2026 MLB trade deadline prospect watch for all 30 teams - ESPN

As MLB trade season arrives, you will often hear some version of the following: «Team X can make this deal if they want to» or «Does team X even have enough pieces to make this deal?»

Well, let's attempt to answer those by diving into each team's farm system to evaluate the prospects that could be on the move ahead of the Aug. 3 deadline.

I grouped teams based on their projected posture this trade season, then gave you the need-to-know information. For a list of each club's top prospects, check out my recently updated top 10 rankings.

System snapshot: The system is strong, still. The Dodgers added just one prospect to their top 20 in the most recent draft due to both their limited pool and picks, but also their strong farm system. It's very deep in outfielders specifically, with them making up five of the top six spots on the updated top 10.

Their untouchables: OF Josue De Paula is probably the only one that's truly off limits, but I think there are a couple more very unlikely to move, or only in a huge deal, such as OF Mike Sirota, OF Eduardo Quintero, SS Emil Morales and possibly Zyhir Hope.

Prospects they could deal: I have Hope and Charles Davalan as the fourth and fifth among that outfield glut, and James Tibbs III is the next one behind them, also with some real trade value. There's not as much depth on the pitching side, but RHP River Ryan and LHP Jackson Ferris are both in Triple-A.

System snapshot: Still very strong even with a steady flow of young players coming to the big leagues. It's hitter-heavy, with only three pitchers in the top 20, and that's exactly what opposing teams want to trade for, in an ideal scenario.

Their untouchables: SS Jesus Made is the top prospect in baseball and is certainly off-limits.