2026 MLB Trade Deadline Primer: Who’s Buying, Selling … And Landing Tarik Skubal?

Will Tarik Skubal be wearing a different uniform down the stretch? One month before MLB’s Aug. 3 trade deadline, that remains the prevailing question. The Detroit Tigers entered July with a 37-49 record, but in an uninspiring American League, in which only five teams had winning records through June, even the worst teams might think they still have a chance to contend. Throughout the entire league, in fact, only four teams entered July more than five games out of a wild-card spot. The landscape can change quickly. Take the National League East, for example. The Phillies were so bad to start the season, sporting a 9-19 record on the morning of April 28 and already 10.5 games back of the Braves, that they fired manager Rob Thomson. Now, the Phillies, with their dismal start a distant memory, are within striking distance of Atlanta. And Philadelphia isn’t even the only dramatic turnaround story in the division. On June 1, the Marlins were 27-34, 13.5 games behind the Braves. Exactly one month later, propelled by the best June in baseball, the Marlins woke up on July 1 with a 46-40 record, holding a wild-card spot and only 4.5 games back in the NL East. There are plenty of other similar stories around the league. The White Sox began the year 9-15 and are now a surprise playoff contender. The Brewers were in last place in the NL Central on May 4 and now hold a solid lead in the division. So maybe the Tigers will hold on to Skubal and hope for a second-half surge, though it still seems more likely that he gets dealt. It’s hard to know with any certainty which teams will buy and which will sell weeks from now, but we at least have a better idea halfway through the season which direction they are trending. A month ahead of the deadline, here is where all 30 teams stand: Strategy: BuyTeam Needs: Impact bat, left-handed reliever, starting pitcherDream Acquisition: 1B Willson Contreras (Red Sox)Realistic Target: LHP Daniel Lynch IV (Royals) Arizona is one of the many teams hovering around .500 that could go in any direction. I’d lean toward the D-backs buying. You could see a path toward them being the second-best team in the NL West and a wild-card club. But starters Michael Soroka and Ryne Nelson are on the shelf, Corbin Burnes is a late-season wild card returning from Tommy John surgery and relievers Justin Martinez and AJ Puk are still working their way back from injury. The biggest surprise, though, is an offense that’s in the bottom five in OPS. If general manager Mike Hazen decides to go for it, he’ll need both pitching and offensive help. — Rowan Kavner Strategy: Light BuyTeam Needs: PitchingDream Acquisition: RHP José Soriano (Angels)Realistic Target: LHP Brock Burke (Reds) Did you know the A’s have a worse run differential than the Angels? Yes, the pitching is the main problem, as it will continue to be when playing home games at hitter-friendly Sutter Health Park. Their starters and relievers both rank in the bottom five in MLB in ERA, and if the team does decide to add, it would have to be on the pitching side. But the A’s aren’t hitting to their abilities, either — outfielder Lawrence Butler and shortstop Jacob Wilson have been below-league average hitters. It’s hard to envision the A’s doing anything of note this year if that remains the case, especially after learning Brent Rooker is now out for the rest of the season. As it stands now, though, I can see them adding some depth to the rotation and bullpen at a low cost and seeing what happens in a division that remains up for grabs. — Kavner Strategy: BuyTeam Needs: Starting pitching, shortstopDream Acquisition: LHP Tarik Skubal (Tigers)Realistic Target: RHP Casey Mize (Tigers) Who can the Braves feel confident giving the ball to after Chris Sale starts the first game of a playoff series? Lefty Martín Perez has pitched well, right-hander Hurston Waldrep is back, and righty Spencer Schwellenbach is a second-half possibility. It’s a precarious situation with Spencer Strider injured and Bryce Elder falling back down to earth. Atlanta could use another high-end starter to capitalize on their bounce-back season. In addition, infielder Ha-Seong Kim has been struggling at the plate since coming off the injured list, so shortstop could be a spot the Braves might choose to upgrade as well. — Kavner Strategy: Buy (Apparently?)Team Needs: Starting pitching, bullpen armDream Acquisition: LHP Tarik Skubal (Tigers)Realistic Target: RHP Sonny Gray (Red Sox) President of baseball operations Mike Elias proclaimed over the weekend that, despite the team’s losing record, Baltimore would be going for it at the deadline. Even though winning the division title is all but inconceivable, the Orioles are still within striking distance of the postseason, sitting a few games behind the final American League wild-card spot. Skubal is going to be the dream acquisition for a lot of teams on this list, but Baltimore’s farm system has fallen from No. 1 in 2024 to No. 13 this season, and the O’s lack the trade capital required for the top starter on the market. The more realistic acquisition for Elias is a starting pitcher like Sonny Gray, Freddy Peralta or Joe Ryan. In the bullpen, it’s hard to see Baltimore being aggressive enough to go for eight-time All-Star closer Aroldis Chapman, whereas acquiring Antonio Senzatela from Colorado seems more realistic. — Deesha Thosar Strategy: SellTeam Needs: Impact bat (preferably right-handed), long-term pitching depthBest Asset: LHP Aroldis Chapman After sweeping the Yankees at Fenway Park in late June, the Red Sox are feeling good. But they would be remiss to allow that to change their trade-deadline strategy. As it is, they’re holding onto what should be the treasure of the trade deadline in closer Aroldis Chapman. The veteran southpaw even garnered down-ballot AL MVP votes last year, and at age 38, he has extended that success in Boston into this year. Right-hander Sonny Gray is another attractive trade chip with playoff contenders perpetually searching for rotation upgrades. If Boston enters full sell-off mode, then first baseman Willson Contreras, outfielder Jaren Duran and right-hander Brayan Bello should be on the list. The Red Sox entered the season with the 14th-best farm system in baseball, per MLB Pipeline. Their best strategy is to build a contender for 2027. — Thosar Strategy: BuyTeam Needs: PitchingDream Acquisition: LHP Tarik Skubal (Tigers) Realistic Target: LHP Tarik Skubal (Tigers) The Cubs have a decent starting rotation … on the injured list. Edward Cabrera, Jameson Taillon, Justin Steele and Cade Horton are all on the shelf. Ben Brown, who provided a huge boost to the injured group, is sidelined now, too. Shota Imanaga has an ERA over 4.00. Matthew Boyd, who’s back from injury now, has an ERA over 5.00. The offense hasn’t met expectations, but the Cubs can at least envision that side of the ball getting better. On the pitching side, this team needs rotation help to have any chance of dethroning the Brewers in the NL Central or making a deep playoff run. — Kavner Strategy: BuyTeam Needs: Starting pitching, controllable armsDream Acquisition: RHP Logan Webb (Giants)Realistic Target: LHP Reid Detmers (Angels) The White Sox are one of only a handful of AL teams with a winning record, making them clear buyers at the trade deadline for the first time in a handful of years. GM Chris Getz has indicated that the South Siders will be aggressive, but not at the expense of parting ways with their top prospects. Pitching will be their primary focus, but going after someone like Webb — who’s under contract with the Giants for $23 million in 2027 and $24 million in 2028 — may prove too costly for the Sox. He’s a bargain for his durable production, having led MLB in innings two of the past three years, but likely too much of a splash for Getz. Detmers, who had a 3.88 ERA through June and is under team control through 2028, is the cheaper acquisition that also fits into Chicago’s long-term plans. — Thosar Strategy: Sell, for nowTeam Needs: Bullpen, outfieldBest Asset: OF JJ Bleday The Reds are still in that grey area between buying and selling. Maybe if they start trending in a more promising direction with shortstop Elly De La Cruz back and ace starter Hunter Greene not far away from a return, the strategy will change. If that’s the case, they could try to bolster a bottom-five MLB bullpen. Or, they could add to an outfield that has gotten almost no offensive production outside of outfielder JJ Bleday. Right now, though, they might be better suited to deal Bleday and/or their many rentals — first baseman Nathaniel Lowe, starter Brady Singer, catcher Tyler Stephenson and lefties Brock Burke and Caleb Ferguson — and try again with a healthier pitching staff in 2027. — Kavner Strategy: BuyTeam Needs: Offense, rotation depthDream Acquisition: 1B Christian Walker (Astros)Realistic Target: OF Mickey Moniak (Rockies) The Guardians currently hold the second AL wild-card spot … with a negative run differential. They rank near the bottom of the majors in too many hitting categories, including batting average, runs scored, OPS and home runs. Cleveland should be addressing its offensive weaknesses, but the front office’s budget-conscious ways mean the team is unlikely to give up meaningful prospect capital for short-term rentals. The Guardians’ deep farm system is ranked sixth, per MLB Pipeline, and they’ve won three of the past four AL Central titles while leaning on their top prospects. It’d be nice to see Cleveland going after someone like Walker, who’s closing in on 200 career homers and could help solve the team’s slugging problem. But the Guards are more likely to trade for Moniak, who’s making just $4 million this season with one year of team control remaining. His slugging would be a boon for the lineup. — Thosar Strategy: SellTeam Needs: Make everyone available and get the rebuild goingBest Asset: C Hunter Goodman New leadership has already helped turn this team around from historically bad to just normal bad, but this is still one of the worst teams in baseball and in need of a major shake-up. For that reason, no one should be off limits. Goodman will be their likely All-Star rep, and he’s more than deserving as he ranks among MLB home run leaders. Maybe he ends up part of Colorado’s next contender years down the road, but there are plenty of teams that could use that kind of pop behind the plate. Whether it’s Goodman, outfielder Mickey Moniak or reliever Antonio Senzatela, there are players who could help contenders here, and the Rockies need to listen. — Kavner Strategy: SellTeam Needs: Starting pitching depthBest Asset: LHP Tarik Skubal In a year when no AL team is out of it, the Tigers can stop pretending there’s a magical playoff run in their future this season — even with a healthy Skubal back from elbow surgery to lead the rotation. Detroit’s smartest strategy was always to trade the two-time Cy Young winner and net a huge package in return. On the cusp of free agency, Skubal is one of the most sought-after trade chips we’ve seen in years. The Tigers also have valuable trade pieces beyond him. Right-handers Casey Mize and Kyle Finnegan both flash ERAs below 3.00. Mize is a free agent after this season, and Finnegan is under team control through next season. In order to avoid a full rebuild after trading Skubal, Detroit should target young, controllable starters and near-MLB-ready hitters. Depending on the returns, a successful trade deadline could accelerate the Tigers’ 2027 window. — Thosar Strategy: BuyTeam Needs: Outfield, starting pitchingDream Acquisition: OF Byron Buxton (Twins) Realistic Target: OF JJ Bleday (Reds) General manager Dana Brown and manager Joe Espada are in the last year of their deals. The Astros are coming off their first season missing the playoffs in eight years. Closer Josh Hader and starter Hunter Brown have returned to a pitching staff that needed the reinforcements, and the Astros are playing much better after a dreadful start. Designated hitter Yordan Alvarez is still in his prime, healthy and playing at an MVP level, and they’re playing in a winnable division. All this to say, despite the Astros’ losing record, I expect them to push in, perhaps even aggressively. They could use more pitching, especially rotation depth, but with Brown back from a shoulder strain, the outfield might be the bigger need. Their outfielders have the lowest on-base percentage and batting average in the American League, and the lineup is extremely right-handed heavy. A lefty outfielder would make a lot of sense to balance the offense. — Kavner Strategy: SellTeam Needs: MLB-ready prospectsBest Asset: RHP Michael Wacha These 2026 Royals seem so far from the success they enjoyed just two years ago. Kansas City is in the basement of the entire AL, well behind a wild-card spot. Even though this is a season to forget, the team’s core is anchored by star shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. The Royals must prioritize building around Witt (and infielder Maikel Garcia). Wacha is putting together a strong 2026 campaign, ranking among MLB leaders in quality starts, and has been firmly placed in trade discussions. Beyond Wacha, lefty Kris Bubic and right-hander Seth Lugo round out a rotation that ranks second in MLB with 38 quality starts this season, giving Kansas City multiple pitching chips to shop to contenders. — Thosar Strategy: SellTeam Needs: Revamping a lagging farm systemBest Asset: LHP Reid Detmers There’s no question what the Angels should do at the trade deadline. The only real question: Can new interim general manager John Mozeliak convince owner Arte Moreno to finally rebuild at the deadline? The Angels’ decision to push their chips in at the 2023 trade deadline, rather than get a haul of prospects in Shohei Ohtani’s final season with the club, looms large three years later. This year, they have enough interesting pieces — starting pitchers Detmers and José Soriano and outfielder Jo Adell, among them — that they could get meaningful pieces to bolster a farm system that needs help. — Kavner Strategy: Buy — if they feel like itTeam Needs: Not much. Relief pitching, second base, getting youngerDream Acquisition: SS CJ Abrams (Nationals)Realistic Target: RHP Garrett Whitlock (Red Sox) The Dodgers spend big every offseason hoping that they won’t have to use the trade deadline to address their needs. Last year, they didn’t make any big moves at the deadline and still won their second straight World Series title after addressing their bullpen issues by shifting starters into relief roles in October. They did some light buying (right-hander Brock Stewart, outfielder Alex Call) and even some light selling, sending pitcher Dustin May to Boston for minor-league outfielders James Tibbs III and Zack Ehrhard, who are both now raking at Triple-A and among their extraordinary crop of top outfield prospects. This year, the Dodgers have even fewer needs than they did last year, and they would still be the favorites to three-peat if they did nothing. As a result, it wouldn’t surprise me to see something similar happen again where they try to add depth on the margins while also bringing in more prospects at positions where they’re light in the minors. Then again … They have one of the top farm systems in baseball, which gives them the flexibility to do basically anything they want. They saw last year the benefit of having more starters than they need, eventually shifting them to the bullpen for the playoff run. So, even if they don’t need Skubal, they’re arguably the best equipped to land him. I’d at least expect them to add a late-inning right-handed reliever for insurance, in case closer Edwin Diaz doesn’t come back from elbow surgery looking like himself. — Kavner Strategy: Buy — for nowTeam Needs: Third basemanDream Acquisition: 1B/3B Isaac Paredes (Astros)Realistic Target: SS/3B J.P. Crawford (Mariners) As long as the Marlins are right in the thick of the playoff hunt — they’re currently flirting with the final NL wild-card spot — it’s a surprising reversal of preseason expectations for the Fightin’ Fish. How they perform in July will be pivotal to their final decision to trade or hold onto their highest-ceiling arms in starter Sandy Alcántara and closer Pete Fairbanks. The Marlins currently have the worst third-base OPS in MLB. Paredes doesn’t have a great glove at the hot corner, but the Marlins shouldn’t mind sacrificing defense for his impact bat. Otherwise, the Mariners are clearly about to move on from Crawford, and the veteran could be a solid fit in Miami. — Thosar Strategy: BuyTeam Needs: Impact bat, bullpenDream Acquisition: SS Jeremy PeñaRealistic Target: 3B Isaac Paredes (Astros) The Brewers’ incredible ability to develop talent has led to three straight division titles. At some point, though, they need higher-end talent if they want to go deeper in the playoffs. The difference in star power was evident in the NLCS last year, when they were swept by the Dodgers. Now, the quick ascensions of starters Jacob Misiorowski and Kyle Harrison should have the Brewers dreaming bigger. They could get an impact bat to lift the ceiling on the left side of the infield or the outfield. Heck, they could add Tarik Skubal and have one of the most overpowering trios of arms in any playoff rotation. Whatever direction the Brewers want to go, it’s time to do more than shop at the margins. Go use those high-level prospects and make a splash. — Kavner Strategy: Buy — for nowTeam Needs: BullpenDream Acquisition: LHP Aroldis Chapman (Red Sox)Realistic Target: RHP Antonio Senzatela (Rockies) The calendar will force the Twins to make a decision on what direction they want to go, and they can afford to wait for now while proceeding as if they will be buyers. That’s a shocking statement in itself after their mass exodus at last year’s deadline, selling off almost everyone except veteran outfielder Byron Buxton and starter Joe Ryan. Minnesota is hanging around the mediocre AL wild-card race and within striking distance of the top spot in the weak AL Central. Adding a mid-tier reliever like Senzatela wouldn’t be a major splash, but it would help a Twins bullpen that owns the worst ERA in MLB. If the Twins end up sliding out of contention by the All-Star break, then Ryan is their best trade chip, followed by reliever Taylor Rogers, catcher Ryan Jeffers, outfielder Trevor Larnach and DH Josh Bell. Buxton, who has a full no-trade clause, is unlikely to be moved.  — Thosar Strategy: SellTeam Needs: Starting pitching, first base, second baseBest Asset: RHP Freddy Peralta Alas, the Mets are finally getting healthier, which is what president of baseball operations David Stearns has been waiting for before making a final call on his trade-deadline strategy. The Mets are trending toward being sellers, and the only question is how far they’ll go. Peralta will enter free agency after this season, as will left-handed relievers A.J. Minter and Brooks Raley. All three arms will be sought after and are expected to move. Huascar Brazoban could join the list. Beyond that, player value has cratered for guys like first baseman Mark Vientos, second baseman Brett Baty, outfielder Luis Robert Jr. (injured), and first baseman Jorge Polanco (injured). Even as the Mets look ahead to 2027, can they really count on Robert and Polanco to be healthy for a full season? They need starting pitching depth first and foremost, and they need to solve the fact that they have MLB’s worst fWAR at second base and the second-worst fWAR at first base a year after letting slugger Pete Alonso walk to Baltimore. — Thosar Strategy: BuyTeam Needs: Catcher, bullpen, third baseDream Acquisition: LHP Tarik Skubal (Tigers)Realistic Target: 3B Isaac Paredes (Astros) Notice how starting pitching isn’t one of the Yankees’ needs, and yet Skubal is still a dream acquisition for the rotation? The combination of Gerrit Cole, Cam Schlittler, Carlos Rodon and Max Fried, when he returns from an elbow bone bruise, is a lethal playoff rotation — and trading for Skubal would make the Yanks the favorites to go to the World Series. New York’s real need is production at catcher, where the club is one of the worst in the league. But it’s highly unlikely that GM Brian Cashman will disrupt his pitching staff by bringing in a replacement for Austin Wells despite his anemic offense. Elsewhere, the Yankees could use a power arm or two to complement closer David Bednar. Ultimately, it would be nice to see them go after Paredes, who’s the best third baseman available this summer, to boost their offense at the hot corner. — Thosar Strategy: BuyTeam Needs: Corner outfielderDream Acquisition: LHP Tarik Skubal (Tigers)Realistic Target: OF Taylor Ward (Orioles) All eyes are on legendary dealmaker Dave Dombrowski to make a major splash … and acquiring Skubal would make for a bone-chilling Phillies rotation. Cristopher Sánchez, Zack Wheeler, Jesús Luzardo and Skubal would be indisputably the best unit in the major leagues. If anyone is willing to part ways with top prospects and pay the steep price for Skubal, it’s Dombrowski. That being said, what the Phillies really need is a corner outfielder after Adolis Garcia, who wasn’t very good when he was on the field, suffered a season-ending torn lat muscle injury on June 10. There aren’t too many right-handed corner outfielders available, but Ward would fit into the Phillies’ lineup nicely, even if he’s not the most exciting deadline acquisition. — Thosar Strategy: BuyTeam Needs: BullpenDream Acquisition: LHP Aroldis Chapman (Red Sox)Realistic Target: RHP Pete Fairbanks (Marlins) Why shouldn’t the Bucs be buyers for a change? They have plenty of work to do, but they’re legitimately in the NL wild-card mix. The bullpen could use a legitimate closer, which would push southpaw Gregory Soto into a setup role. Chapman, an eight-time All-Star, is likely to cost an arm and a leg, but the Pirates have the third-best farm system in the majors, per MLB Pipeline. They certainly have the prospect capital necessary to land him. And if the Marlins make Fairbanks available, that’s a solid second option for the Pirates, presuming they feel confident that they can smooth out the closer’s volatile season. — Thosar Strategy: BuyTeam Needs: Starting pitching, lefty bat, catcherDream Acquisition: RHP Joe Ryan (Twins)Realistic Target: OF Lars Nootbaar (Cardinals) The Padres could go any number of ways, and that’s before even accounting for the fact that they have the wild-card executive of the deadline, A.J. Preller, pulling the strings. The fact that they have a winning record when so much has gone wrong to this point is rather remarkable. San Diego’s rotation ranks 24th in ERA, but the bigger issue is probably an offense that ranks last in the National League in every slash-line category. Maybe the Padres’ stars finally start producing in the second half. Other than Gavin Sheets, though, they don’t have another left-handed hitter with at least 100 plate appearances who has hit even league average. — Kavner Strategy: SellTeam Needs: Deal the rentals — and listen on high-priced vets — to bolster the farmBest Asset: 2B Luis Arráez Well, this hasn’t gone according to plan. But for all that has gone wrong — and, boy, has it been a disaster both on and off the field — there are some real success stories amid the chaos in San Francisco. Arráez is providing value both at the plate and in the field with a dramatic defensive turnaround at second base. Outfielder Jung Hoo Lee and utility man Casey Schmitt are having career years at the plate. Perhaps best of all, 21-year-old rookie first baseman Bryce Eldridge is providing more optimism for the future. It’s time to think of the years ahead. Rentals like Arráez and veteran starter Robbie Ray are obvious sell candidates. And if the Giants can get off the long-term Matt Chapman, Rafael Devers or Willy Adames contracts to add prospects, they have to listen. A Chapman deal would be the easiest to envision among the high-priced trio. — Kavner Strategy: BuyTeam Needs: Righty bat, relief pitchingDream Acquisition: LHP Aroldis Chapman (Red Sox)Realistic Target: UTIL Casey Schmitt (Giants) Getting third baseman Brendan Donovan back from injury should help, but a team OPS under .700 isn’t what the doctor ordered. Seattle’s right-handed hitters in particular have struggled, ranking the league’s worst in slugging percentage and OPS. Meanwhile on the mound, closer Andrés Muñoz has looked much better over the past couple of weeks, but he has an ERA close to 5.00. In addition, late-inning reliever Matt Brash is injured. Mostly, the Mariners have to hope their stars play better down the stretch. But adding a right-handed bat or high-leverage reliever would make sense. — Kavner Strategy: Buy AND Sell?Team Needs: Pitching, third baseDream Acquisition: SP Reid Detmers (Angels)Realistic Target: 3B Matt Chapman (Giants) The Cardinals are in a weird spot, having a much better first half than anyone expected at the start of GM Chaim Bloom’s rebuild. I can’t imagine he would mortgage the future to go all-in with this team, but I could see a scenario where he does a little buying and a little selling to try to pave the path forward. It’ll be interesting to see how the Cardinals handle rentals Dustin May, who’s had a stretch of solid starts, and reliever JoJo Romero. Closer Riley O’Brien could draw a lot of interest, too, though he’s under control through 2030. If the Cardinals want to contend this year, they’ll need to add — not subtract — from their pitching staff. Keep an eye on third base, as well, where the Cardinals have had little production. It wouldn’t be shocking to see them add a veteran to help lead the path forward for their otherwise youthful roster. — Kavner Strategy: BuyTeam Needs: Lineup depth, pitchingDream Acquisition: DH/OF Yordan Alvarez (Astros)Realistic Target: 2B Luis Arráez (Giants) The Rays have a real shot at making their first World Series run since 2020. Their preferred approach will be chasing rental players and protecting their top prospects while still finding real upgrades. President of baseball operations Erik Neander is likely to look for short-term deals without overcommitting. Tampa Bay’s rotation leads the AL in ERA, but workload concerns around Shane McClanahan and Griffin Jax could signal that the team is looking for a proven starter. Their splashiest acquisition would be Astros slugger Alvarez, who would lengthen a Rays lineup that looks excellent up top — with Yandy Díaz and Junior Caminero among the best hitters in MLB — but thins out toward the end. They’re more likely to go after someone like Arráez, who’s expected to be one of the more cost-efficient options on the market. — Thosar Strategy: BuyTeam Needs: Impact bat, relief pitching, catcher Dream Acquisition: C Hunter Goodman (Rockies)Realistic Target: 2B Luis Arráez (Giants) Since winning the World Series in 2023, the Rangers have been unable to recapture the offensive magic. Those issues continue into the 2026 season, though they’re contending in the weak AL West despite scoring the fewest runs in the division through June. Texas could use more swing-and-miss arms at the back end of the bullpen, but the bigger addition would be an impact bat. At the very least, they could use more lineup depth, whether it’s in the outfield, behind the plate or at second base. — Kavner Strategy: BuyTeam Needs: Starting pitchingDream Acquisition: LHP Tarik Skubal (Tigers)Realistic Target: RHP Joe Ryan (Twins) Facing pressure to extend their 2025 Fall Classic run into this season, the Blue Jays have struggled to be the pesky, high-contact offensive force that they were last year. That said, Toronto is hoping its underperforming bats will soon turn it around — slugger Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is on pace to hit just eight home runs this season — while turning their attention to the rotation. The starters rank in the bottom third in the league in ERA, and the Blue Jays also need to look ahead to 2027 as Kevin Gausman and Shane Bieber will be free agents at season’s end. That’s why someone like Ryan makes sense for the Jays. The right-hander is under team control through next season, and he’s one of the best starters on the market if the Twins actually make him available this summer. — Thosar Strategy: Buy … sort ofTeam Needs: BullpenDream Acquisition: LHP A.J. Minter (Mets)Realistic Target: RHP Anthony Bender (Marlins) The Nationals are unexpectedly going for it this season, entering July in the middle of the NL wild-card race. Even so, president of baseball operations Paul Toboni will be extremely cautious at the trade deadline, avoiding expensive rentals. The Nats have spent years rebuilding the organization for a window of contention that’s inching closer. Toboni can still pick up a closer without blowing up his prospect pipeline. Bender has a 2.62 ERA in 35 relief appearances (two saves) for the Marlins this season, and he’s under team control through the 2027 season. He’s currently dealing with a right shin stress reaction, but if he can return by Aug. 3, he should be a target for the Nats. — Thosar