MLB trade deadline explained: Everything fans need to know

Everything the baseball fan needs to know about the MLB trade deadline.

The dog days of summer take a break in the middle of the baseball season when the MLB trade deadline arrives. The trade deadline usually takes place only a few weeks after the All-Star Break. It’s a time when the best teams add to their roster and the worst clubs look toward the future.

The MLB trade deadline has only grown in popularity in recent years. Exactly what is it and what makes it so important?

When is the MLB trade deadline?

The MLB trade deadline does change its date each year. Prior to 2022, it was typically locked in to take place on July 31. However, with the new collective bargaining agreement, it will now move around each year and take place in the last week of July or the first week of August. In 2022, the MLB trade deadline takes place on August 2.

What time do trades end?

Trades can be announced after, but all trades must be finalized by 6pm on August 2. Most years, a few pieces of trade news trickle out after the clock strikes. This won’t be any different as many prices come down the closer to the end of the deadline or some clubs decide to pay the ransom.

Can you make trades after the deadline?

Trades are no longer allowed after the MLB trade deadline. In the past, there were trades allowed in August through what was known as the waiver deadline. In those instances, players could be traded only if they cleared waivers and weren’t claimed by any other team. This made for some unexpectedly huge deals closer to the end of the season.

Who are the biggest players likely to be traded?

Juan Soto is the biggest name still available to be traded at this year’s MLB trade deadline. However, the likeliness of it can be debated, blogged about, and speculated upon until the trade deadline actually passes. Luis Castillo has already been traded and he was one of the surest bets to get moved. Other All-Stars such as Willson Contreras are likely to find a new team by the time the deadline is over. Shohei Ohtani is not one of them as the Los Angeles Angels will reportedly hold onto him for now.

MLB trade deadline buyers

Not every team is necessarily a buyer or seller. There are some clubs caught in between. The buyers are the ones with a serious chance to contend for a championship. Those teams include: Los Angeles Dodgers, New York Yankees, Houston Astros, New York Mets, Atlanta Braves, Milwaukee Brewers, Toronto Blue Jays, San Diego Padres, Philadelphia Phillies, Seattle Mariners, St. Louis Cardinals, Tampa Bay Rays, Minnesota Twins, and the Cleveland Guardians.

MLB trade deadline sellers

The opposite of the buyers, the sellers are the ones who have decided to wave the white flag already. On that list, we can include the Washington Nationals, Oakland Athletics, Pittsburgh Pirates, Kansas City Royals, Cincinnati Reds, Detroit Tigers, Chicago Cubs, Los Angeles Angels, Arizona Diamondbacks, Miami Marlins, Boston Red Sox, San Francisco Giants and possibly even the Texas Rangers, Baltimore Orioles, and Chicago White Sox. It’s those final three teams that might fall into either category and possibly do nothing at all.

MLB trade deadline live stream: How to watch

The best way to watch up-to-date MLB trade deadline action is with the MLB Network for a full schedule of programming.

MLB trade deadline predictions

The MLB trade deadline can be at its best when fans get to predict what the teams will do. Josh Hader going to the San Diego Padres was a surprise yet logical fit. Here are a few more predictions:

Frankie Montas is traded to the New York Yankees
Andrew Chafin is traded to the New York Mets
Christian Vazquez is traded to the Houston Astros
Brandon Drury is traded to the Atlanta Braves
Joey Gallo is traded away by the New York Yankees for a minor leaguer
Ian Happ is traded to the Toronto Blue Jays
Juan Soto stays with the Washington Nationals