MLB Teams Classified by Trade-Deadline Buyer or Seller Status Ahead of Aug. 3 Deadline
With two weeks left before the August 3 trade deadline, analysts have grouped all 30 MLB clubs into categories ranging from obvious buyers to obvious sellers based on their playoff prospects and roster strategies.
As the 2026 Major League Baseball season reaches its mid-point, clubs are positioning themselves for the upcoming August 3 trade deadline. Analysts have sorted each of the 30 teams into five categories—obvious buyers, likely buyers, uncertain, likely sellers and obvious sellers—based on recent performance, playoff odds and front-office intentions.
The Atlanta Braves, Chicago Cubs, Los Angeles Dodgers, Milwaukee Brewers, New York Yankees, Philadelphia Phillies and Tampa Bay Rays are deemed obvious buyers. SportsLine estimates each of these clubs, except the Phillies, has better than a 90 % chance of reaching the postseason, while the Phillies hold a 78 % probability.
Likely buyers include the Arizona Diamondbacks, Boston Red Sox, Chicago White Sox, Cleveland Guardians, Miami Marlins, Pittsburgh Pirates, San Diego Padres, Seattle Mariners, Texas Rangers and Toronto Blue Jays. The Red Sox, for example, have won 13 straight games and are expected to move toward the obvious-buyer tier.
The Baltimore Orioles, Detroit Tigers, Houston Astros and Minnesota Twins fall into a “who knows” group, reflecting uncertainty about whether they will buy, sell or remain neutral. The Tigers’ decision on ace pitcher Tarik Skubal, a pending free agent, is highlighted as a key factor.
Likely sellers are the Oakland Athletics, Cincinnati Reds, Los Angeles Angels, St. Louis Cardinals and Washington Nationals. The Athletics have already traded pitcher Aaron Civale to Chicago, signaling a sell-off, while the Cardinals and Nationals are focusing on rebuilding with young talent.
Obvious sellers are the Colorado Rockies, Kansas City Royals, New York Mets and San Francisco Giants, each with less than a 1 % chance of making the postseason according to SportsLine. Their front offices are expected to trade away veteran players for prospects.
The classifications are subject to change as teams play the remaining games before the deadline and as additional trades are negotiated.