There are just several weeks left until one of the most highlighted dates on the MLB calendar: the trade deadline. The deadline means two things: playoff contenders fix their flaws, while teams far out of it retool for the future.
2025 MLB Trade Deadline: 3 Teams That Should Buy and 3 That Should Sell
If you asked three weeks ago which teams needed to buy and which needed to sell, I wouldn’t have had a clear answer. But fast forward to now, and it feels like a set number of teams are ready to make their positions known. In today’s article, I’ll go over three teams that should buy, and three that should sell.
Buyers: New York Mets
The perfect example of why things were so unsure just weeks ago. The Mets were the best team in baseball as of June 9. Since then? A complete 180.
Every part of the game has been an issue. The team has scored two or fewer runs in nine of their last 13 games. The starting rotation has failed to go more than five innings in that same span. As a result, the bullpen has been overworked and can’t be relied upon. The rotation, once considered one of the best in baseball, is now heavily depleted. The Mets have spent the last few weeks scrambling to find emergency starts from within the organization due to several injuries.
This all started after Kodai Senga exited his start against the Nationals with a hamstring injury. A few days later, the Mets placed Tylor Megill on the injured list with a shoulder strain. Then came Griffin Canning, who was having a career year before rupturing his Achilles.
But the rotation isn’t the biggest concern—it’s the offense. Even when the team was at the top of the league, New York struggled to get its big three hitters going all at once. As a whole, they’re hitting .245. But just .217 with runners in scoring position—second-worst in baseball.
Reinforcements are coming. Jesse Winker could provide a spark. Both Senga and Sean Manaea have the potential to return to their ace-like form. Until then, the Mets’ trade deadline shopping list should look like this:
Needs:
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Mid-rotation inning eater (Mitch Keller, Luis Severino, Seth Lugo, Merrill Kelly)
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High-leverage bullpen arm (Aroldis Chapman, Kyle Finnegan)
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Quality bat with RISP success (Eugenio Suárez)
If the Mets can check off some of these boxes, their current issues could be short-lived. They’ll look to contend with the Dodgers for the National League pennant.
Sellers: Arizona Diamondbacks
A team poised for greatness, riddled by injuries. The Diamondbacks’ season has been in jeopardy ever since Corbin Burnes went down. Playing in the hardest division in the league, they’ve quickly fallen behind the Dodgers, Giants, and Padres. Their injury situation has made it nearly impossible to compete. So why not trade away players on expiring deals or veterans playing above expectations?
The first name that comes to mind is Zac Gallen. The 29-year-old could elevate any team’s rotation, especially those that really need help, like the Cubs. Gallen was once the team’s ace, posting dominant numbers in 2022 with a 2.54 ERA and 192 strikeouts. He followed that up with another All-Star season. However, in 2025, it has been the complete opposite. He’s allowed the most earned runs in baseball with 63 and holds a 5.45 ERA through a league-high 18 starts.
Gallen is set to hit free agency after the season, and the Diamondbacks will have to decide. Do they want to extend him or move him now? According to an article by Jeff Passan from May, Gallen is projected to command a contract in the $100 million range. A team like the Cubs could benefit from his services, especially with a strong farm system and the payroll to keep him around long term.
Another Diamondback who could be on the move is Eugenio Suárez. He’s a veteran having a career year that Arizona could instantly cash in on. The 33-year-old is consistently producing at the plate, batting .254 with 26 home runs and 69 RBIs, while carrying an .888 OPS. Like Gallen, Suárez is in the final year of his deal. Arizona would likely need to make a big offer to keep him around.
He might be the best bat available at the deadline. Teams like the Mets, Astros, and Tigers are all in the market for offense.
Unfortunately, it looks like a second straight season without playoff baseball in Arizona. Just two years removed from their promising World Series appearance.
Buyers: Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers should try their hardest to go all in at this year’s trade deadline. There’s no denying that they’re one of the best-built teams in the American League. A lights-out rotation and a balanced offense lead them. However, there’s always a way to improve.
They’ve got Tarik Skubal, the underrated best pitcher in baseball. But they likely won’t be able to afford his massive extension down the road. If they don’t reach a deal, Skubal hits the market after the 2026 season. Teams like the Mets or Yankees would pounce on the opportunity. That means Detroit should be doing everything possible to win while he’s still in town.
Zach McKinstry has been a huge surprise this season. He’s slashing .283 with five home runs, 25 RBIs, and a .357 OBP. The 30-year-old has never hit above .235 in his career, so this has been a breakout. His versatility makes him a valuable utility piece. But to go from good to great, Detroit has to take a big swing.
As mentioned before, Eugenio Suárez would be a major upgrade—a bat that would improve any lineup he joins. And here’s the kicker: he started his career with the Tigers before being traded to Cincinnati in 2014 for one season of Alfredo Simón. So yeah, a homecoming is on the table.
Detroit has the prospects to get a deal done. This isn’t just a want—it’s a need.
Sellers: Kansas City Royals
The Royals are heading toward a really interesting decision. Do they hang on, hoping the American League stays wide open and a second-half push is possible? Or do they sell off their veterans while their value is high?
Kansas City got a taste of playoff baseball last year for the first time since winning it all in 2015. They stunned a 91-win Orioles team in the Wild Card round before bowing out to the Yankees. All signs were pointing in the right direction.
That’s why this 40–46 record feels so frustrating. The Royals have a star in Bobby Witt Jr. and a legit ace in Cole Ragans. But nothing’s clicked. Still, there’s half a season left to figure things out.
If the Royals decide to sell, one name stands out: Seth Lugo. The journeyman starter had a career year in 2024. He threw 206 innings with a 3.00 ERA and finished second in AL Cy Young voting. He’s carried that success into this year too, posting a 2.74 ERA in 88 innings so far.
Lugo has the option to opt out of his deal after 2025, making a trade for him very realistic. A team like the Cardinals would be a perfect fit. And outside of Lugo, Kansas City has a few bullpen arms that could draw interest.
It’s tough to say which direction the Royals will go. But whatever decision they make could shape their future for the next few seasons.
Buyers: Toronto Blue Jays
This may be a stretch, but the Blue Jays are currently in their best position to compete in the American League. The Jays have spent the past several seasons trying to assemble a competitive roster. But they’ve continuously fallen short of signing big names—this list includes Shohei Ohtani and Juan Soto. This past offseason, Toronto dished out $608 million in contracts. That was highlighted by deals with Anthony Santander and Max Scherzer, along with the 14-year, $500 million extension of Vladimir Guerrero Jr.
The Blue Jays have somehow put everything together this season. They’ve taken the lead over the New York Yankees for the American League East. This means one thing, and one thing only. It’s time to capitalize on this chance and better your team. The question is: Does management feel like this could be a realistic push? Are they willing to send away prospects in return for success?
As mentioned before, Toronto made a splash this offseason when signing Anthony Santander. He agreed to a five-year, $92 million deal that hasn’t panned out in any way so far. The former Oriole has been horrendous. He’s batting .178 in the 50 games he’s played, along with just six home runs and 18 RBIs. There are still four more years to go for the 30-year-old who just hit 44 home runs the season prior.
A move that could improve the Blue Jays for the long run would be trading for White Sox CF Luis Robert Jr. Robert isn’t a stranger to underperforming when it matters. The former All-Star is batting .185 when healthy, with eight home runs and 32 RBIs. With a current stint on the IL, Toronto could potentially acquire a player still under team control for a relatively low price. This would benefit their CF position for the future as George Springer nears the back end of his career.
Sellers: Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates might have some of the most intriguing short-term veterans on the market. That should mean multiple calls a day. This was a very obvious outcome. I think everyone knew that the Pirates wouldn’t be contending in the National League. But the real question is: Will they ever?
Paul Skenes is basically being held hostage in Pittsburgh. He’s forced to stay there until his contract expires since he won’t be traded anytime soon. The first overall pick in 2023 won’t be a free agent until 2029. But isn’t it fun to think what exactly the Pirates could get in return? The price could potentially be six-plus top prospects that would fill their lineup for the next decade.
Now, for the guys who will actually be moved. The Pirates have several trade candidates that will draw serious interest from playoff teams. Mitch Keller is the first name that comes to mind. The 29-year-old has produced solid stats for a non-contending Pittsburgh team. He’s tallied a 3.64 ERA in 106 IP. Keller is the perfect option for a playoff team looking to bolster the middle of their rotation—a pitcher who could eat innings during every single outing.
Besides Keller, the Pirates have available guys like David Bednar, IKF, Andrew Heaney, and potentially even Bryan Reynolds. It’ll be interesting to see which prospects the Pirates get in return for their players. But it will be a busy next few weeks.
Main Photo Credits: Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images
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