What to watch with each team on Trade Deadline Day

July 31st, 2025

Trade Deadline Day has arrived, and we could see a frenzy of activity before the 6 p.m. ET cutoff for deals. Heck, we already saw a good amount of activity on Wednesday, with deals going down throughout the day.

As the hours tick away, each dealin' team has plans -- and, likely, backup plans -- for how to improve its roster for this season and beyond, with each hoping to pull it off before the window closes.

2025 MLB Trade Deadline
• What we learned from a wild Trade Deadline
• 6 winners of the Trade Deadline
• Carlos Correa traded back to Astros in Deadline stunner
• SD gets Mason Miller, JP Sears for No. 3 overall prospect, 3 more
• Yanks overhaul 'pen with Bednar, Doval and Bird trades
• Mets get CF help with Cedric Mullins trade
• These 5 clubs loaded up on prospects at the Deadline
• Ranking the 25 top prospects traded ahead of the Deadline
• Trade tracker
• Tracking prospects dealt

With help from MLB.com's 30 beat writers, here's what to watch with each team on Deadline Day.

All stats are through Tuesday.

Jump to: AL East | AL Central | AL West | NL East | NL Central | NL West

AMERICAN LEAGUE EAST

Blue Jays: The Blue Jays are looking for relief help at multiple levels, which means they can pick and choose their entry points into this market. A top-end setup man or closer would be an ideal start here, but there’s also an argument to be made for multiple arms beyond that. The Blue Jays have all of the money and prospects they need to make any deal, so this front office should be in on any and every conversation in the bullpen market. This group has always done some of its business close to the deadline, too. -- Keegan Matheson

Orioles: Two veteran leaders (All-Star designated hitter and center fielder ) could soon be leaving Baltimore. The O’s still have their two biggest trade chips -- as well as corner outfielder -- but it seems likely they’ll move both before the Deadline. The Orioles were active on Wednesday night, when they traded Ramón Urías to the Astros and Andrew Kittredge to the Cubs. Thursday could be another busy day for the club, as pitchers , and are also possibilities to be on the move. But the biggest losses would be O’Hearn and/or Mullins, who have complemented the young core for several years. -- Jake Rill

Rays: Their July slump would seem likely to alter their strategy heading into the Trade Deadline, but president of baseball operations Erik Neander’s words and actions have indicated they will again perform the “tightrope act” of buying and selling as they sit on the edge of the AL Wild Card race. The Rays swapped catchers on Monday, trading pending free agent and acquiring Nick Fortes, and traded pitcher Zack Littell to the Reds in a three-team trade on Wednesday. If they decide to deal veterans like Pete Fairbanks and Brandon Lowe, too, will they bring in similar replacements? -- Adam Berry

Red Sox: Can the Red Sox get the starting pitcher they need to bolster the rotation? A spot has already been cleared with No. 5 starter optioned after his most recent shaky start. Having another proven arm to go with , , and could be a big help as Boston pursues its first postseason appearance since 2021. Another bat would also help, particularly one who can play first base. -- Ian Browne

Yankees: The Yankees made a couple of early moves in adding third baseman and infielder/outfielder , but the front office is signaling they intend to do more. On Wednesday, the team traded with the White Sox for outfielder , sending prospect to Chicago. A starting pitcher and at least two relievers are still on the shopping list, and executives haven't ruled out adding one more position player to the mix, aiming for more flexibility and versatility. -- Bryan Hoch

AMERICAN LEAGUE CENTRAL

Guardians: Will the Guardians trade and/or ? Both are franchise staples but have been heavily featured on the rumor mill recently. In wake of this week’s news, Kwan and Bieber are Cleveland’s top trade chips. Of course, both could help the Guardians down the stretch this season and beyond. Kwan is under club control through 2027, and Bieber is signed through this season with a player option for ‘26. -- Tim Stebbins

Royals: The Royals made a couple of early moves to improve their lineup depth by adding and , and they took a big piece off the market by extending . The Royals could still use some offense, but what has become a more pressing need is pitching. They have three starters on the injured list right now, so they’ll be looking to add an arm or two. Bats are always on their radar, and the Royals would be willing to add if the right deal arises. -- Anne Rogers

Tigers: A year after taking their selling strategy down to the final hour with a flurry of deals just before the deadline, the Tigers are buyers this year. But with teams targeting Detroit’s top prospects, president of baseball operations Scott Harris could play the waiting game again to try to work the prices again. If it works, they could end up with multiple relievers and maybe a big bat. -- Jason Beck

Twins: It should be a busy day. The Twins have made their intentions clear by trading and . And it seems likely that some of their pending free agents will follow on Thursday. That list includes , , , and . They’re getting calls on and , but the asking prices make those moves far less likely. -- Matthew Leach

White Sox: It seems unlikely still will be part of the White Sox as of Aug. 1, but there is a chance the White Sox don’t trade the center fielder with the five-tool talent if they don’t get the desired prospect return and possibly pick up his $20 million club option for 2026. General manager Chris Getz also could take the best return offered with Robert. Right-hander and a reliever or two could be trade candidates as the rebuilding White Sox continue building up their core. On Wednesday, they sent outfielder to the Yankees for prospect . -- Scott Merkin

AMERICAN LEAGUE WEST

Angels: After winning three in a row to move within four games of an AL Wild Card spot, the Angels surprisingly decided to buy on Wednesday. They acquired relievers and from the Nationals for lefty and Minor League first baseman . It’ll be interesting to see if the Angels decide to continue to add or if they also decide to sell and trade an impending free agent such as or . But it seems less likely they’ll trade closer , lefty and left fielder . -- Rhett Bollinger

Astros: The Astros have been aggressive in their pursuit of a left-handed bat, and they now have an opening at third base because it appears All-Star will be out long term with a hamstring strain. Houston has talked to the Twins about bringing back to play third base, and they’ve been linked to . The Astros might have found their solution when they traded for Baltimore's Ramón Urías on Wednesday, however. There’s also a need for a starting pitcher and a middle-innings reliever. -- Brian McTaggart

Athletics: The A’s have a trio of starting pitchers in , and that have garnered plenty of interest around the league. But the A’s are at a point where they feel they’ve identified a talented young core that can contend next season, and trading one of those starters would seemingly detract from that goal. So, to deal one of those arms, the A’s would likely need to get back players who are ready to help them win now. -- Martín Gallegos

Mariners: After jumping the market by acquiring last Thursday, then adding lefty specialist on Wednesday, the Mariners made their biggest move yet when they traded for Eugenio Suárez on Wednesday night. The club has revamped its offense in a major way, but the Mariners could still look for potential high-leverage relievers such as Minnesota's or Pittsburgh's . -- Daniel Kramer

Rangers: The Rangers have one of the best bullpens in baseball with a 2.03 ERA entering Wednesday, the best in the American League. But with on the injured list and designated for assignment, they could use a high-leverage arm or two. has performed admirably in the closer spot, sporting a 2.68 ERA with eight saves and 11 holds. The front office doesn’t have much money to work with, so they may have to get creative, but Texas has no doubt scoured the market for relievers. -- Kennedi Landry

NATIONAL LEAGUE EAST

Braves: homered twice during this week’s series in Kansas City. Exactly how that improved his market will be realized by the return the Braves gain if they trade the veteran DH, who will be a free agent at the end of the season. The Braves could also try to get a mid-level prospect for closer , who has struggled to regain the dominant form he showed as recently as last year. -- Mark Bowman

Marlins: All eyes will be on whether Miami deals controllable arms and . Alcantara is a former Cy Young winner trying to regain his form following Tommy John surgery, while Cabrera is finally realizing his frontline potential in his fifth season. Other notable names include reliever and outfielder Jesús Sánchez. The only expiring contract is righty , who had a 3.82 ERA over his past 14 starts entering Wednesday. -- Christina De Nicola

Mets: After remaking their bullpen with the additions of , and , the Mets are still looking to do more. Their top remaining priority is a bat, with center field standing out as the logical place to add. To that end, they've been linked heavily to While the Mets could also seek to upgrade their rotation, that's a lesser priority for them heading into Deadline Day. -- Anthony DiComo

Nationals: The Nationals in recent years have been active in trading expiring contracts in exchange for prospects to build toward the future. There are several such candidates -- including and -- but it remains to be seen if the Nats will trade players with more years left on their deals. All-Star hurler does not become a free agent until 2027, and he likely would yield a hefty return if dealt. First baseman also has another year left on his contract, a similar scenario to when the Nats traded last season. On Wednesday, the Nats sent right-hander Michael Soroka to the Cubs, as well as left-hander Andrew Chafin and right-hander Luis García to the Angels in exchange for first baseman Sam Brown and left-hander .-- Jessica Camerato

Phillies: If the Phillies could snap their fingers and make it happen, they would get a closer, outfielder and probably another reliever before the deadline. But they can’t do it all. One big piece is out of the way, however, as they traded for Twins closer on Wednesday and sent prospects Eduardo Tait (Phillies' No. 4) and righty Mick Abel (No. 6) to Minnesota. As for the other potential moves, what would be the cost? The Phillies have four top 100 prospects left, but only one (right-hander ) is considered untouchable. How far will Dave Dombrowski go to give his team a chance to win? -- Todd Zolecki

NATIONAL LEAGUE CENTRAL

Brewers: GM Matt Arnold already made impactful in-season trades for starter from the Red Sox in April, first baseman as a winning lottery ticket from the White Sox in June and catcher from the Rays on Monday, but he remains open to adding power to a lineup with little of it -- if such a deal can be made without costing a top prospect -- and he would like to fortify a hard-worked bullpen. Lefty scuffled against the Cubs on Wednesday while making his 51st appearance, matching ’s team lead. Only four pitchers in the Majors had appeared more as of 24 hours prior to the Deadline. -- Adam McCalvy

Cardinals: What to watch for from the Cardinals on deadline day is a dizzying amount of activity where some of the franchise’s most recognizable faces could be heading elsewhere in trades. , the most proven closer available, was already dealt Wednesday to the Mets. , who used his no-trade clause to squash an agreed-upon deal to the Astros in December, could be on the move if he is willing to consider some of the eight to nine teams in need of help at third base. and are also trade candidates for teams in need of relief help. -- John Denton

Cubs: The Cubs are looking to add arms and that will continue in the hours and minutes leading up to the Deadline. Chicago reeled in potential impact hurlers by acquiring Michael Soroka from the Nationals and, according to sources, Andrew Kittredge from the Orioles on Wednesday, but don’t rule out the North Siders looking to reel in some more bullpen help. -- Jordan Bastian

Pirates: The Pirates have already traded a player on an expiring deal () and with multiple years of control remaining (). They’re still active on both markets, but plenty of focus is going to center around and , two All-Star pitchers with team control who could command a high price tag. -- Alex Stumpf

Reds: Close in the race for an NL Wild Card spot, the Reds acquired defensive prowess in third baseman from the Pirates and right-handed pitcher Zack Littell from the Rays on Wednesday. However, they are still seeking to be buyers to address bigger needs for high-leverage relievers and a power bat that can protect in the lineup. There is apparently some room to add payroll. Not only does the club want to improve its chances this season, it would prefer to also land players under contract beyond 2025 to help in the future. -- Mark Sheldon

NATIONAL LEAGUE WEST

D-backs: How deep will the sell off go? GM Mike Hazen got a jump on the deadline last week when he dealt free agents to be and . Hazen kept that going when he dealt to the Mariners late Wednesday night. Arizona still has two players who will be free agents at season’s end in starters and . They are two of the better players on the market and Hazen has engaged with teams on both of them. Whether he’s able to swing deals for both will be a big storyline Thursday. -- Steve Gilbert

Dodgers: The Dodgers look to come away from the Deadline with a fortified back end of the bullpen -- ideally with a high-leverage righty reliever -- although they're not alone in looking for relief help. Former top prospect and recently promoted No. 3 prospect aren't expected to go anywhere, but depending on how the market moves, the Dodgers might need to be aggressive to land the type of lockdown arm they desire. -- Sonja Chen

Giants: How far will the sell-off go? The Giants looked like they were poised to contend after acquiring three-time All-Star from the Red Sox on June 15, but they’ve gone an MLB-worst 13-24 since then and reached a new low after going 0-6 during their last homestand against the Mets and Pirates. The Giants -- who are now below .500 for the first time this season -- seemed to signal a change in direction by dealing setup man to the Mets on Wednesday, but it remains to be seen how many other pieces they might offload leading up to the Deadline. -- Maria Guardado

Padres: It’s going to be an eventful Deadline for the Padres. They need multiple bats and probably an arm. But if they were to deal as part of a buy-and-sell strategy, that would turn things from “eventful” to “pure chaos.” Trading Cease would presumably free up resources for San Diego to pursue bigger names on offense. But there would also suddenly be a major need on the pitching staff, and they’d likely look to add there as well. As ever, there’s no telling what A.J. Preller might do. -- AJ Cassavell

Rockies: The Rockies have an enduring need for pitching depth, as well as payroll relief. They achieved both with their first two trades by sending third baseman (signed for two more years) to the Yankees for two potential starters -- and reliever to the Braves for righty relief prospect Austin Smith. The Rockies also are taking calls on younger players with multiple years of club control, in hopes of adding talent. -- Thomas Harding