With the Aug. 3 trade deadline creeping closer, the rumor mill is starting to sharpen around a handful of clubs that could shape the market. Sunday’s latest batch points to the Rays acting like a contender, the Mariners considering a move from their rotation, and Clay Holmes making clear he’d rather stay put in Queens.
The biggest surprise may be Tampa Bay. After back-to-back losing seasons, the Rays weren’t supposed to be in this position, but they’ve spent more than half the season leading the AL East and owning the American League’s best record.
That has them positioned to be aggressive buyers, and USA Today reports they could be in on some heavy hitters: Tigers ace Tarik Skubal, Diamondbacks second baseman Ketel Marte, and Giants second baseman Luis Arraez. Marte, though, has the right to approve any trade as a 10-and-5 player, and he’s not expected to sign off on a move out of Arizona, even if his name keeps surfacing in rumors.
Seattle, meanwhile, may be heading in the opposite direction. The Mariners have struggled to find traction in a flat AL West, and USA Today reports they’re shopping veteran right-hander Luis Castillo.
Castillo, 33, has posted a 4.93 ERA and 4.16 FIP across 15 starts and three relief appearances this season. His deal still carries a bit more than $24 million owed for 2027, along with a $25 million vesting option for 2028, which makes it hard to see a huge return coming back in a trade.
Holmes is another name to watch, though his preference is pretty clear. The right-hander has made a successful jump from reliever to starter since signing with the Mets, but his trade status could depend on how his rehab from a fractured fibula goes.
Even with that uncertainty, Holmes said he wants to remain in New York and is open to an extension. “Definitely open,” Holmes told reporters, including The Athletic, about the prospect of re-upping with the Mets.
“I know things are not the easiest right now and hard, but it's not like I'm sitting here hoping to run away from it. If I can be part of the solution to make things better here, I would like that.”
Holmes’ contract also includes a $12 million player option for 2027.
Baltimore could also become part of the deadline picture. The Orioles entered 2026 hoping for a bounce-back year, but that hasn’t happened so far.
Even with the low bar for contention in the American League, the Baltimore Banner reports the club may still lean toward a partial sell-off rather than pushing chips in. Names that could be available include outfielder Taylor Ward, lefty starter Trevor Rogers, and relievers Andrew Kittredge, Yennier Cano, and Rico Garcia.
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The larger concern is not just where this season sits now, but how closely it fits the pattern that has followed Elias from the start. Baltimore has not finished a year with more than 78 wins under his watch, and even with the organization trying to build around a young core, the margin for error keeps shrinking as injuries pile up and the standings tighten. [Read more 🡒]