The buyers, the sellers, and some of what might be available at the deadline

Blue Jays star Bo Bichette scheduled to join Bisons | MiLB.com

There are three categories of Trade Deadline clubs in Major League Baseball this time of year: The clear buyers, the clear sellers, and those still in the middle trying to join the former so they don’t have to affix themselves to the latter. The longer teams stay in the race, the longer they draw fans to their ballpark — and maximize revenue. And with the advent of the extra Wild Card starting in 2022, more clubs hold on for dear life.

We’re not post Memorial Day, roughly a third of the way through the 2025 schedule, so let’s place each of the 30 clubs into the appropriate bin as it appears they are headed two months pre-deadline.

Below is not a prediction, just a projection, and one based solely on facts — to-date win-loss, to-date playoff positioning, and common sense. A lot can change in a relatively short period of time.

Los Angeles Dodgers (33-21, +2.0 DIV)
The Dodgers still aren’t healthy, but even if they get back to near-100%, they’ll trade from the farm and add to the roster. Pitching probably remains at the top of the list for them, even with signs Shohei Ohtani and Tyler Glasnow are returning soon.

Philadelphia Phillies (34-19, +1.5 DIV)
The Phillies will buy, but it’s difficult not to wonder if there isn’t a buy-sell scenario for them here with 3B Alec Bohm. It would require the Phils finding a better option at the position, however, and Bohm owns a 171 wRC+ since May 3, including four homers and four doubles.

New York Mets (33-21, -1.5 DIV)
The Mets are invested in 2025 heavily and likely buy aggressively this summer. Despite having one of the elite pitching staffs in the game statistically, look for arms to land in Queens.

New York Yankees (33-20, +6.0 DIV)
The Yankees are perennial buyers, and that isn’t changing this season. They have held together the rotation pretty well without Gerrit Cole, but like the Mets, expect pitching to be part of their efforts.

San Diego Padres (30-22, — WC, -2.0 DIV)
The Friars are waiting for the return of Yu Darvish to help their rotation, but the right-hander had a setback and skipped his May 14 rehab start, adding fuel to the fire for starting pitching needs.

San Francisco Giants (31-23, — WC, -2.0 DIV)
Offensively, the Giants are rather ordinary and have production holes at first base, second base, catcher, and DH. The rotation could use a boost, too.

Detroit Tigers (35-20, +5.0 DIV)
The Tigers need help at third and short, but the bullpen may be the area the club is most aggressive.

Cleveland Guardians (29-24, +1.0 WC, 5.0 DIV)
The Guardians need a bat, but their rotation isn’t as strong as its been in past years, so perhaps a bigger deadline than usual is on the horizon in Cleveland.

Seattle Mariners (29-23, +1.5 DIV)
Assuming the rotation gets relatively healthy, Seattle’s top needs remain on the offensive side of things, but the ‘pen needs a high-leverage option even more than they did a year ago when they tarded for Yimi Garcia.

Houston Astros (28-25, — WC, -1.5 DIV)
Houston might need two starting pitchers to stay afloat thanks to injuries, and despite Cristian Javier’s expected return this summer, but an outfielder is probably on the menu, too.

Chicago Cubs (33-21, +3.0 DIV)
With Justin Steele gone for the year, the Cubs’ rotation is quite mediocre as a group, and that’s with Matthew Boyd pitching better than anyone expected.

St. Louis Cardinals (30-24, -1.0 WC, -3.0 DIV)
I expected the Cardinals to sell this summer, but they’re winning enough to think about adding to the roster. This may be, however, another chance to sell at the same time, including maybe finding a home for Nolan Arenado.

Kansas City Royals (29-26, — WC, -6.0 DIV)
The Royals are scoring 3.33 runs per game, and that sinks to 2.75 in May. They’re getting little to nothing from catcher, second base, DH, left field, and right field, and top prospect Jac Caglianone can only fix one of those.

Minnesota Twins (29-24, +1.0 WC, -5.0 DIV)
The Twins need reliable offensive production. Byron Buxton and Royce Lewis are constantly on the IL and should be viewed as bonuses if healthy and producing. But this team is a buyer.

Several of the above clubs are a bad month from fading down the board closer to seller status.

Colorado Rockies (9-45, -22.0 WC)
Not one single player on the current 26-man roster should be off limits, including Ezequiel Tovar, Hunter Goodman, and Brenton Doyle.

Chicago White Sox (17-37, -11.5 WC)
The Sox have some interesting relievers to dangle, but this is really all about Luis Robert Jr., and perhaps finding a team to take Andrew Benintendi. Miguel Vargas might be a good consolation prize for a club needing a third baseman, but he’ll cost dearly for the control years (4+) and is a 40-grade defender at second, so buyer beware.

Pittsburgh Pirates (19-36, -12.5 WC)
I was recently asked what I’d do if I were the Pirates, so here goes: 1) Shit down the Paul Skenes trade talk. No club in the league is going to offer me enough to trade the player that’s likely my best chance at competing over the next 3-5 years. 2) Add to my club this summer, despite it looking very much like a lost year. Pittsburgh needs run production three-fold and should try to max the return for RHP Mitch Keller and RHR David Bednar.

Washington Nationals (24-29, -6.5 WC)
The Nationals are the closest thing in this group to belonging in one of the others, but they began Tuesday 6.5 games back with six clubs to climb over in the National Wild Card race, and they simply don’t appear to be within reach, especially from a pitching standpoint. Might CJ Abrams (145 wRC+, 3+ years of control) join Amed Rosario and Kyle Finnegan on the trade block?

Oakland Athletics (23-31, -5.5 WC)
It’s a pitching problem, but it’s also a lineup with inconsistencies. But it’s a pitching problem. And it’s getting worse as the season progresses.

Los Angeles Angels (25-28, -3.0 WC)
After winning nine straight, the Angels have now dropped three in a row; they’re not winning the division and would have to leap six clubs to win the No. 3 Wild Card spot. They’re sellers, and everyone should be available. Even Zach Neto, if someone wants to pay the true price for an above-average or better starting shortstop with 4-plus years of control left. We’ll hear a lot of Taylor Ward, Yoan Moncada, Tyler Anderson, and Kenley Jansen, but if LAA wants out of purgatory, they should be a lot more aggressive.

Miami Marlins (21-31, -9.0 WC)
Outside relievers such as Anthony Bender, there’s not a lot going on here beyond platoon or bench help. I’m sure the FO wishes there were more, um, fish to fry.

Baltimore Orioles (19-34, -9.0 WC)
The O’s entered Tuesday having won three straight, but they’re nine games out of the No. 3 Wild Card spot — 3.5 games behind the Athletics, with everyone but the White Sox to pass — 8 teams in all. And the pitching remains an embarrassment. It would take one helluva run to get back into it, but it is early enough to give them a chance, and we know how much offensive talent they have.

A handful of these orgs are a good run from leaving the sellers list — but seeing that from Colorado, Chicago, Pittsburgh, or Miami seems like a long shot.

Atlanta Braves (25-27, -5.0 WC)
The Braves are teetering on the brink, but are talented enough to get back in the race and win it. Getting Ronald Acuña Jr. back should go a long way toward that goal, but Atlanta needs to pitch better. Spencer Strider’s return hasn’t yielded great results yet, but next month we’ll have a much better grasp on who the Braves are.

Milwaukee Brewers (27-28, -4.5 WC)
The Brewers’ rotation has gone 11 deep already, and it’s not even June. Only two arms have made more than seven starts. Jose Quintana is on his way back, but is it enough with a mediocre bullpen and lineup? Milwaukee needs more from Jackson Chourio and Garrett Mitchell, and of course, Christian Yelich (84 wRC+).

Arizona Diamondbacks (27-27, -4.0 WC)
The Diamondbacks, like the Braves, have a good chance to end up buying in July, but Arizona is in fourth place in the NL West and is a bad streak from chasing several clubs for a Wild Card spot. As-is, they need to pass two teams to grab a spot, but the peripherals don’t look great for that pitching staff. If they end up selling, Eugenio Suarez and Josh Naylor — both free agents at the end of the year — are probably at the top of the list, but don’t be shocked if Zac Gallen and Merrill Kelly get shopped, too. A healthy Shelby Miller is almost a lock to go if they sell.

Cincinnati Reds (27-28, -4.5 WC)
The Reds aren’t doing anything well enough right now to buy into them making a run in the division, but they’re in the Wild Card race for now. It’s a below-average pitching staff, though, with the bullpen dragging down an average rotation. A selling Cincy likely fields calls on Taylor Rogers, Tony Santillan, and Austin Hays, but that may be about it.

Texas Rangers (26-29, -3.0 WC)
Texas is just three games back in the Wild Card race right now, but they need to pass five clubs to get there, and the trend is bad. They’ve lost eight of 10 and have been one of the very worst offenses in baseball at 3.33 runs per game. As sellers, Texas may not have a ton to offer, but Tyler Mahle will interest contenders, as might reliever Hoby Milner, catcher Kyke Higashioka, and slugger Jake Burger.

Boston Red Sox (27-29, -2.5 WC, -7.0 DIV)
Boston is better on paper than on the field thus far, injuries haven’t helped, and their depth hasn’t responded well enough to it. Boston is almost certain to avoid a true sell situation, but how aggressive they are may depend on being at least as close to a playoff spot as they are right now. Any lengthy struggles could motivate the front office to move Aroldis Chapman, Justin Wilson, and Rob Refsnyder.

Tampa Bay Rays (27-26, -1.0 WC, -6.0 DIV)
The Rays are almost always in the same position. Threatening for the postseason, have a player or two to sell, but also looking to buy. In the race or not, reliever Pete Fairbanks could be on the move (‘26 option), as could pending free agent Zack Littell, whose K% is down to 16.2%. Yandy Diaz and Brandon Lowe have been on radars for a few years, and this could be the summer they get moved.

Toronto Blue Jays (26-27, -2.0 WC, -7.0 DIV)
Having just extended Vladimir Gurrero Jr. to big dollars, I don’t expect the Jays to be aggressive sellers, but a poor enough next 45 games or so could mean veteran free-agents-to-be head elsewhere in July, including right-handers Chris Bassitt and Chad Green, and shortstop Bo Bichette, who has eight homers in his last 580 PAs.