MLB trade deadline dominoes for 10 biggest names on 2026 market - ESPN

Good luck predicting the 2026 MLB trade deadline. With chaotic wild-card races in both leagues, we could see a busy trade deadline if front offices step up and take some risks. Or a slow one if everyone decides to hold onto their players.

Last year's deadline got some buzz when the Arizona Diamondbacks slumped at the end of July and decided to trade Eugenio Suarez, Josh Naylor and Merrill Kelly, adding some decent names to an otherwise soft class of trade candidates — and the Minnesota Twins' decision to trade almost half their roster also added to the excitement.

There are several teams in a similar position this year — starting with the Detroit Tigers — so we might see more major leaguer-for-major leaguer trades, like the one between the Boston Red Sox and Washington Nationals that saw Connelly Early exchanged for Curtis Mead.

Jeff Passan's final trade deadline preview is out, so let's use the intel he has to get into some trade dominoes and see how the deadline might unfold for some of the biggest names, starting with a two-time Cy Young winner and one of baseball's best pitchers.

Last year, six of the 10 players we listed were traded; in 2024, it was seven of 10 — although, nailing the exact team isn't quite so easy. Let's see how we do this year.

Skubal remains the fulcrum of the entire trade deadline, the clear difference-maker who can not only impact the race to reach the playoffs, but the postseason itself. Keep in mind, however: While Skubal is the top player who might get traded, the top player isn't always traded.

In 2023, the Los Angeles Angels decided to keep Shohei Ohtani at the deadline for a fruitless run at the postseason (they only fell 16 wins short). In 2024, Garrett Crochet was the top target, but