With the 2025 Trade Deadline on the horizon, here's everything you need to know.
What time is the MLB Trade Deadline?
• When is the MLB Trade Deadline? For 2025, it is scheduled for July 31 at 6 p.m. ET.
• For many years, the Deadline was always on July 31 at 4 p.m. ET. The Commissioner's Office can now set the Deadline for any date between July 28 and Aug. 3, in an effort to avoid conflicting with games.
What is the MLB Trade Deadline?
• The Trade Deadline is the last point during the season at which players on 40-man rosters can be traded from one club to another. Those players may still be placed and claimed on outright waivers, but trades will no longer be permitted after July 31 at 6 p.m. ET. Prior to 2019, July 31 was referred to as the non-waiver Trade Deadline, and players could be traded after that date if they first cleared revocable trade waivers. The August waiver trade period was eliminated in 2019, with MLB moving to a single Deadline.
• Minor Leaguers not on 40-man rosters can still be traded after the Deadline. However, any player must be in an organization by the end of Aug. 31 (whether on the 40-man roster or not) in order to be eligible to appear in the postseason for that club.
Read more here.
Where can I follow MLB Trade Deadline news?
• News and rumors: Stay up to date on all the latest Trade Deadline rumblings here.
Who are the top trade candidates?
Here are some of the notable players who have been mentioned in trade rumors leading up to the Deadline:
• Starting Pitchers: Tyler Anderson (Angels), Sandy Alcantara (Marlins), Edward Cabrera (Marlins), Zac Gallen (D-backs), Zach Eflin (Orioles), Andrew Heaney (Pirates), Mitch Keller (Pirates), Merrill Kelly (D-backs), Seth Lugo (Royals), Germán Márquez (Rockies), Charlie Morton (Orioles), Luis Severino (Athletics), Michael Soroka (Nationals), Tomoyuki Sugano (Orioles)
• Relief Pitchers: Félix Bautista (Orioles), David Bednar (Pirates), Anthony Bender (Marlins), Jake Bird (Rockies), Seranthony Domínguez (Orioles), Jhoan Duran (Twins), Pete Fairbanks (Rays), Kyle Finnegan (Nationals), Raisel Iglesias (Braves), Griffin Jax (Twins), Kenley Jansen (Angels), Andrew Kittredge (Orioles), Dennis Santana (Pirates)
• Position players: Nolan Arenado (Cardinals), Josh Bell (Nationals), Jarren Duran (Red Sox), Adolis García (Rangers), Ke'Bryan Hayes (Pirates) Brandon Lowe (Rays), Ryan McMahon (Rockies), Yoán Moncada (Angels), Ryan Mountcastle (Orioles), Cedric Mullins (Orioles), Josh Naylor (D-backs), Ryan O'Hearn (Orioles), Marcell Ozuna (Braves), Luis Robert Jr. (White Sox), Eugenio Suárez (D-backs), Taylor Ward (Angels)
What are the key storylines to watch?
What’s next for the Red Sox after trading Devers?
The Red Sox stunned the baseball world on June 15, sending All-Star slugger Rafael Devers to the Giants for a package headlined by Jordan Hicks and Kyle Harrison. While the tension between Devers and the club had sparked speculation about a possible trade down the line, few expected it to happen in June -- and certainly not with Boston fresh off a sweep of the Yankees.
The trade sparked numerous questions, perhaps none bigger than what it signaled about the Red Sox’s direction this season and how they would approach the Trade Deadline. It appeared the deal might lead to the club being sellers, but after ripping off a 10-game win streak, Boston entered the All-Star break in possession of a Wild Card. Now, possible trade candidates such as Aroldis Chapman and Lucas Giolito appear more likely to stay put, and the Red Sox look like buyers leading up to July 31. What a difference one month can make.
How much will the Orioles sell?
No one in Baltimore expected this. After back-to-back playoff appearances and 192 wins over the past two seasons, the Orioles have plummeted into the cellar of the AL East. They dismissed manager Brandon Hyde in May and have been hamstrung all year long by a pitching staff that ranks among the worst in the Majors.
The Orioles traded reliever Bryan Baker to the Rays on July 10. He had three years of club control remaining, but Baltiore has a bunch of veterans on expiring contracts who could be next to go. That includes starting pitchers Zach Eflin, Charlie Morton and Tomoyuki Sugano, All-Star first baseman/designated hitter Ryan O'Hearn and outfielder Cedric Mullins.
But what about star closer Félix Bautista? The man known as "The Mountain" recorded a 1.85 ERA across 126 2/3 innings from 2022-23 before undergoing Tommy John surgery. He could be sought after by many teams looking for bullpen help and is under contract for the next two seasons.
The Orioles have a glut of talented, young position players -- Gunnar Henderson, Adley Rutschman, Jackson Holliday and Colton Cowser, for example. It seems highly unlikely Baltimore will seriously entertain offers for those bats. But if they got an offer they couldn't refuse, the Orioles could really shake up the market.
Where will Sandy go?
Sandy Alcantara's name has been bandied about in trade rumors since the spring. Even though his first year back from Tommy John surgery has had a bunch of rough starts, the 2022 National League Cy Young Award winner should be an attractive asset given his power fastball and penchant for getting ground balls.
Alcantara is likely to be among the biggest names in the pitching market moved prior to the Deadline. He should command a sizable return since he is under club control through 2027 and stands out in what might be a relatively thin crop of available starters.
Will more sellers emerge as the Deadline nears?
There is a clear group of teams that will be open for business at the Deadline. Earlier this season, it appeared that the Cardinals would be a member of that group, but now they could be planning a possible postseason run.
Conversely, there are a number of clubs with a decision to make: Should they buy or sell? Middling teams such as the Rangers, Guardians, Twins, Royals, Angels, Braves and D-backs may choose to focus more on the future than the present, which could deepen the pool of available talent.
Is there a surprise waiting in the pitching market?
The biggest shocker -- something that has been talked about by league executives -- would be a trade involving Pirates 23-year-old ace Paul Skenes, who is under club control through 2029. The return for such a prized arm would probably be astronomical, but Pirates general manager Ben Cherington has essentially said it's not going to happen.
However, maybe other standout pitchers will be on the move. If the Guardians decide to sell, could elite closer Emmanuel Clase end up on the trade block? He is under contract through next season and has $10 million club options for 2027 and '28.
What happened at the 2024 Trade Deadline?
Jazz Chisholm Jr., Jack Flaherty, Tommy Edman and Tanner Scott were some of the best players traded last year. If you would like a full refresher on what went down ahead of the 2024 Deadline, click here.