One perfect trade target for every MLB contender ahead of deadline

The MLB trade deadline is about a week away, and several playoff contenders are in dire need of an extra kick to push them into World Series contention.

Whether it’s a great starting pitcher, a platoon role hitter, or just some depth in the bullpen, there is a myriad of players available across the league who could help bolster your favorite team’s roster.

While superstars like Tarik Skubal, Byron Buxton and Mason Miller will certainly steal the headlines if they swap teams, it’s the smaller, more subtle moves that could shape the upcoming MLB postseason above all else. Here is one player every team in playoff position should target as the trade deadline approaches.

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Ranking the top 25 MLB trade deadline targets for 2026

1. Luis Arraez, 2B, Giants There he is, the perfect trade deadline candidate: A man on an expiring contract playing for a terrible team and enjoying a career year. What’s not to love? While Arraez noted he would not like to move off second base after doggedly improving to Gold Glove caliber this year, his tune might change once he realizes he has plenty of equity to take into the offseason. The three-time batting champ has, thanks to his viability at second, amassed 3.1 WAR and has a 136 adjusted OPS despite just four homers. Immediate lineup punch for a team in need.

(Steven Bisig, Imagn Images)

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Ranking the top 25 MLB trade deadline targets for 2026

(Steven Bisig, Imagn Images)

**2. Luke Weaver, RP, Mets** Since June 1, Weaver has given up two hits and zero earned runs across 14 appearances, with a 19-3 strikeout walk ratio. He served as Yankees closer all the way through the 2024 World Series and can fill any role in a club’s bullpen. At $8 million this year and $11 million in 2027, he’s a reasonable get. The only question is whether the Mets will want to hang on to him for their hoped-for 2027 renaissance.

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**3. Robbie Ray, SP, Giants** It’s been five years since Ray struck out 248 and won the AL Cy Young Award; now, he’s averaging just 7.6 strikeouts per nine innings. But the man posted a 3.38 first-half ERA and had two starts of eight scoreless innings. And a 41-55 team went 12-7 in his starts. Perfect lefty starter rental.

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**4. Michael Wacha, SP, Royals** If not for his limited no-trade protection, Wacha might top this list, given the Royals’ 38-59 record and his All-Star season. Simply, no one’s getting deeper into games – and with a 1.19 WHIP – than Wacha, who is guaranteed a reasonable $15 million in 2027.

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**5. Mason Miller, RP, Padres** Volatile one, this. The Padres remain a sellout machine and are just 3½ games out of a wild card spot. And a pending sale of the club should be finalized soon. From an “optics” standpoint, not the best time to trade the most dominant closer in baseball. But AJ Preller usually has five or six next steps in mind when he does a deal, and Miller would still fetch a significant return – perhaps better than the Padres having to deal top prospect Leo DeVries to the A’s to get him.

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**6. Tyler Stephenson, C, Reds** Definitely checks the “his team will be sellers” and “he’s a pending free agent” boxes. Ty Steve has just six homers and an 88 adjusted OPS this season but did smack 19 homers last year and would bring far more offensive upside than your typical catcher on the move at the deadline.

(Dustin Bradford, Getty Images)

**7. Foster Griffin, SP, Nationals** Another tricky one. Griffin has been the biggest coup for the new-look Nationals front office, unleashing his eight-pitch mix on hitters after three years in Japan and winning 10 games with a 2.77 ERA, earning a most unlikely All-Star nod. Even more surprising: The Nationals were near or above .500 most of the first half, generating some buzz that they might actually buy at the deadline. But they hit the break coming off a sweep at the hands of the Yankees, and reality might further intrude these next three weeks. Trading Griffin would allow the Nats to split the baby, in a sense: Getting back a potentially very good return for a difference-making lefty, while holding on to All-Star shortstop CJ Abrams and not further depressing a fan base that’s lived through six consecutive losing seasons.

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**8. Jake McCarthy, OF, Rockies** Dealing McCarthy would fulfill a successful first stage for the Paul DePodesta Regime: Collecting veterans, pumping their trade value and getting assets in return. Never mind Coors Field, McCarthy’s adjusted OPS is 23% above league average and offers significant value as a lefty bat who’s manned all three outfield spots this season.

(Dustin Bradford, Getty Images)

**9. Tarik Skubal, SP, Tigers** Here’s how the Tigers start the second half: At Angels, at Cubs, Royals, Orioles and then a trip to Yolo County to face the Athletics just before the deadline. A nice formula to jump right back in the race and thus decrease the likelihood Skubal gets dealt. It doesn’t hurt that the Tigers have a pair of races to attack – the AL Central (6½ out) and wild card (3½ out).

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**10. Eduardo Rodriguez, SP, Diamondbacks** A few hurdles here: Arizona must further fade from contention. Rodriguez, fresh off an All-Star appearance, can block trades to 10 teams. And he’s had a good first half yet is still owed $19 million in 2027, and a $17 million 2028 option can vest after just 36 more innings pitched this year. A lot of what-ifs for a pitcher often wracked by injury, but Rodriguez is throwing the ball very well right now and could make a postseason difference for somebody, perhaps if Arizona kicks in a little cash for ‘27.

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**11. Dustin May, SP, Cardinals** A pretty low-risk add for a contender, May nearly no-hit the Padres, then had a pair of blow-up starts, but he’s essentially providing a quality start (4.55 ERA) out of his spot in St. Louis’ rotation. Not the flame-throwing prodigy once in the Dodgers’ system, but May is more reliable now and is owed only a $500,000 buyout after this season.

(Rick Scuteri, Imagn Images)

**12. Devin Williams, RP, Mets** He hasn’t been great this year but performed serviceably of late, with six saves in his past eight chances and a 3.07 ERA. Not great, and then he’s owed $30 million the next two seasons. Yet just imagine how many clubs will be seeking competent bullpen help.

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**13. Mickey Moniak, OF, Rockies** The Rockies’ 1A outfield trade chip behind McCarthy, Moniak offers less defense but decent pop from the left side, with 15 homers in just 209 at-bats.

(Dustin Bradford, Getty Images)

**14. Lars Nootbaar, OF, Cardinals** Nootbaar wasn’t a part of the Cardinals’ surprise early season surge in this supposed rebuilding year, missing the first 60 games after offseason surgery on his heels. And he’s been fine in his return, OPS-ing .778 as he gets up to speed. But Nootbaar already doesn’t play against lefties, and as a free agent after 2027, he doesn’t necessarily fit the Cardinals’ timeline for earnest contention. He’d be a nice clubhouse and on-field addition for a club seeking a lefty-swinging outfielder, and the Cardinals could both open up plate appearances for younger players and still try to contend by dealing him.

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**15. Bo Bichette, INF, Mets** Let’s be up front about this: Bichette has a full no-trade clause, giving him control over basically every lever in the three-year, $142 million deal he signed with New York, a pact that includes opt-outs in 2027 and 2028. Yep, he’s in a great spot: Hit the market again next winter or collect $42 million after a season in which he’s produced an 88 adjusted OPS and a .300 OBP. So why would a team acquire him? Well, the dude can still rake and given a fresh start could go win someone a World Series. But so many what-ifs: Bichette green-lighting a deal, and a team willing to take on a potentially huge salary the following two seasons. The upside: Bichette’s still a really great hitter in a league with few of them.

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**16. Spencer Steer, 1B, Reds** After an uneven first half (he batted .159 with a .629 OPS in June), Steer has surged nicely to bump his home run total to 14 and OPS to .749. The Reds are one of just a few sellers and Steer’s multi-positional magic will be a nice selling point to contenders.

(Isaiah J. Downing, Imagn Images)

**17. Peter Lambert, SP, Astros** A really nice find for the Astros after Lambert spent 2025 in Tokyo with the Yakult Swallows, he kept their rotation afloat the entire first half, with a 3.14 ERA and 1.12 WHIP over 15 starts. For now, Houston is intent on adding but come Aug. 3, the Astros could be staring at too high a climb for either division or wild card. Lambert can help someone immediately.

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**18. Luis Garcia, 1B-2B-DH, Nationals** The above caveats with Griffin largely also apply to Garcia, though he has one more year before free agency, potentially enhancing his value. Garcia’s slow rise with the Nationals finally gave way to a career year, with 20 homers and an .871 OPS, justifying his move to first base. Would be a nice stealthy power bat for a contender to add, and a great sell-high scenario for Washington.

(Christopher Hanewinckel, Imagn Images)

**19. Isaac Collins, OF, Royals** He was a nice cog in the Brewers’ NLCS club last year and then got dealt to the Royals, where he’s been perfectly fine (five homers, .345 OBP, 103 adjusted OPS). Yeah, that’s kind of what you get with Collins, but a competent switch-hitting outfielder should have several teams (Phillies, anyone?) interested.

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**20. Jonathan Loaisiga, RP, Diamondbacks** The former Yankee late-inning guy has, after three injury-wracked seasons, found his groove again in the desert, posting a 0.99 WHIP even as his strikeouts per nine innings (6.3) is far off his 2021 peak (8.8) If the D-backs collapse, closer Paul Sewald should be available too, but his 4.34 FIP is far inferior to Loaisiga’s 2.78.

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**21. JJ Bleday, OF, Reds** Does Cincinnati buy Bleday’s breakout and view him as a key part of their future? He has two more seasons before free agency, and perhaps the Reds believe in his massive jump in OBP (.294 to .350) and slimmed-down strikeout rate (36.9% to 28%). Conversely, after Bleday hit 16 first-half homers, perhaps this is the ultimate sell-high scenario.

(Andy Lyons, Getty Images)

**22. Jack Flaherty, SP, Tigers** The usual qualifiers that apply to Skubal play here, too. Flaherty didn’t look like he’d have much trade value, his ERA at 5.81 through 12 starts, but he’s figured it out, with a 2.12 ERA and 34-10 strikeout-walk ratio in his past six outings.

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**23. JT Brubaker, RP, Giants** Hard to believe there’s anything redeemable from the rancid Giants bullpen, but Brubaker has a 2.87 ERA and 1.12 WHIP, though he doesn’t miss many bats. Club could silently score PR points with its base by dealing one of the No-Pride Four.

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**24. Michael Soroka, SP, Diamondbacks** He hasn’t made more than 17 starts since 2019, but perhaps Soroka’s major health issues are finally behind him. He was just fine through 15 starts in Arizona, posting a 1.09 WHIP. Making just $7.5 million on an expiring contract, so he’s far more easily tradeable than the All-Star Rodriguez.

(D. Ross Cameron, Imagn Images)

**25. Ty France, 1B, Padres** Signed just as free agency began, France has once again emerged as a handy right-handed bat, with 11 homers and an .815 OPS. He won’t play much else than first these days – he’s logged five innings at third base this season – but got a touch of World Series experience with Toronto last season.

(Denny Medley, Imagn Images)

MLB trade deadline targets for each playoff team

AL East

Now I know what you’re thinking, “The Rays? Going after the biggest player available? Never in a million years.” Well, I guess 2026 might be that one in one million. The Rays have made efforts in recent years to acquire big name players in both free agency and at recent deadlines.

In 2023, during the final year of Shohei Ohtani’s contract with the Angels, the Rays reportedly offered Junior Caminero and another top prospect Carson Williams for Ohtani’s services. The team also went after Freddie Freeman and Aaron Judge during free agency this decade as well.

Not only would acquiring Skubal show the world that even a small market team like the Rays can make a push for a World Series, but it would give the Rays a postseason rotation that could compete with the best of the best, featuring a two-time Cy Young winner, two more All-Stars in Drew Rasmussen and Nick Martinez and Shane McClanahan.

The Yankees have collected -0.6 bWAR from their catchers this season. That ranks 21st in MLB per Baseball Reference. Jeffers would give the Yankees an immediate upgrade at their most troublesome position, and with Cody Bellinger moving to the IL, the team will need some offense if they want to catch up to the Rays and earn themselves a shot at an AL East title.

Jeffers’ 158 OPS+ is far above what any other catching option on the trade block might be able to offer. While he certainly would be a downgrade from Wells in terms of catcher framing, Jeffers has still ranked as an above average catcher when it comes to framing, ranking 26th among all catchers in the league this year. There really isn’t a downside to this trade aside from the prospects that the Yankees would need to give up. But the Yankees do have a myriad of prospects.

The Red Sox made a smart move in acquiring Curtis Mead already. The team needed pop and Mead now ranks second on the team in home runs. However, they could use even more in their lineup. Neto provides solid pop from a non-power position but also gives the team a massive offensive upgrade overall at the position.

With Trevor Story on the 60-day IL, and boasting a lackluster .547 OPS when healthy, Neto is exactly the type of bat that Boston could just plop near the top of their lineup to give everyone else a solid boost.

AL Central

The White Sox are in an interesting position. They aren’t considered an elite ball club just yet but are probably only a few years away, so they likely don’t want to trade away any of their top prospects. If they are dead set on acquiring a game-changer though, former Cy Young winner Sandy Alcantara would be a massive get.

While Alcantara won’t help a ton in the ERA department, he would help massively with innings. Currently, the White Sox have just two pitcher with over 100 innings pitched on their roster. Alcantara leads baseball in that category. The White Sox bullpen ranks ninth in ERA this season, so anyone who can give them innings and keep them fresh for the postseason would be a great addition to the club.

The Guardians might not be very many games over .500 but they are expected to buy at this year’s deadline. That said, they aren’t a team known for committing to massive players and selling prospects.

Jo Adell is someone who won’t cost the team an arm and a leg, but he also fills one of the team’s biggest needs: someone who can mash southpaws.

On the season, Adell boasts just a 92 wRC+, but against lefties, it shoots up to 164, making him absolutely dangerous in that situation. The Guardians rank 28th in baseball in team OPS against lefties (.651), so adding Adell would certainly fill the lineup out and give them a solid platoon option down the stretch.

AL West

A premier relief arm, Weaver would instantly bolster the Rangers’ lackluster bullpen. Currently, the team ranks 19th in bullpen ERA, which isn’t terrible, but down the stretch, getting depth in the back end of games is of the utmost importance, especially considering the Rangers’ lack rotational depth as well.

The team could certainly go for a back-end starting option like Brady Singer or Seth Lugo, but Weaver is someone that could seriously make a difference in one of Texas’ weakest areas. They could also add back-end bullpen arms like Brooks Raley and Kenley Jansen as well as none of them would cost too much in prospects.

Much like Cleveland, the Mariners have struggled against left-handed pitching this season, and while Schmitt is certainly a volatile hitter, who struggles to get walks, he mashes lefties. Seattle ranks dead last in team OPS vs. lefties (.640).

Furthermore, Schmitt’s defensive versatility would be a massive help to the team. Seattle ranks 24th in WAR by third baseman (-0.8) and 23rd in WAR from right fielders (-1.2). Adding Scmitt could fix either of those problems based on anyone else Seattle might want to go after in free agency.

Though the Astros are currently third place in the AL West and three games under .500, they expect to be buyers at the trade deadline, hence their appearance on this list. A rental left-handed starter is exactly what the team needs as the team currently ranks 28th in starter ERA and has only played two games all season in which they threw out a southpaw to start the game.

That’s concerning, and with other potential playoff teams like Cleveland and Seattle struggling against lefties all year, the team could really use someone, anyone that would slow down either of those squads.

NL East

While Gausman is not having the best season of his career right now, he is on an expiring contract and provides valuable playoff experience, something that the Braves sorely lack from their starting pitchers. All that is to say that the Braves need that kind of veteran leadership, and someone like Gausman, who has produced a 3.83 career postseason ERA, provides exactly that. Furthermore, the Braves likely could get Gausman for pennies on the dollar if the Blue Jays decide to sell.

While the Phillies undoubtedly boast one of the best 1-2 punches in baseball at the top of their rotation, the bottom of their rotation is rather thin. Robbie Ray would provide the team with someone who could take Aaron Nola’s spot at the bottom of the playoff rotation and easily slide in as the team’s No. 3 or 4 starter.

NL Central

While Trevor Megill has been serviceable as the team’s closer this year, the Brewers really could do with someone who closes a door emphatically, and no one does that better than San Diego’s Mason Miller. The Brewers have the farm system to pay an obnoxious price for an All-Star closer, and given that the Brewers have blown 15 saves this year, which is more than the Braves, Dodgers, Phillies and Diamondbacks, Milwaukee should definitely be giving San Diego a call.

The Cubs’ rotation has been absolutely decimated with injuries this year. In 2026 alone, the team has had 12 players start games and only two of their pitchers have more than 80 innings on the season. Alcantara is an innings-eater, someone who could take some stress off an overly worked bullpen. Furthermore, even when their pitchers are healthy, the Cubs’ rotation has been anything but solid, with only two of their top five starters recording an ERA under 4.0.

NL West

With both Blake Snell and Tyler Glasnow out with injuries, the Dodgers need a pitcher to give their team some depth. The Blue Jays make for a very smart trade partner. Considering the team has said they will at least be shopping Gausman, Shane Bieber and outfielder Daulton Varsho, the Blue Jays likely would be in the market for another outfielder.

Guess what! The Dodgers have outfielders up the wazoo in their farm system, and they likely wouldn’t even need to give up one of their top five prospects to acquire someone struggling as badly as Gausman is.

DODGERS TRADE TARGETS: Will Shohei Ohtani knee issues impact strategy at deadline?

While Holmes is currently injured, he is nearing his return. The 33-year-old was fantastic before going down, posting a 2.39 ERA in nine starts.

The Diamondbacks do need pitching, and shortstop Geraldo Perdomo has said as much when speaking to the media, begging the team to bolster their rotation. The Mets would certainly love to move off of him for some value as well.

Of course, the Diamondbacks could also go with a position player, particularly first base. Outside of their top five guys in Ketel Marte, Nolan Arenado, Gabriel Moreno, Corbin Carroll and Geraldo Perdomo, the team has not gotten much out of their hitters. San Diego’s Ty France would make a lot of sense for Arizona. Boasting 15 home runs and high-end defense at first, France would immediately give a boost to a D-Backs lineup that has received -1.7 WAR from first basemen on the season.