As the MLB trade deadline approaches on July 31st, the baseball landscape is shifting into clear buyers and sellers. With contenders looking to bolster their rosters for playoff pushes and struggling teams eyeing future prospects, this year’s trade market is already buzzing with speculation. Let’s break down which teams are most likely to sell and which players could be packing their bags before August arrives.
MLB trade deadline 2025: Top sellers and players likely to move
Likely seller teams
Several teams have already shown signs they’ll be active sellers at this year’s deadline. Their current standings and organizational directions make them prime candidates to trade away valuable assets:
- Miami Marlins: In classic rebuild mode, the Marlins are prioritizing payroll flexibility and prospect acquisition over immediate contention.
- Pittsburgh Pirates: Following their typical pattern, the Pirates appear ready to flip veterans for young talent to sustain their development cycle.
- Colorado Rockies: The Rockies continue their perpetual rebuild, making any productive player with value a potential trade chip.
- Oakland Athletics: With their relocation saga ongoing, the A’s are in full tank mode, looking to shed salary and accumulate prospects.
- Washington Nationals: Still rebuilding after their championship core dispersed, the Nationals are focused on long-term development.
Top trade candidates
Based on performance, contract status, and team situations, these players stand out as the most likely to be wearing different uniforms come August:
- Sandy Alcantara (RHP, Marlins): Despite his 6.98 ERA this season, Alcantara’s Cy Young pedigree and reasonable contract ($17.3M in 2026, $21M option for 2027) make him Miami’s most valuable trade chip.
- Mitch Keller (RHP, Pirates): Sporting a solid 3.90 ERA and under team control through 2028, Keller has reportedly drawn interest from the Cubs and Mets, who need rotation stability.
- David Bednar (RHP, Pirates): With a 2.73 ERA and 12 saves, this dominant closer is highly coveted by nearly every contender looking for bullpen reinforcement.
- Ryan O’Hearn (1B/DH, Orioles): Slashing .295/.383/.471 with 11 homers, O’Hearn could be Baltimore’s deadline headliner if they decide to sell, especially with his pending free agency.
Other notable trade candidates include Jeffrey Springs (Athletics), Cedric Mullins (Orioles), Dennis Santana (Pirates), and Eugenio Suárez (Diamondbacks). Each brings specific value to potential suitors looking to address particular roster needs.
While the NCAA baseball tournament outlook has baseball fans also watching the college game, the MLB trade landscape will dominate headlines in the coming weeks. Teams that just missed postseason contention, similar to those bubble teams in the NCAA baseball super regional matchups, might become surprise buyers to push for wild card spots.
The trade deadline often reshapes the playoff picture significantly, with championship aspirations hanging in the balance much like we see with college World Series contenders in the amateur ranks. For MLB teams, however, these midseason moves can have implications extending far beyond a single season.
As rumors intensify and front offices work the phones, the next few weeks promise dramatic shifts that could ultimately determine who’s playing meaningful baseball in October. The chess match has begun – now we wait to see which teams make the boldest moves.
