July 6 update! Ranking top 2026 MLB trade deadline candidates - ESPN

It's time for an update to our rankings! Major League Baseball's Aug. 3 trade deadline is exactly four weeks away now, and teams are ramping up conversations about plans for the trade season ahead.

Whether from contenders determining how big of a splash they are willing to make or basement dwellers deciding which stars to make available, MLB's trade market is ever evolving. And to keep you updated, ESPN's Kiley McDaniel and Jeff Passan have put together a list of 100 potential trade candidates and top potential fits that will be updated regularly leading up to the deadline.

Some of the players listed are unlikely to be dealt but at least are being discussed in potential deals. Others might not be on the list now but will be added in the future should their team's fortunes change. Either way, this will be the most up-to-date accounting of where MLB's trade market stands.

Now on to the 100 names to know this trade season, starting with a game-changing ace. After that top 100 list, we break down the top players by position.

Note: Players ranked by total trade value with rest-of-season value as tiebreaker (not odds of being dealt); 10% trade likelihood minimum

Jump to: Top players by position

Chance of being traded: 85%
Rest-of-season impact: Game-changing
Years of control: Just the remainder of 2026

The buzz: Skubal returned from midseason bone chip surgery in record time and hit 99.9 mph with his fastball, so any concerns about his stuff returning have been answered. His future depends on whether the Tigers can muster a run at an American League playoff spot.

Considering the hole they've dug themselves, they are far more likely than not to move Skubal — beyond their six-game deficit for the final wild card, they are