MLB Buyers and Sellers: Teams Expected to Sell at the Deadline

After a disappointing start, teams will look toward the future. The squads who’ll be the most active as sellers before the deadline are the Pirates, Rockies, Marlins, Blue Jays, and Tigers. A playoff push for any of them is non-existent, and it’s time to see if they can swap a big contract for a nice prospect or two.

Addressing the Weakest Link In Pittsburgh

One team that has been trying to put together a competitive roster is the Pittsburgh Pirates. While the team is in last place in the NL Central, all hope is not lost. Currently last place in the NL Central, all hope is not lost. The Bucs have gone eleven consecutive seasons without a postseason appearance, and now with the expanded format, they have a real opportunity to end that drought. That leaves Pirates general manager Ben Cherington with the decision concerning how the organization approaches the deadline.

If the team shows promise and improves around the All-Star Break, they would be wise to make a push to get help for their bullpen. The underlying issue between winning and losing has been the faltering bullpen. Inconsistency has plagued the unit, and quality starts from the rotation, which is wasted as a result. The team could pursue Bryan Abreu, whom the Astros will most likely trade at some point. Pirates pitching coach Bill Murphy has previously worked with Abreu when both of them were in Houston, and played a huge role in his development.

If the Pirates acquire Abreu, it would help stabilize the back end of the bullpen, addressing the team’s biggest weakness. He gets a lot of strikeouts with elite swing-and-miss stuff and is reliable in high-leverage situations. The experienced reliever’s arrival in the Steel City would also help protect the wealth of young arms in the Pirates’ rotation. If he can serve as a 7th or 8th inning bridge, it could help solve one of the team’s biggest problems.

Targeting the Rockies’ Veteran Arms

If a team is in the market for pitching help, the Rockies should be high on their list. They have several veteran pitchers on their roster who could help a contender. Michael Lorenzen has value as a starter and a reliever with postseason experience. Antonio Senzatela is on an expiring contract and could be dealt to a team that needs bullpen flexibility. Veteran left-hander Kyle Freeland could appeal to teams in need of rotation depth, but could be difficult to trade because of his contract.

The Marlins Selling Potential Trade Assets

The Marlins are another team that has plenty of pitchers to offer. Sandy Alcantara, the team’s ace, is the most likely trade candidate. If he is dealt, the Marlins could receive several prospects in return. A highly coveted asset, the 2022 Cy Young Award winner is one of MLB’s premier frontline starters. The Yankees, Dodgers, and Padres are a few organizations that could attempt to acquire his services.

Reliever Pete Fairbanks’ name should come up a lot as the Marlins will likely shop him around. He will be a hot commodity due to his ability to handle high-leverage situations and close out games. The best destinations for him would be Detroit, Arizona, and Seattle. The Tigers need late-inning consistency, and the Diamondbacks’ bullpen has been their biggest weakness. The Mariners would be the best fit due to the team leaning on their bullpen. Fairbanks could form a formidable late-inning tandem with Anthony Munoz, which would be a difficult task to face in a close game.

Toronto’s MLB Trade Deadline Dilemma

Depending on where the struggling Blue Jays will be in the standings, the decision to deal the former two-time MLB all-star will come down to whether the team can gain any ground in the AL East. The Jays have at least four starting pitchers on the injured list, and it will be challenging to climb back into contention. That leaves Gausman as their only dependable starter, but they have to at least consider what other teams are willing to give up for him.

The Jays could ask for pitching prospects in return for Kevin Gausman, since their depth is depleted with injuries. It’s time for an injection of youth in the rotation, as the average age of the starters is 33.4 years. Although they recently made an appearance in the World Series, this would be the perfect time and situation to build towards next season and beyond. The team has a relatively young core, and if they gain some quality young arms for their rotation, they could be back in the postseason soon. While this may not be a complete rebuild for them, a restocked rotation with young arms is an ideal situation for the Jays.

The Future of the Tigers: The Looming Skubal Decision

After making it to the ALDS last season, the Tigers came into 2026 with high expectations. While struggling to stay out of last place, the organization will have to decide how to approach next season. An extremely important decision concerning their ace is looming, and general manager Jeff Greenburg will be faced with that difficult decision.

Although he is considered one of the best in baseball, this decision could determine the future success of the Tigers. Tarik Skubal likely will demand to be one of the highest-paid pitchers, but is the front office willing to make that kind of investment? If he is traded, the return in prospects could be enormous, and the team would be able to strengthen the farm system while maintaining its talent at the major league level.