short — but I’d be shocked if the Brewers pull off anything resembling a blockbuster. (A deal for Rays catcher Danny Jansen certainly doesn’t count as one.) That’s just not how they operate.

Needs: Late-inning reliever, left-handed bat, playoff starter

The Tigers, like the Brewers, are very good. Also like Milwaukee, Detroit has never shown unencumbered aggression under its current leadership group. To be fair, the Tigers have been competitive for a much shorter stretch than the Brewers, so the door’s still open for president of baseball operations Scott Harris to plant his flag. His club has scuffled the past few weeks but still holds the best record in the American League. They began the week dealing for Twins RHP Chris Paddack. On Wednesday, they reportedly dealt for reliever Rafael Montero. Last year, Detroit stampeded, improbably, into October behind a dominant bullpen of interchangeable parts. This year, however, that unit has been a weak link. Harris should use his deep farm system to pull off a deal for one of the many quality relievers on the market to solidify the back end of his ‘pen.

Teams with legitimate World Series aspirations, who, like all of us, could use a little bit of extra support.

Needs: Multiple high-leverage relievers, utility man

While the Dodgers have questions in the rotation (injuries galore) and the lineup (Mookie Betts and Teoscar Hernández have been awful), it seems like they’ll be focusing on bullpen upgrades at the deadline. That situation got even more dire this week, when big free-agent signee Tanner Scott headed to the IL after leaving an outing due to an arm issue. Los Angeles needs two, maybe three, more late-inning arms they trust in big spots. Thankfully, the market is flush with relievers. Also, a versatile utility guy to fill in while Kiké Hernández and Max Muncy are hurt would help. A blockbuster with the Twins for Griffin Jax and Willi Castro feels like a no-brainer.

Needs: Playoff-caliber starter, lefty-hitting infielder

The surging Brewers have caught the Cubs in the NL Central, but Chicago is still tracking like a playoff club that desperately needs another frontline arm. Mitch Keller in Pittsburgh and Zac Gallen in Arizona feel like strong fits. They reportedly swung a deal with the Nationals for RHP Michael Soroka and another with the Orioles for reliever Andrew Kittredge. Rookie third baseman Matt Shaw has been solid against lefties but looks overmatched against righties right now. Acquiring a platoon partner for Shaw could be a nice secondary maneuver for Chicago. Remember, Kyle Tucker is a free agent this winter. The Cubs simply cannot afford to crash and burn their way out of October.

Needs: Third baseman, playoff starter, bullpen depth

No contender has a more glaring positional hole than the Yanks do at the hot corner — which they reportedly addressed by acquiring Ryan McMahon from the Rockies on Friday. Remove Jazz Chisholm Jr., who is once again New York’s every-day second baseman, and Yankees third basemen have slashed a combined .175/.255/.252 with a .507 OPS that is far and away the lowest in MLB. Also, Clarke Schmidt’s season-ending injury means New York probably needs one more playoff starter behind Max Fried and Carlos Rodón.

Needs: Relievers, relievers, relievers

It’s easy to forget now, after New York’s OMG October, but the Mets were relatively passive at the deadline last year. President of baseball operations David Stearns added a handful of bullpen arms and a bench bat in Jesse Winker but stayed away from any massive moves. Even though the Mets are in a stronger place this season, they’ll probably stick to a similar strategy. Their bullpen, like Los Angeles’, needs a boost, and Stearns has been very active in acquiring just that. The Mets started with the addition of Gregory Soto from the Orioles on Friday. The Mets then added Tyler Rogers from San Francisco on Wednesday and followed by dealing for Cardinals closer Ryan Helsley later that day.

Needs: Relievers, relievers, relievers

Sound familiar? The Phillies failed to stabilize their ‘pen last winter, and the unit has emerged as a real weak link. Hence the power move to get Twins closer Jhoan Duran. They also acquired two potential October late-inning arms via untraditional avenues, signing free-agent veteran David Robertson to a deal and drafting Arkansas flamethrower Gage Wood with their first-round draft pick. President of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski has always been an aggressive trader.

Needs: Catcher, designated hitter, left fielder

San Diego’s top-heavy, stars-and-scrubs lineup has worked well enough so far, but the Padres need to improve the bottom of their order. The bottom-four hitters in their lineup have a combined .611 OPS, the third-worst mark in baseball. It’s tough to add catching in the middle of the season because of all the responsibilities backstops carry in regard to pitch calling, but this situation is bad enough that the Padres should ask around. Arizona’s James McCann and Miami’s Nick Fortes are all vets who would represent upgrades in S.D. Corner outfield and DH should be easier holes to fill. The Pads could really use one more impactful hitter to lengthen the lineup. On Thursday, they opted to bolster their bullpen with a reported trade for A’s closer Mason Miller.

Needs: Playoff starting pitcher

The Jays have rocketed to the top of the AL East with an inspired run that has electrified the fan base. George Springer’s renaissance to go along with the ascensions of Addison Barger and Ernie Clement have given Toronto’s offense punch and stability. That rotation, meanwhile, could use a hand. In 43 games since June 1, the Jays were an AL-best 29-14, even though their starting pitchers have a combined 4.60 ERA, a mark that ranked 21st in MLB over that span. Finding another postseason-caliber arm to throw alongside José Berríos, Chris Bassitt and Kevin Gausman will be priority No. 1 for Jays general manager Ross Atkins. That goal appeared to have been accomplished with Thursday’s reported trade for Cleveland’s Shane Bieber.

Needs: Third baseman, first baseman, bullpen depth

Last deadline, the M’s were aggressive, swinging a deal for outfielder Randy Arozarena. I expected them to try something similar this summer to enhance their offense — and they did, reportedly dealing for Arizona’s Eugenio Suárez. They also got one of Arizona’s available bats last week in a deal for Josh Naylor. On the mound, an uncharacteristic rash of pitching injuries (Bryce Miller, Collin Snider) and a bit of underperformance have left Seattle more in need of arms than you’d expect. It won’t be anything world-changing, but the Mariners probably add a depth starter and a few ‘pen pieces.

Needs: Starting pitcher, position-player depth

The first-place Astros are a bizarrely constructed, extremely injured ballclub. Four of their best position players — Isaac Paredes, Jeremy Peña, Jake Meyers and Yordan Alvarez — are on the IL, as are Opening Day rotation pieces Spencer Arrighetti and Ronel Blanco. The ‘Stros could use reinvigoration in a lot of places, but acquiring a playoff-caliber starter feels like the most impactful and obvious use of resources for an organization with a substandard farm system. Keep an eye on lefty-hitting outfield bats such as Mike Tauchman in Chicago and Mike Yastrzemski in San Francisco as well.

Clubs likely to either sit on their hands or participate in a little buy/sell dribble-drabble. They’re too good to full sell but not good enough to full buy, so they’ll do neither or both.

Needs: Starting pitcher, first baseman

Tradable big leaguers: Mike Yastrzemski

Since swinging that blockbuster for Rafael Devers, the Giants are (womp-womp) 13-23 entering Wednesday. Their offense, Devers included, has been a huge disappointment over that stretch. They’re five games adrift of a wild-card spot, with playoff odds teetering around 16.5%. New president of baseball operations Buster Posey has been impressively aggressive in his short tenure, but the Giants don’t have too much left in the farm system that (1) could bring back a difference-maker and (2) they’d be willing to part with. Nobody in San Francisco, in the wake of DeversMania, is going to be frustrated if the Giants don’t make headlines at the deadline. Perhaps dealing reliever Tyler Rogers to the Mets in exchange for a trio of minor leaguers counts. As such, I expect Posey to play it safe and hope guys such as Devers, Willy Adames and Heliot Ramos pick it up down the stretch.

Needs: Relievers, outfield bats

Tradable big leaguers: Yoán Moncada, Tyler Anderson, Taylor Ward, Kenley Jansen

The overperforming Halos — two games under .500, four games back of a playoff spot entering Wednesday — are unlikely to act drastically in either direction. They don’t have any can’t-miss pieces to sell, but they aren’t a good enough ballclub to justify going all-in. This team also intends to compete in 2026, which makes parting with a controllable bat such as Ward extremely unlikely. They made pitching moves Wednesday, reportedly dealing for Nationals relievers Luis García and Andrew Chafin.

Needs: Designated hitter, first baseman, any sort of offensive impact

Tradable big leaguers: Jon Gray, Tyler Mahle, Hoby Milner, Luke Jackson, Patrick Corbin, Adolis García, Kyle HigashiokaThe Rangers’ 3.21 ERA is the lowest in baseball by a quarter of a run, but Texas’ offense has been stuck in neutral all year. Besides a bunch of rental relievers, two injured starters and Patrick Corbin, they don’t have a lot to offload. I think the Rangers end up standing pat, adding a bat or two, and hoping their lineup gets hot in the second half. But if they pull the plug, García should garner a lot of interest.

Needs: Third baseman, outfielder, bullpen depth

Tradable big leaguers: Nick Martinez, Taylor Rogers, Emilio Pagán, Austin Hays

The Reds have been pretty passive at the deadline in recent years as they linger — perpetually, it seems — on the fringes of the NL playoff picture. Cincy’s rotation, buoyed by Andrew Abbott and Nick Lodolo in the absence of Hunter Greene, has kept the Reds in it. They have the farm system to be aggressive. If they do buy, they’ll shop for corner bats, which they reportedly successfully did in the trade acquisition of Pirates third baseman Ke’Bryan Hayes in exchange for Rogers. Keep an eye on Hays; he has been battling through injuries but has raked when healthy. They also reportedly added to their rotation with the acquisition of Rays RHP Zack Littell.

Needs: Bullpen arms

Tradable big leaguers: Pete Fairbanks, Brandon Lowe, Danny Jansen, Zack Littell

Last deadline, the Rays were within shouting distance of a playoff spot and decided to sell. This year, given the stadium situation, their upcoming road-heavy schedule and the impending ownership change, I think the Rays lean toward selling again. They dealt Littell to the aggressive Reds on Wednesday, ESPN’s Jeff Passan reported. This analytically inclined, risk-averse front office isn’t going to push the chips in for a team with roughly 14.9% playoff odds. How they operate might depend on how the next week of games plays out. On Monday, they reportedly dealt Jansen to Milwaukee.

Given the roller coaster that has been their season thus far, the Boston Red Sox exist in their own tier.

Needs: Positional clarity, first baseman, pitching depth

Tradable big leaguers: Jarren Duran, Wilyer Abreu, Abraham Toro

What the hottest baseball soap opera of 2025 will do at the deadline is anyone’s guess. Even after trading away Rafael Devers, the Sox have a crowded hodgepodge of outfielders and not enough playing time to go around. Dealing one of Duran or Abreu for big-league pitching makes a lot of sense, as the Red Sox’s pre-break surge has them in playoff position. A passive deadline would probably lead to a volcanic uproar from the fan base, which, in the wake of Devers’ departure, was promised a more active approach to trade season. Any move they make, including their reported acquisition of Steven Matz from the Cardinals, would be a win-now maneuver.

More than any other teams, the Diamondbacks and Twins will determine how this year’s trade deadline plays out. (Stefan Milic/Yahoo Sports)

Clubs that, if they decide to pull the plug, have enviable assets to sell. How they perform over the next eight days will likely determine their course of action at the deadline.

Notable impending free agents: Eugenio Suárez, Zac Gallen, Merrill Kelly, Josh Naylor, Shelby Miller, James McCann, Randal Grichuk

Quite simply, the Diamondbacks will define this deadline if they choose to trade their expiring contracts. They did two of them, first with Naylor to the Mariners and then, even bigger, with Wednesday’s reported deal of Suárez to … the Mariners! Naylor and Suárez were the two best rental bats available, while Gallen and Kelly are both capable of starting a playoff game. With Arizona’s playoff odds around 2.4% and Corbin Burnes out for the season, selling is probably the most prudent course of action. But if the Snakes get hot over the next few days, they could switch gears, upgrade their rickety bullpen and throw caution to the wind.

Notable impending free agents: Willi Castro, Danny Coulombe, Ty France, Harrison Bader, Chris Paddack

Other interesting pieces: Jhoan Duran, Griffin Jax, Joe Ryan

The Twins, six games back in the wild-card hunt entering Wednesday with playoff odds around 8.4%, are the Diamondbacks of the American League. The major difference is that most of Minnesota’s interesting pieces are under team control beyond this year. People around the game are increasingly skeptical that Ryan, an All-Star, will get moved but believe Duran and Jax could go. They were correct on Duran. Paddack was also dealt Monday to the Tigers. Castro is one of the more underrated players of the deadline: a switch-hitting utility man on an expiring contract. That versatility makes him a valuable piece and a potential upgrade to every contender’s roster.

Notable impending free agents: Ryan Helsley, Phil Maton, Steven Matz, Erick Fedde, Miles Mikolas

Other interesting pieces: Nolan Arenado, Sonny Gray

The Cards are in an interesting spot. This is a transition year in St. Louis, with longtime head honcho John Mozeliak giving way to POBO-in-waiting Chaim Bloom at season’s end. The consensus around the game is that the Cardinals will be minor players at the deadline, selling off some expiring contracts while maintaining their offensive core. I’m skeptical, however, that Mozeliak, in his final season, is going to be content sitting on his hands when the Cards are just 3.5 games out of a wild-card spot through Sunday. But it appears the Cards are selling after all, as they reportedly traded Helsley to the Mets and Matz to the Red Sox on Wednesday after dealing Fedde to the Braves on Sunday.

Notable impending free agents: Seth Lugo

Other interesting pieces: Jonathan India, Maikel García, Vinnie Pasquantino, Kris Bubic

Playoff-quality starting pitchers are difficult to come by around the deadline, which made Lugo a very valuable commodity. Yet the Royals will reportedly hang onto Lugo, reaching a two-year, $46 million extension, according to multiple media reports. He had a $15 million player option for next year. Perhaps the likeliest path forward for Kansas City is to also hold onto its controllable bats, try to upgrade its feeble offense in the offseason and go for it again in 2026. That said, considering the dearth of big bats available at this deadline, there’s a small chance somebody overpays for García or Pasquantino, both of whom are years away from free agency

Notable impending free agents: Carlos Santana, Jakob Junis

Other interesting pieces: Shane Bieber, Emmanuel Clase, Steven Kwan

I don’t expect this hyper-rational front office will cling to postseason pipe dreams. Cleveland’s trade deadline forecast got even cloudier after the stunning news that Clase was put on non-disciplinary paid leave Monday as MLB conducts a sports gambling investigation that includes teammate Luis Ortiz. Clase has scuffled this year after putting up an all-time relief season in ’24. Contenders need relievers, and Clase is a damn good one, but Monday’s revelation heightens the limbo for Clase this trade deadline. He’s on leave through Aug. 31. On Thursday, the Guardians reportedly ranswered the Blue Jays’ desire to bolster their starting rotation with the trade of Bieber.

You can’t have an estate sale with an empty house. These subpar teams simply don’t have many expiring contracts to trade and would prefer to hold on to anybody who can help them in 2026.

Notable impending free agents: Marcell Ozuna, Raisel Iglesias, Rafael Montero, Pierce Johnson

Other interesting pieces: Sean Murphy

As much as it will pain president of baseball operations Alex Anthopoulos, the Braves have to sell. And they will, at least with the expiring contracts. Montero, a reliever, was sent to Detroit on Wednesday. Ozuna was a top-10 hitter in baseball last year, but he has been awful the past two months while playing through a hip issue. A contender with bad DH production, such as San Diego, Texas or Houston, might take a flyer. Given the controllable talent still on Atlanta’s roster, I doubt Anthopoulos is going to trade away anybody he thinks can help the 2026 team. Murphy, who is splitting time with breakout rookie backstop Drake Baldwin, is the one exception, but starting catchers rarely get dealt at the deadline. They started this week by trading for RHP Erick Fedde.

Notable impending free agents: Cal Quantrill

Other interesting pieces: Edward Cabrera, Sandy Alcantara, Jesús Sánchez, Anthony Bender

Last summer, the Marlins went full firesale, trading practically anything of value. I think their deadline looks different this year. Most importantly, they aren’t that bad anymore! The Fish are one game over .500 since May 1 entering Thursday. A few shrewd offseason moves, and they could be a sneaky dark horse next season, so don’t expect anybody not listed above to move. Given the low supply of impact rotation arms on the market, I think the Marlins get an enticing package for one of Cabrera or Alcantara and hang on to the other. But remember, they don’t need to trade either of those guys and could wait to get a similar haul in the winter.

Notable impending free agents: Luis Urías, Sean Newcomb, Miguel Andujar

Other interesting pieces: Mason Miller, Luis Severino

Not much here. The A’s have a good lineup full of exciting, controllable, young players they aren’t going to trade. I’m sure they’d love to deal Severino, who (fairly) trashed the team’s temporary stadium setup earlier this year, but he hasn’t been quite good enough to warrant the return they’d want. Even though Miller was under contract through 2029, the A’s dealt him to the Padres. Urías is a decent utility man, and Newcomb is an inoffensive, low-leverage bullpen arm.

Notable impending free agents: Germán Márquez

Other interesting pieces: Ryan McMahon, Antonio Senzatela, Mickey Moniak

The isolationist Rockies, notoriously difficult to trade with, cannot be evaluated as a rational actor. Even when they have interesting deadline pieces, they often hang on to them for no reason other than loyalty and vibes. McMahon drew interest and, in a shocking turn of events, was traded to the Yankees on Friday. A team with good pitching development probably thinks Márquez is salvageable, but that’s a better free-agency play.

Major impending free agents: Michael Soroka, Josh Bell, Kyle Finnegan

Other interesting pieces: MacKenzie Gore, Nathaniel Lowe

The Nats are in “light sell” just because they don’t have many expiring contracts to trade. I’m skeptical that interim general manager Mike DeBartolo will deal away anyone who could help the 2026 team challenge for a wild card. Finnegan will get some nibbles, but teams are skittish about the outrageous workload he has carried for the Nats over the years. Soroka could eat innings down the stretch and move to the ‘pen in October, a role in which he shined last season. The Cubs were intrigued enough to reportedly strike a deal for Soroka, per ESPN’s Jesse Rogers.

Anything and everything must and will go.

Major impending free agents: Ryan O’Hearn, Cedric Mullins, Zach Eflin, Gregory Soto, Seranthony Domínguez

Other interesting pieces: Ramón Laureano, Félix Bautista, Trevor Rogers, Ryan Mountcastle, Ramón Urías

It has been a disastrously disappointing season in Birdland, so bad that the O’s are a stone-cold lock to sell. They’ll try to trade the guys on expiring contracts — they began by sending Soto to the Mets on Friday and Domínguez to the Blue Jays on Tuesday — but will GM Mike Elias go further and part with players who have multiple years of control left? The Orioles reportedly send Urías to the Astros late Wednesday night. Given how difficult it has been for Baltimore to develop impact pitching, I think they’ll keep the arms and deal the bats.

Major impending free agents: Isiah Kiner-Falefa, Caleb Ferguson, Andrew Heaney, Tommy Pham

Other interesting pieces: David Bednar, Ke’Bryan Hayes, Mitch Keller

Yet another deadline of vaguely gesturing to the future in Pittsburgh. The Buccos are in a similar position to the Orioles — impending free agents should be gone, but the more compelling pieces have more control — except without the foundation of young talent. How and if the potential end to GM Ben Cherrington’s tenure — there have been rumblings he’ll be on the chopping block this winter — impacts the deadline is a storyline to watch. They got things started with the reported trade of Hayes to the Reds on Wednesday. They also dealt Ferguson to the Mariners, according to The Athletic.

Major impending free agents: Adrian Houser, Luis Robert Jr., Aaron Civale, Austin Slater

Other interesting pieces: Mike Tauchman, Steven Wilson, Dan Altavilla

The worst team in the American League, predictably, is open for business. After a catastrophic start to 2025, Robert has been a .779 OPS hitter since June 1 entering July 23. It’ll be fascinating to see how other teams value him; remember, this dude finished 12th in AL MVP voting in 2023. Houser is the other name to monitor. Among pitchers with at least 10 starts, his 1.89 ERA is third-lowest. He’s not that good, but there’s probably a contender out there willing to start him in a playoff game. The White Sox reportedly moved Slater, shipping the outfielder to the Yankees on Wednesday.

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MLB trade deadline: Putting all 30 teams into tiers from full buyers to full sellers

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