MLB trade deadline: Analysis for all major moves

Follow along for analysis of all major transactions prior to Thursday's 6 p.m. ET trade deadline.

👉 Every trade ahead of the deadline

Padres land O'Hearn, Laureano for 6 prospects

If you're a prospect drafted by San Diego, just assume you'll eventually be traded. Padres president of baseball operations A.J. Preller shipped out 10 prospects on deadline day - including six to the Orioles - in a pair of deals. Ryan O'Hearn and Ramón Laureano should provide an enormous power boost to a lineup that ranks 25th in slugging and 29th in home runs. While O'Hearn is a rental bat, Laureano has a $6.5-million team option for 2026.

Preller essentially sent the bulk of his 2024 draft class to the Orioles: Boston Bateman (No. 52 pick), Cobb Hightower (No. 88), Tyson Neighbors (No. 118), Brandon Butterworth (No. 360), Tanner Smith (No. 450), and Victor Figueroa (No. 540) were all selected last year.

Correa returns to Houston in stunner

Carlos Correa is going back to where it all began with the Houston Astros. He spent the first seven years of his career in Houston after being drafted first overall in 2012. He was part of the 2017 World Series-winning team but signed with the Minnesota Twins in 2022 after deals with both the New York Mets and San Francisco Giants fell apart. Correa is owed nearly $104 million over the next three years, though Minnesota is reportedly eating $33 million. The 30-year-old, who had to waive his no-trade clause to accept the move, is no longer the offensive force he once was, hitting .267/.319/.386 with seven home runs in 93 games. He should benefit from returning to Houston, though, as he put together an .833 OPS during his tenure there. Correa will presumably slide over from shortstop - where he's played his entire career - to third base with Isaac Paredes likely out for the rest of the season.

It's been a franchise-altering deadline for the Twins, with the front office dealing away Correa, Jhoan Duran, Danny Coulombe, Brock Stewart, Harrison Bader, Willi Castro, and Chris Paddack.

Padres swing stunning blockbuster with A's

A.J. Preller is obsessed with making jaw-dropping trades, and we love him for it. The Padres president of baseball operations pulled off a stunner hours before the deadline, acquiring star closer Mason Miller and starter JP Sears for a massive prospect haul. Miller, who is arbitration-eligible through the 2029 season, gives San Diego an elite closer at a low salary, which is huge for a franchise under payroll constraints. Sears is also pre-arb and slides into the rotation, giving Preller the option to deal Robert Suarez and Dylan Cease in exchange for offensive help. Despite seemingly always making major moves, credit to the Padres' development system for continuously churning out prospects that can be used in trades. It's refreshing that during a time when front offices operate so cautiously, there are executives like Preller who will stop at nothing to try to win. The National League playoffs are going to be insane.

For the A's, this deal is a no-brainer. The club has a budding position player core but is not ready to contend for a playoff spot, making an elite closer an unnecessary luxury. De Vries, 18, was the Padres' No. 1 prospect and the No. 3 prospect in baseball, per MLB Pipeline. The Athletics also landed Nett, San Diego's No. 3 prospect, Baez (No. 13), and Núñez (No. 17). This is the type of haul that hopefully pays dividends.

Red Sox come out of deadline with minimal improvement

The Red Sox preached that they'd be aggressive buyers heading into the trade deadline after dealing away Rafael Devers. President Sam Kennedy and chief baseball officer Craig Breslow consistently said the front office felt the urgency to be aggressive in improving the team. However, what transpired was another deadline dud. Despite significant needs in the rotation, bullpen, and at first base, the Red Sox came away with rental pitchers Steven Matz and Dustin May. They didn't add a bat.

Breslow said in the hour that followed the deadline that the club was aggressive and that he understands the "frustration and disappointment" from the fan base for not adding major impact players. Matz is a solid rental reliever, though May is far removed from his days as a dominant starter. The 27-year-old owns a career-worst 4.85 ERA and 1.35 WHIP across 19 appearances this season, and he's already allowed 16 home runs in 104 innings. He'll slide into the back end of the rotation. The fact that Boston also sent its No. 5 prospect in James Tibbs III, who was part of the return for Devers, to the Dodgers is a head-scratcher. It feels like Breslow attempted to secure a trade for Twins ace Joe Ryan and then pivoted to May when he knew a deal wouldn't happen.

Making matters worse for the Red Sox is that the Blue Jays, Mariners, Rangers, Yankees, and Astros all improved at the deadline.

Rangers add Kelly to rotation

The Texas Rangers are building a pretty strong rotation for a potential playoff series as Merrill Kelly joins from the Diamondbacks. The veteran right-hander was arguably the top rental starter available, posting a 3.22 ERA, 1.06 WHIP, and 121 strikeouts over 128 2/3 innings this season. Texas didn't initially look like a buyer heading into the deadline, but the club caught fire in July, going 16-8 to move into a wild-card spot. With Kelly in the fold, the Rangers boast a strong top of the rotation that also features Nathan Eovaldi and Jacob deGrom.

Mets add speedy Mullins to outfield mix

The Mets continue to build an impressive playoff roster. After bolstering the bullpen, David Stearns switched his focus to the offense, trading for the speedy Cedric Mullins. The 30-year-old impending free agent is a strong defensive center fielder with 15 home runs and 14 stolen bases - which would rank third on the Mets - on the season. He hit 12 of those homers against right-handed pitching, though he does sport an .866 OPS in 101 plate appearances against southpaws. While Mullins has struggled offensively at times this season, he's hitting .435/.44/.913 with seven extra-base hits and three stolen bases over his last seven games. Baltimore's acquired six pitchers in its three trades so far this deadline, clearly prioritizing adding arms to an underwhelming system. Anthony Nunez (No. 14) is the only prospect in the Mets' top 20 who was moved in this deal.

Yankees add high-leverage arm in Bednar

Brian Cashman is building a three-headed monster at the back end of the Yankees' bullpen. Pirates closer David Bednar is on his way to the Bronx after spending the last five seasons in Pittsburgh, where he was an All-Star in 2022 and 2023. The right-hander's bounced back from a turbulent 2024, posting a 2.37 ERA, 1.10 WHIP, and 51 strikeouts across 38 innings. Bednar's converted 101 saves in his career but will likely slide into a setup role ahead of Devin Williams, at least for the rest of this season. With one additional year of arbitration eligibility, Bednar can move into the closer's role in 2026 with both Williams and Luke Weaver set to hit free agency. Cashman urgently needed to upgrade his relief corps heading into the deadline: The Yankees' bullpen has posted the second-worst ERA (6.29) in July, only ahead of the Rockies.

Interestingly enough, the Pirates acquired the Yankees' top two catching prospects in Rafael Flores and Edgleen Perez. New York's become one of the league's best producers of catching talent, allowing Cashman to include backstops in a number of recent deals. Meanwhile, Pittsburgh's catching depth is thin, even with 2021 first overall pick Henry Davis currently on the MLB roster. Davis has struggled immensely during his brief major-league career, hitting .175/.260/.286 this season while ranking in the 25th percentile in framing, per Baseball Savant. There's a chance the Pirates view Flores as their catcher of the future.

Blue Jays go bold with Bieber

The Blue Jays went into the deadline needing a No. 1 starter, and they got that in Shane Bieber. Trading for the right-hander doesn't come without risk - it's hard to know what Bieber looks like coming off Tommy John surgery. But his rehab has gone well so far, and this is exactly the type of high-ceiling risk Toronto needed to take, given the underwhelming trade market for starting pitching. The Blue Jays already have five healthy starters, so Bieber can continue his rehab in hopes of being MLB-ready for the most important part of the season: September and October. Toronto wasn't getting a pitcher with this type of ace potential without taking a gamble, and the team did it while keeping its top four prospects. With the Jays leading the division and sitting comfortably in a playoff spot, acquiring a pitcher with Bieber's potential makes a ton of sense.

Khal Stephen was the Blue Jays' No. 5 prospect, per MLB Pipeline. Toronto dealt from a position of strength - the top of its minor-league system is dominated by pitching. Even if Bieber doesn't pick up his $16-million player option for 2026 - which is unlikely, barring an injury - the acquisition cost is justified for general manager Ross Atkins. The move is also great business for Cleveland, picking up a solid pitching prospect for a starter that hasn't thrown an inning in the majors in 2025. How much do the Guardians sell off is the next question.

Tigers add closer depth with Finnegan

Tigers relievers entered the deadline 13th in WHIP and 20th in ERA, making a late-inning arm a necessity heading into the deadline. Kyle Finnegan owns a 4.38 ERA, 1.28 WHIP, and 32 strikeouts across 39 innings, having also converted 20 saves. While his 7.4 K/9 is a career-worst mark, his 3.60 FIP and 0.7 HR/9 are career-bests. The 33-year-old is on an expiring deal, though, so Detroit should be in the market for at least one more high-leverage arm.

Mariners take huge swing by reuniting with Suárez

Mariners president of baseball operations Jerry Dipoto is finally showing some urgency after his club missed the playoffs by a single game in each of the last two seasons. Having already added Josh Naylor earlier in the week, Dipoto went back to the Diamondbacks to acquire Eugenio Suárez for a trio of prospects. Suárez, who is fifth in the majors with 36 home runs, gives the Mariners one of the most potent offenses in baseball to go with an elite rotation. Seattle's lineup now features five players with at least 17 home runs, while Suárez and Cal Raleigh have combined to go deep 77 times.

Dipoto's acquisition of Suárez reunites him with a bat he once thought was dispensable. The club originally traded him to Arizona after the 2023 season for an underwhelming return of Carlos Vargas and Seby Zavala. Seattle's motivation at the time was to build an offense that didn't strikeout as much, but the team struggled to score runs. Heading into this deadline, Dipoto desperately needed to address the corner infield spots; Mariners third baseman rank 27th in OPS on the year and have hit just five home runs. Seattle might now be the best AL team on paper at this point.

Red Sox find relief help in Matz

This deal is notable not just for the players involved, but the fact that the Red Sox current chief baseball officer Craig Breslow, and former CBO Chaim Bloom - the man he replaced - linked up on this trade. Boston's main priority heading into the deadline is to add arms, and Matz gives them a solid veteran reliever. The left-hander owns a 3.44 ERA, 1.18 WHIP, 2.88 FIP, and 5.22 K/BB rate on the season. Matz has been incredibly tough on left-handed hitters, holding them to a .179/.216/.226 slash line with three extra-base hits and 17 strikeouts in 89 plate appearances. The Cardinals, meanwhile, did well to land Blaze Jordan for a rental. The 22-year-old was a third-round pick by Bloom in 2020 and brings immense power. He's hit 55 home runs in 446 minor-league games and has just a 10.7 K% this year across Triple- and Double-A.

Cubs bring in Soroka to fill out rotation

The Cubs might have made one of the better under-the-radar moves of the deadline by landing Michael Soroka from the Nationals. While Soroka's 4.87 ERA doesn't jump off the page, his 4.12 FIP, 1.13 WHIP, and 9.6 K/9 show he's been better than his ERA would dictate. The 27-year-old has been pitching pretty well heading into the deadline too, posting a 3.00 ERA over his last four starts, though he's thrown a combined 18 innings in those outings. All 16 of Soroka's appearances this season have come as a starter, however he did have success pitching out of the bullpen last season, and he could fill a number of roles for Chicago down the stretch. Don't rule out another front of the rotation starter. Washington was able to flip Soroka's expiring deal into a pair of prospects in Christian Franklin and Ronny Cruz. The pair now rank 11th and 12th, respectively among the Nationals prospects, per MLB Pipeline.

Reds land Littell in multi-team trade

A lot is going on here, so we'll focus on Zack Littell, the headliner of the deal. The right-hander has put together a weird yet solid season. While he owns a 3.58 ERA and 1.17 WHIP across 22 starts, he's also surrendered a major-league leading 26 home runs - 18 of which came in 77 innings on the road - and ranks 58th out of 62 qualified starters with a 6.0 K/9. Littell's addition will push either Nick Martinez or Chase Burns into the bullpen, which will help with the team's overall depth.

Mets make another major add with Helsley

The battle for top spot in the NL East is going to be a heavyweight fight, with the Phillies and Mets currently throwing haymakers. New York has added Gregory Soto, Tyler Rogers, and now Ryan Helsley to bridge the final innings to star closer Edwin Díaz. Helsley, a free agent at the end of the season, will likely slide into a setup role despite leading the NL with 70 saves over the last two campaigns. Though Helsley sports a career-worst 9.0 H/9 this season, he's still striking out batters (10.3 K/9) at an elite level. He's also allowed just one run and two walks over his last 11 appearances. Given the Mets' success with their pitching in recent years, it'll be interesting to see how they maximize Helsley's repertoire.

Adding three relievers hasn't come cheap - with the Mets trading away eight players - but the club has been able to deal mostly from the depths of a strong minor-league system and held on to its top-tier prospects. Jesus Baez, New York's No. 8 prospect, and Nate Dohm (No. 14) are the headliners, but both are in A-ball and have no impact on New York's current window. They will help improve the Cardinals' minor-league system, however, as the organization prepares to hand the keys over to Chaim Bloom. The former Red Sox chief baseball officer was likely heavily involved in the return which is good news in St. Louis, as he's proven to be a great identifier of future talent. It was a surprise that Helsley wasn't dealt in the offseason, but the Cardinals still landed a strong return by waiting until the trade deadline.

Phillies land star closer Duran

Dave Dombrowski loves himself a deadline deal. Shortly after the Mets made a major move to bring in Tyler Rogers, the Phillies' president of baseball operations took his own big swing by acquiring star closer Jhoan Duran to anchor a bullpen that needs a lot of help. Duran was arguably the best reliever on the market. The hard-throwing right-hander owns a 2.01 ERA, 1.17 WHIP, and 9.3 K/9 this season. Most importantly, he's allowed just one home run across 49 1/3 innings and is arbitration-eligible through 2027. The price the Phillies paid to land Duran was significant, but with an aging roster fully in its World Series window, it's a necessary move for Dombrowski. Flags, of course, fly forever.

Minnesota did exceptionally well to land Mick Abel and Eduardo Tait, two top-100 prospects. Losing Duran hurts, but having a star closer is an unnecessary luxury item for a team out of contention and with payroll issues. Abel, 23, has seen his prospect stock dip a bit in recent years, but he's put together an encouraging season in Triple-A and could slide into the Twins' rotation down the stretch. Tait, 18, gives the organization a potential future franchise catcher.

Mets bolster 'pen with Rogers addition

The Giants appear to be selling less than two months after Buster Posey pulled off the shocking blockbuster deal to acquire Rafael Devers. Tyler Rogers, one of MLB's most underrated bullpen arms, is off to Queens for an intriguing package that seems like a strong return for a rental reliever. Rogers - who was traded hours after his twin brother Taylor was dealt from Cincinnati to Pittsburgh - owns a 1.80 ERA and 0.86 WHIP across 53 appearances this season. While he's only struck out 38 batters, he's allowed just four walks and three home runs. The Mets have made it a priority to address a bullpen that ranks 17th in ERA and 19th in WHIP in July. Rogers' unorthodox delivery will be an excellent complement to flamethrower Edwin Díaz late in games.

The return Posey was able to land from New York indicates San Francisco's desire to quickly retool heading into 2026. Buttó immediately slides into the Giants' bullpen and, as a former starter, could eventually be stretched out. Tidwell, the Mets' No. 10 prospect, is another pitcher who's already made his MLB debut and could slot into San Francisco's depleted rotation. Gilbert was a first-round pick in 2022 and their No. 12 prospect. He's enjoyed a solid season in Triple-A as a 24-year-old. With Rogers on the move, expect Posey to entertain offers for other players on expiring deals like Justin Verlander, Wilmer Flores, and Mike Yastrzemski - or even closer Camilo Doval, who is arbitration-eligible through 2027.

Reds land Gold Glove winner Hayes from division rival

The Reds are hoping they've stopped their revolving door at third base by acquiring Ke'Bryan Hayes from the Pirates, their NL Central rivals. The 28-year-old won his first and only Gold Glove in 2023 and remains an elite defender at the position, sitting in the 99th percentile in outs above average this season, per Baseball Savant. As elite as Hayes is defensively, however, his bat leaves a lot to be desired, especially in recent years. He's hit just six home runs to go with a .571 OPS and 58 wRC+ over the last two seasons. Cincinnati will hope the change of scenery gives Hayes an opportunity to return to the 3-fWAR player he was in both 2022 and 2023. He owns a .738 OPS with four home runs - his highest career output in any road park - in 27 games at Great American Ball Park.

Trading Hayes represents another disappointing chapter for the Pirates franchise. The organization's first-round pick in 2015, Hayes inked an eight-year, $70-million extension in 2022. It was supposed to be a new era for the Pirates in which they spent to keep their young core intact. Hayes was the team's second-highest paid position player this season, and his departure is more of a salary dump than anything else. Sammy Stafura is the Reds' No. 9 prospect and is likely years away from reaching the majors. Taylor Rogers is on an expiring deal and was likely included in order to even out some of the salary.

Angels are buyers?

Los Angeles swung a trade for veteran relievers Andrew Chafin and Luis García despite entering play Wednesday four games out of a playoff spot and with FanGraphs putting its playoff odds at 5.3%. The Angels are 12-13 in July with a minus-14 run differential, while the Tigers, Mariners, Guardians, Yankees, Astros, and Royals - all teams ahead of them in the playoff race - have easier remaining schedules, according to Tankathon.

Neither Chafin nor García is a difference-maker, but they should boost a bullpen that ranks 27th in ERA (4.99) and WHIP (1.45). The Angels are starting to build a solid core, and with one playoff appearance in the previous 15 years, it's easy to understand the front office making a push down the stretch in an open American League. That said, with so few sellers at the deadline, there's a better argument to be made that the Angels should capitalize by moving veterans like Kenley Jansen and Taylor Ward in hopes of building up their roster heading into 2026. Raising the floor in an attempt to sneak into a playoff spot is a puzzling decision.

Slater goes from South Side to Bronx

The Yankees continue to supplement their roster depth. Austin Slater is a right-handed bench bat with a strong arm who can play all three outfield positions, giving New York some insurance should Aaron Judge be unable to play defensively again this season due to a flexor strain. Slater is enjoying a solid season in a reserve role, posting five home runs and a .721 OPS in 51 games. He's been exceptionally good against left-handed pitching, slashing .261/.338/.522. The 32-year-old is a free agent at the end of the year. Ziehl is the Yankees' No. 18 prospect, per MLB Pipeline. The 22-year-old, who's pitched in Double-A this season, joins a White Sox system that could use more arms. Adding Slater in the offseason and flipping him for Ziehl at the deadline is exactly the type of move rebuilding clubs need to make.

Blue Jays address bullpen with Domínguez

The Blue Jays only had to look across the field for bullpen help this deadline. Toronto acquired Seranthony Domínguez from the Orioles at the halfway point of a doubleheader in Baltimore. The right-hander is exactly what the club needs: a hard-throwing reliever who misses bats and can pitch in high-leverage moments. Domínguez, who is on an expiring deal, ranks 92nd percentile in strikeout percentage, 94th in fastball velocity, and 95th in whiff rate, per Baseball Savant. Walks are a bit of a concern - Domínguez owns a career-worst 5.2 BB/9 this season - but the trade-off is that he doesn't allow hard contact and has only surrendered four home runs in 41 2/3 innings. He'll likely slot in as setup behind closer Jeff Hoffman. This is a good start for Toronto, but the club needs to add at least one more bullpen arm.

Domínguez joins Gregory Soto as the second bullpen departure for the Orioles going into the deadline. It's clear that Mike Elias is targeting young pitching. Juaron Watts-Brown, 23, was the Blue Jays' No. 10 prospect and is enjoying a solid season in Double-A. He was Toronto's third-round pick in 2023.

Brewers beef up catching, Rays buy and sell

It's never a surprise to see the Rays both buying and selling around the deadline. Moments after Tampa Bay shipped impending free-agent catcher Danny Jansen to Milwaukee for the Brewers' No. 24 prospect, Jadher Areinamo, the Rays acquired catcher Nick Fortes from the Marlins. The Brewers have received underwhelming offensive production from backstops William Contreras (6 HR, .682 OPS) and Eric Haase (2 HR, .646 OPS) this season. Jansen's bat should help, as he's hit 11 home runs with a .703 OPS through 73 games. So much has gone well in Milwaukee this season, but the offense lacks thump, sitting 22nd in slugging and 24th in home runs. Jansen doesn't solve all those problems, but he does give the lineup more power against left-handed pitching. Haase was designated for assignment to make room for Jansen.

Fortes gives Tampa Bay a controllable catcher who's arbitration-eligible through 2028. The 28-year-old is far from an offensive force, hitting two home runs to go with a .637 OPS through 59 games this season. He grades highly defensively, however, ranking in the 75th percentile in both framing and pop time. Although the Rays do many things well, finding a franchise catcher isn't one of those things. The club has used 10 different catchers over the last four seasons and they've combined for just 3.5 fWAR, with none playing more than 149 games for the organization.

Tigers add starting depth in Paddack

Chris Paddack immediately slides into the vacancy in Detroit's rotation left by Reese Olson's season-ending injury. Luckily for the Tigers, Olson was injured before the deadline and they were able to patch the hole. Paddack comes at a relatively low cost, giving Detroit another veteran starter after the team relied heavily on "pitching chaos" down the stretch in 2024. The right-hander's struggled of late, posting a 7.49 ERA over his last eight starts. He is, however, coming off a strong last outing at Dodger Stadium in which he allowed one run over six innings while striking out eight. Minnesota saved close to $4 million on the deal when factoring in Randy Dobnak's contract and also added Detroit's No. 14 prospect.

Royals become surprise buyers with Grichuk trade

The Royals made a commitment to field a winning club after signing Bobby Witt Jr. to a long-term extension, and sitting 4.5 games out of a playoff spot, they're clearly not ready to wave the white flag. Acquiring Randal Grichuk isn't an all-in move, but he'll be a welcome addition to an outfield devoid of power - his career .825 OPS against left-handed pitching should boost the offense. The trade for Grichuk was quickly followed by an extension for Seth Lugo. The right-hander was believed to be one of the better starting pitchers on the trade market, but Kansas City clearly saw more value in keeping him. Meanwhile, Andrew Hoffmann and Brandyn Garcia (acquired in the Josh Naylor trade) give the Diamondbacks two relievers who have already pitched in the majors.

Yankees solidify 3B with McMahon

The Yankees landed a third baseman from the NL West; it just wasn't the one many fans were hoping for. Ryan McMahon isn't the same kind of impact bat as Eugenio Suárez, but he's arguably a better fit for New York. The club's been abysmal defensively, and McMahon brings a strong glove at the hot corner and is under team control through 2027 (owed $16 million in each of the next two seasons). McMahon also adds plenty of pop (16 home runs), but it comes with a lot of strikeouts (32 K%). While his career numbers away from Coors Field (.589 road OPS) will raise some eyebrows, he hits the ball hard and draws walks, so his production should even out. Considering the limited market for quality third basemen, the Yankees did fine to add McMahon, even if his salary is high compared to his overall value. The two prospects general manager Brian Cashman traded for him haven't pitched above A-ball.

Rosario joins Yankees as bench depth

Amed Rosario is another floor-raiser for the Yankees, who continue to get limited production from their young infielders. The No. 5 prospect in baseball in 2017, Rosario never developed into a star. However, the 29-year-old is a serviceable vet who's played second base, third base, shortstop, and right field over the last two seasons while posting an .816 OPS against left-handed pitching. Rosario isn't a great defender, but he seldom strikes out. He brings plenty of value in a utility bench role. Clayton Beeter is an intriguing relief arm for the Nationals. The 26-year-old owns a 14.6 K/9 over 24 2/3 innings in the minors this season.

Mets bring in Soto as lefty help in 'pen

Gregory Soto's on the move for a second straight trade deadline. The two-time All-Star remains an effective reliever, boasting strong strikeout numbers (10.8 K/9) though he can struggle with his command at times (4.3 BB/9). The Mets needed another southpaw reliever, and Soto was especially tough on left-handed hitters for the Orioles this season, holding them to a .133/.264/.267 slash line in 72 plate appearances. While Wellington Aracena hasn't pitched above A-ball, Cameron Foster could potentially feature in Baltimore's bullpen down the stretch. He put up strong numbers in Double-A this season, albeit at 26 years old.

Mariners add impact bat in Naylor trade

There were few more perfect fits this deadline than Josh Naylor landing in Seattle, where first base has been a significant hole for much of the season. Not only does Naylor give the Mariners a power bat, but he doesn't strike out - and that's been a major problem for their offense in recent years. A middle of the order with Julio Rodríguez, Cal Raleigh, Naylor, and Randy Arozarena is pretty imposing. For Arizona, trading Naylor is the first step in what's expected to be a sell-off leading into the trade deadline. Expect the D-Backs to ship out anyone on an expiring deal in an attempt to retool heading into 2026.