MLB trade rumors: 16 players most likely to be traded by 2026 deadline, from Tarik Skubal to Luis Arraez

Before the postseason chase truly heats up, MLB teams have one last opportunity to stock up on talent.

The trade deadline, set for Monday, Aug. 3, will be headlined by Tigers ace Tarik Skubal, who is a pending free agent on a team that doesn't seem likely to make a third consecutive postseason appearance. Even after missing time with an injury earlier in the year, Skubal could bring back a haul for Detroit.

The Red Sox' surge likely took some attractive trade candidates off the market, including Aroldis Chapman and Sonny Gray, but contenders will still be under pressure to go out and upgrade by any means necessary as the deadline approaches.

Here are the 16 players most likely to be traded by the deadline, from Tarik Skubal to Jake McCarthy.

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MLB players most likely to be traded by 2026 deadline

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Tarik Skubal, SP, Tigers

Skubal, winner of the last two AL Cy Young Awards, says he prefers to stay in Detroit, but that choice may be out of his hands with a postseason run still unlikely for the Tigers. The pending free agent has quashed health concerns after returning from an IL stint quicker than expected in the first half, and he has a 2.45 ERA over the last four seasons. Looking much more like himself as of late, Skubal won't command a backbreaking haul as a rental but would bring back major value for the Tigers.

Best fits: Braves, Dodgers, Brewers

Luis Arraez, 2B, Giants

Arraez is very likely to be moved, as he is on a one-year deal and the Giants are headed nowhere this season. Forced to settle this offseason after a down year in San Diego, Arraez still doesn't offer any power but is back to hitting .320 with an OPS+ that rivals his best seasons to date. 

Best fits: Rangers, Rays, Yankees

Ryan Jeffers, C, Twins

Unless the Twins decide they have a chance to make a run, a Jeffers trade has to be considered likely as he heads toward free agency. The 29-year-old catcher has a .933 OPS across 44 games this season, missing considerable time with a hamate bone injury but hitting a pair of home runs after returning from the IL to prove he shouldn't be affected by the injury down the stretch. 

Best fits: Yankees, Pirates, Red Sox

Zach Neto, SS, Angels

The Angels aren't typically willing to move players with control, but they have temporary leadership in the front office after firing GM Perry Minasian and are reportedly willing to listen on Neto. The 25-year-old has struggled to hit for contact this season, but he is coming off back-to-back 5-WAR seasons, has solid power and is under team control through 2029 at a valuable position.

Best fits: Red Sox, Braves, Rays

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Kevin Gausman, SP, Blue Jays

The Blue Jays have gotten plenty out of Gausman over the last five seasons, as he was one of baseball's most reliable arms from 2021-24, but their harsh reality in the standings could make a move possible. The 35-year-old is a pending free agent, and teams will still be interested in his experience despite an uncharacteristic season with a 4.51 ERA across 21 starts.

Best fits: Cubs, Brewers, Braves

Mason Miller, CL, Padres

Whether Miller gets traded is still very much a question. The Padres might not be a contender, but they are under no pressure to make a deal with Miller under contract through 2029 and the need for elite late-inning relievers never going away. If San Diego is willing move Miller, he would be one of the top players available regardless of role or position. The 27-year-old has a 0.86 ERA and 16.8 K/9 rate across his first appearances this season and an 0.83 ERA dating back to his trade to the Padres at last year's deadline.

Best fits: White Sox, Yankees, Pirates

Reid Detmers, SP, Angels

As is the case with Neto, the Angels don't have to trade Detmers now. The former first-round pick is under contract through 2028 and would bring back value in the winter. With Detmers finally figuring it all out, though, striking while the iron is hot could be wise. Detmers' 4.05 ERA through 21 starts doesn't jump off the page, but he has a strong 3.27 FIP and 1.10 WHIP. Underlying numbers have said all season long that better results were coming for Detmers, and he's turned in two excellent starts to start the second half. Detmers is someone who could bring back a bigger return than most expect, if the Angels go that route.

Best fits: Braves, Tigers, White Sox

Clay Holmes, SP, Mets

A trade seems to be the likely scenario for Holmes as he nears a return from a fractured leg suffered in May. The injury disrupted what had been a great start to the season for the former closer, as Holmes had a 2.39 ERA and 3.22 FIP across his first nine outings after an all-around solid first season with the Mets. Holmes won't be an eye-popping addition to a contender, but he could really solidify a rotation down the stretch.

Best fits: Cubs, Braves, Guardians

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Freddy Peralta, SP, Mets

It's been a nightmarish contract year for Peralta, who finished fifth in NL Cy Young voting last season in Milwaukee but has a 5.01 ERA through 21 starts with the Mets. Peralta is too good to be that kind of pitcher down the stretch, at least if he ends up in the right situation. A potential reunion with the Brewers has been speculated, but a trade makes too much sense regardless of his landing spot.

Best fits: Brewers, Cubs, White Sox

Foster Griffin, SP, Nationals

The Nationals have a decision to make on Griffin, who has been a gem of a find for first-year president Paul Toboni. After pitching in Japan for the last three years, Griffin has returned to the states to post a 2.68 ERA over 20 starts, earning an unlikely All-Star selection and positioning himself as either an extension candidate or someone who could land Washington a nice haul at the deadline.

Best fits: Brewers, Braves, Diamondbacks

Casey Mize, SP, Tigers

If the Tigers decide it doesn't make sense to go all-in, Skubal will be the headliner but Mize will be a prize as well. The former No. 1 overall pick has battled injuries over the years but has been effective when on the mound this season, carrying a 2.79 ERA an 2.62 FIP across 15 starts. Mize is a pending free agent with serious value right now and figures to bring back a solid haul even as a rental.

Best fits: Braves, Cubs, Phillies

Joe Ryan, SP, Twins

The Twins heavily considered trading Ryan at last year's deadline, so a deal could be on the table this summer. Ryan's first start of the second half was a disaster with six home runs allowed, but he was terrific in the first half and has continued to avoid major injury despite a couple scares in recent years. Ryan has a 3.47 ERA over the last three seasons and is under team control through next season.

Best fits: Phillies, Cubs, Braves

Taylor Ward, OF, Orioles

There aren't too many bats likely to be traded at this deadline, but Ward figures to be one of them. The veteran is a pending free agent, and the Orioles likely aren't close enough to contention to warrant keeping him unless they plan on working out a long-term deal. Ward's power has disappeared after he hit 36 home runs last season, but he has transformed himself as a hitter, leading the AL in walks and taking his on-base percentage from .317 to .387. Whether he's hitting for power or getting on base at a nearly 39 percent clip, that will play.

Best fits: Phillies, Mariners, Guardians

Adrian Morejon, RP, Padres

Miller's status is a mystery, but as long as the Padres are away from the postseason race, Morejon is a likely trade candidate. The 27-year-old is a pending free agent and has a 2.68 ERA over the last three seasons, with a 3.33 ERA this year but a promising 2.40 FIP and his best strikeout rate as a full-time reliever.

Best fits: Yankees, Pirates, Phillies

Robbie Ray, SP, Giants

With the Giants out of the mix, former Cy Young Award winner Robbie Ray figures to be a veteran rental certain to be traded by the deadline. Ray bounced back from two lost seasons to post a 3.65 ERA across 32 starts last season and has a 3.33 ERA across 20 starts this year, albeit with a more bloated FIP. 

Best fits: Braves, Phillies, White Sox

Jake McCarthy, OF, Rockies

Certainly not the biggest name on the market, McCarthy has gone from a cheap free-agent flier for the Rockies to a legitimate trade candidate as a left-handed bat hitting .305 with an .860 OPS across 89 games this season. The former Diamondbacks outfielder has struggled to string together productive seasons in the majors, but he comes cheap enough for teams to pursue him as a platoon bat for the stretch run.

Best fits: Phillies, Guardians, Rangers