When is the MLB Trade Deadline this season?
The trade deadline in Major League Baseball is always an exciting time. Is your team going to go for it or stand pat and maybe call up a prospect instead? Who will be that player that gets dealt out of nowhere that no one thought would be available? Rumors are always fun and this season should be chock full of them.
The non-waiver trade deadline was moved to August 1st this year because July 31st is a Sunday. After that you can trade a player on your 40-man roster, but you have to pass them through waivers first. If they are claimed you can pull the player back, let him go to the claiming team or try to work out a deal with the claiming team. If they are unclaimed, they can then be traded to any team. The deadline for a player not on your 40-man active roster to be eligible for the postseason is August 31st.
In 2015, the New York Mets and Kansas City Royals used their deadline acquisitions of Yoenis Cespedes, Johnny Cueto and Ben Zobrist to reach the World Series. You never know who could be a buyer and who could be a seller.
Who would have thought last year the Detroit Tigers would be sellers and the Houston Astros would be in contention and buying?
As far as sellers go, look for teams like the Philadelphia Phillies, San Diego Padres, Milwaukee Brewers and Cincinnati Reds to continue their rebuilding efforts and look to the future.
Some players who could be available in a trade by the deadline (or even before) are Johnathan Lucroy, James Shields, and Jay Bruce. Maybe the Oakland A’s, if they are out of it, think about putting pending free agent Josh Reddick out there.
The MLB trade deadline should be fun and this year we have an extra day to add to the madness.
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