MLB teams categorized as buyers or sellers ahead of Aug. 3 trade deadline
Analysts have grouped all 30 Major League Baseball clubs into buyer, seller or undecided categories as the August 3 trade deadline approaches.
Major League Baseball clubs are being evaluated for their likely activity at the August 3 trade deadline, with analysts assigning each team to one of several categories: obvious buyers, likely buyers, uncertain, likely sellers or obvious sellers.
The nine teams identified as obvious buyers include the Atlanta Braves, Boston Red Sox, Chicago Cubs, Los Angeles Dodgers, Milwaukee Brewers, Minnesota Twins, New York Yankees, Philadelphia Phillies and Tampa Bay Rays. Six of those clubs have playoff probabilities above 90 percent, while the Red Sox, Twins and Phillies are near or within the wild-card positions.
A second tier of likely buyers comprises the Arizona Diamondbacks, Chicago White Sox, Cleveland Guardians, Houston Astros, Pittsburgh Pirates, San Diego Padres, Seattle Mariners and Texas Rangers. Four of these clubs are already in playoff spots, though some, such as the Mariners, sit below .500 and could become buyers if they decide to improve their rosters.
Teams in an uncertain position include the Baltimore Orioles, Detroit Tigers and Miami Marlins. The Tigers are expected to consider trading ace pitcher Tarik Skubal, while the Marlins may also look to sell assets amid a recent decline in performance. The Orioles remain within striking distance of a wild-card berth.
Likely sellers are the Cincinnati Reds, Toronto Blue Jays and Washington Nationals. The Blue Jays, currently nine games under .500, have a low postseason probability and may prioritize future flexibility. The Nationals have already begun selling by trading Curtis Mead, and the Reds could move pitcher Hunter Greene.
The group classified as obvious sellers consists of the Oakland Athletics, Colorado Rockies, Kansas City Royals, Los Angeles Angels, New York Mets, St. Louis Cardinals and San Francisco Giants. Most of these clubs are well out of contention and are expected to trade veteran players to contending teams; the Cardinals, despite remaining within reach of a playoff spot, have indicated a long-term rebuilding focus.
Analysts will continue to update these assessments as the deadline approaches.