With the 2025 trade deadline just 10 days away, 22 of MLB’s 30 franchises find themselves either holding down a playoff spot or fewer than 5.5 games outside the post-season picture.
As so many teams remain in the hunt, the trade market becomes even murkier, placing added significance on the next week-plus of competition.
One team squarely in the middle of that mix is the Arizona Diamondbacks, who just swept the St. Louis Cardinals and now sit 4.5 games back of the final National League wild-card spot.
However, with pending free agents such as Eugenio Suárez, Merrill Kelly, Zac Gallen, Josh Naylor and Shelby Miller, Arizona will feature prominently in discussions ahead of the July 31 deadline, even if it plays its way closer to playoff contention.
Suárez, in particular, is a name that many teams are monitoring, with the slugging third baseman having hit six homers in his last five games to take the NL lead with 35 on the season.
“Even if the Diamondbacks don’t offload all their free agents-to-be, Suárez could be moved because they’ve got Jordan Lawlar… primed to take over at third,” ESPN’s Jeff Passan and Kiley McDaniel wrote Monday, giving a 90 per cent chance that the 34-year-old is dealt.
The Athletic‘s Ken Rosenthal also weighed in on Arizona’s situation Monday, saying that it “will need” to move some of its expiring contracts “otherwise 2026 might end up a lost season.”
Of course, the Diamondbacks aren’t the only team facing a critical choice as the rumour mill begins to churn. With hot stove season officially underway, here’s a look at the latest speculation from around MLB.
Guardians listening on stars
Another team that could find itself among baseball’s most attractive sellers is the Cleveland Guardians.
Despite going 8-2 over their last 10, the Guardians still sit 4.5 games back of the third wild-card spot in the American League and have three teams between them and the Boston Red Sox.
Could this prompt Cleveland to trade away some of its more valuable pieces?
At this point, general manager Mike Chernoff is at least picking up the phone.
The New York Post‘s Jon Heyman reported Saturday that the Guardians are “listening on relievers,” which includes star closer Emmanuel Clase and Canadian Cade Smith.
Heyman added that “prices are understandably high” and that either being dealt is seen as “unlikely.” However, both Clase and Smith have been among the top 15 relievers in baseball by fWAR this season and have multiple years of team control remaining, which means any potential suitors may be willing to meet a high asking price to secure long-term help for their bullpen.
Cleveland is also listening on all-star outfielder Steven Kwan, according to Passan and McDaniel. If Kwan were made available, he would instantly become one of the most coveted players on the market. A Gold Glove defender and pest atop any lineup with two years of club control after 2025, the Guardians would require a massive return to part with the 27-year-old.
Blue Jays ‘motivated’ to add at deadline
Often shopping at the top of the market, whether it be in free agency or through trades, the Toronto Blue Jays are once again primed to chase impact talent at the 2025 deadline.
The Athletic‘s Jim Bowden wrote Monday that Toronto is “all-in” as trade season approaches and “focused on adding a starting pitcher and a reliever.” Among the names he linked to the Blue Jays were Pirates pitchers Mitch Keller, Dennis Santana and David Bednar, as well as Diamondbacks starters Gallen and Kelly.
Entering the week atop the AL East with a 58-41 record, Toronto is well-positioned to explore the top of the market to solidify its roster and push for its first division title since 2015.
Sportsnet’s Ben Nicholson-Smith noted Monday that the Blue Jays are expected to be identified among baseball’s most aggressive teams in the lead-up to this year’s deadline. He added that Toronto does like the top options, but that “motivated” would be an alternate way to frame how it is approaching trade talks in the next week.
Orioles focused on trading short-term pieces
Sitting at 44-54, the Baltimore Orioles are firmly looking at subtracting from their roster. But general manager Mike Elias insists that he’s not looking to trade players with multiple years of control remaining.
During an appearance on MLB Network Radio on Sunday, Elias said he’s having conversations that “are more oriented toward seeing what’s out there for some of our available major league players.”
“We’re not blowing up the team. We think we’re going to be very good again in 2026 and have that intention. We’re not interested in changing the foundation of the team, but to the degree that we have players that interest other clubs, that are coming towards the end of their contracts, we’ve got to listen to that.”
Having already shipped reliever Bryan Baker to the Tampa Bay Rays earlier this month, Baltimore still has Zach Eflin, Charlie Morton, Seranthony Dominguez, Ryan O’Hearn, Cedric Mullins and Gregory Soto in the final years of their respective contracts.
O’Hearn may be the most interesting option of the bunch. The 31-year-old was named an all-star for the first time in his career this summer, starting for the American League. The left-handed slugger is purely a platoon bat, but owns a .835 OPS and has hit 12 home runs in 331 plate appearances.
Quick hits
• The Chicago Cubs have Diamondbacks third baseman Suárez and Nationals closer Kyle Finnegan on their radar and may not be in a rush to deal star Canadian prospect Owen Caissie, according to The Athletic‘s Patrick Mooney and Sahadev Sharma.
• With their off-season bullpen additions faltering, the Los Angeles Dodgers are “scouring the market” for relievers, according to USA Today‘s Bob Nightengale, talking with the Twins, Orioles, Guardians, Cardinals and Pirates about their respective closers.
