MLB deadline board has buyers everywhere and Mets in sell lane

The Aug. 3 MLB trade deadline is still about two weeks away, and CBS Sports’ Dayn Perry says the market is already getting crowded at the register.

Because the playoff field expanded to 12 teams before the 2022 season, Perry writes that more clubs can talk themselves into contention. He also points to the American League wild-card race and the AL West as reasons the 2026 deadline could stay messy longer than usual.

SportsLine projections cited by CBS Sports give six of the seven teams in the top buyer tier better than a 90% shot at reaching the postseason. The lone exception in that group is Philadelphia, which is still listed at 78%.

The clearest buyers

CBS Sports puts seven teams in the no-doubt buying lane: the Atlanta Braves, Chicago Cubs, Los Angeles Dodgers, Milwaukee Brewers, New York Yankees, Philadelphia Phillies and Tampa Bay Rays.

Perry writes that all seven are expected to seek upgrades that help both their playoff chances and October ceiling. The Phillies get extra attention because they are 46-26 since Don Mattingly became interim manager, and because top executive Dave Dombrowski has a history of aggressive deadline work, according to the CBS Sports analysis.

The Braves may be the most active club in that group, Perry writes, though the level of aggression across the tier could vary.

The next wave of buyers

The likely-buyer pile is bigger: the Arizona Diamondbacks, Boston Red Sox, Chicago White Sox, Cleveland Guardians, Miami Marlins, Pittsburgh Pirates, San Diego Padres, Seattle Mariners, Texas Rangers and Toronto Blue Jays.

Boston’s placement comes with momentum. CBS Sports notes the Red Sox have won 13 straight games and entered the season with high expectations, making them a candidate to rise into the strongest buyer category if the run continues.

The Blue Jays are described as still trying to defend their 2025 pennant, while the Rangers are grouped as buyers because they sit atop the AL West picture. Perry also flags some uncertainty around the White Sox and Marlins, writing that they are probably, though not certainly, viewing themselves as contenders.

The clubs stuck in the middle

The Baltimore Orioles, Detroit Tigers, Houston Astros and Minnesota Twins land in the “who knows” bucket in the CBS Sports breakdown.

Detroit is the headliner because of Tarik Skubal. Perry writes that the 29-year-old left-hander, a pending free agent and back-to-back AL Cy Young winner, appears unlikely to sign an extension with the Tigers.

That leaves Detroit with a tough decision. CBS Sports notes the Tigers are seven games under .500, which points toward trading Skubal for prospects. The same analysis also says Detroit is only 4 1/2 games out of a playoff spot and has a plus-31 run differential, which supports holding him for a run at a third straight postseason berth.

The sellers’ aisle

CBS Sports lists the Athletics, Cincinnati Reds, Los Angeles Angels, St. Louis Cardinals and Washington Nationals as likely sellers.

The A’s have already moved in that direction, according to Perry, who cites their recent trade sending Aaron Civale to the Cubs. The Reds are also described as buried behind too many teams in the playoff race.

The Angels are a trickier case. Perry writes that they should sell, while noting a recent report that owner Arte Moreno is not inclined to do so. The Cardinals and Nationals are still relevant in the standings, but CBS Sports says both are prioritizing rebuilds and young talent.

The most obvious sellers, according to CBS Sports, are the Colorado Rockies, Kansas City Royals, New York Mets and San Francisco Giants. SportsLine gives each of those four teams less than a 1% chance of making the playoffs.

With more buyers than sellers, Perry writes that those four clubs could find a favorable market before Aug. 3. How far each sell-off goes remains open, with the Mets singled out as a team whose deadline depth is still to be determined.

This story draws on original reporting from CBS Sports.