The trade deadline is less than two weeks away, and the landscape is defined by an unusual scarcity of sellers. Only eight teams entered the week with less than 10 percent playoff odds on FanGraphs, leaving a massive cluster of franchises stuck in the middle. With few teams waving the white flag, aggressive buyers will need to dip deep into their farm systems to pry impact players away from reluctant partners.
Jim Callis And Jonathan Mayo On MLB Pipeline Podcast
On the latest MLB Pipeline Podcast, Jim Callis and Jonathan Mayo — with host Jason Ratliff — break down which teams are best positioned to make such a deal. When the gurus made these predictions last year, all 10 teams they chose traded prospects from their respective Top 30 lists at the Deadline in 2025. You may also notice some overlap as six of the 10 teams on this year’s list appeared last year — the newcomers being the Rays, Guardians, Cardinals and Pirates.
The Los Angeles Dodgers and the Surplus Prospect Advantage
Los Angeles Dodgers Farm System And Positional Logjam
Few franchises are better equipped to weather a high-stakes trade season than the Los Angeles Dodgers. Jim Callis calls them the model franchise at the big league level, noting they have won the last two World Series and three of the last six while sitting in position to try for three in a row. MLB analysts point out that the club boasts one of the very best farm systems in baseball alongside a major league roster that has captured three of the last six World Series titles.
The core luxury for Los Angeles is positional logjam rather than sheer need. Jim Callis points out that they don’t have places for all of these guys to play, noting they have six outfielders if you count James Tibbs III as an outfielder on the top 100, and Josue De Paula, Mike Sirota, Zyhir Hope, Eduardo Quintero, and Charles Davalan. When Callis checked, he noted you can only play three outfielders, making a trade almost inevitable.
Milwaukee Brewers and Atlanta Braves Weigh Farm Depth
Milwaukee Brewers And Atlanta Braves Buying Posture
The Milwaukee Brewers enter the deadline holding one of the best records in baseball, positioning themselves firmly in Tier 1 of potential buyers according to the article. The Brewers look even stronger than they did last year, when they finished the year with baseball’s best record, and a major addition could be the difference in taking down the Dodgers.
In the National League East, the Atlanta Braves find themselves in a distinct buying posture. The Atlanta Braves are in a unique position leading up to the trade deadline as clear-cut buyers with money to spend given Jurickson Profar’s suspension, combined with an improved farm system. Left-handed pitcher Cam Caminiti stands out as arguably the best prospect in their system, and while they wouldn’t rush to trade him, there’s reason for them to consider dealing him for the right return. Even without Caminiti, the Braves would have an abundance of young pitchers to be excited about, like Spencer Schwellenbach, Didier Fuentes and Hurston Waldrep in the majors and JR Ritchie and Owen Murphy in the minors, which makes it easier to move on from him for the right return.
Contenders Facing Time Crunches
Aaron Judge And Philadelphia Cubs Roster Timelines
Time is running short for several premier clubs whose veteran cores are aging out of championship windows. The New York Yankees should see a mediocre American League as an opportunity for a second pennant in three years, with Aaron Judge’s uncertain injury status applying more pressure to do something at the deadline to chase down the Rays in the AL East. Meanwhile, the Philadelphia Phillies and Chicago Cubs are a step below Milwaukee right now but are facing a time crunch with their rosters, representing perhaps their best chance to win in the next few seasons.
Preller, who holds a reputation for comfort when parting with prospects. No executive is more comfortable parting with prospects than AJ Preller, though there are doubts he’d be willing to move Ethan Salas, the top prospect in the organization. If you’re a prospect in the San Diego Padres’ system, the recommendation is not to get too comfortable.
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