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Trade Deadline Weekend is upon us, and it is time for me to give my final MLB Trade predictions. I was going to list a bunch of players, but I decided to just find the 10 most talked-about names on Twitter (thank you, Grok).
I have zero inside information on anything.
1. Tarik Skubal | SP | Detroit Tigers
2026 At a Glance: 7-5 | 2.79 ERA | 96.2 IP | 116 K | 0.91 WHIP
Contract Status: Earning $32 million in 2026 and eligible for free agency after the season.
Skubal is far and away the most talked-about player this deadline. Detroit seems to have made their decision and will be trading him
Skubal is months away from free agency and already earning a record $32 million arbitration salary. Detroit will save millions and get some top-end prospects as well.
The Dodgers, Yankees, Brewers, Rays, Braves, Cubs and Phillies have all been connected to the market.
Dean’s Prediction
Tarik Skubal is traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers.
I wanna be fringe so bad and say that he isn’t going to the Dodgers, but it just seems inevitable.
2. Mason Miller | RP | San Diego Padres
2026 At a Glance: 3-1 | 28 SV | 0.79 ERA | 45.2 IP | 85 K | 0.79 WHIP
Contract Status: Earning $4 million in 2026 with three additional arbitration seasons remaining; eligible for free agency after the 2029 season.
Miller is the best closer in baseball by a pretty good margin. He has allowed only four earned runs across 44 appearances, struck out 85 batters in 45.2 innings and held opponents to a .135 batting average.
His trade value is amplified by a contract that runs through 2029. A team acquiring Miller would get four potential postseason runs with one of baseball’s most dominant bullpen arms. That also explains why San Diego would need an extraordinary return. The Padres acquired Miller only one year ago and have played themselves back to within 2.0 games of a Wild Card position.
Dean’s Prediction
Mason Miller stays with the Padres.
Trading the best closer in baseball while sitting within striking distance of October would be difficult to justify. The Padres are more likely to trade Mason in the offseason as they start a rebuild or “retool”
3. CJ Abrams | SS | Washington Nationals
2026 At a Glance: .289 AVG | .362 OBP | .917 OPS | 27 HR | 82 RBI | 19 SB
Contract Status: Earning $4.2 million in 2026, arbitration eligible in 2027 and under club control through the 2028 season.
Abrams has transformed himself into one of the most productive players in the National League. He has already established career highs with 27 home runs and 82 RBI while producing a .917 OPS. He has been even hotter approaching the deadline, batting .361 with seven home runs, 15 RBI and four stolen bases over his past 15 games.
Washington has a stud in the minors by the name of Eli Willits, who also happens to play SS. Problem is, he is 18 years old and won’t be in MLB for years. The Nationals would need to receive the foundation of their next contending roster to move Abrams, which I don’t see teams doing.
Dean’s Prediction
CJ Abrams stays in Washington.
Teams have called, and Washington has listened. That does not mean the Nationals should trade him. Abrams is young enough to remain part of the next competitive team, inexpensive enough to fit any payroll plan and productive enough to build around.
4. Zach Neto | SS | Los Angeles Angels
2026 At a Glance: .232 AVG | .324 OBP | .757 OPS | 19 HR | 46 RBI | 14 SB
Contract Status: Earning $4.15 million in 2026 and under club control through the 2029 season.
Neto’s overall numbers are not as strong as they were during his 5-WAR 2025 season, but the underlying player remains attractive. He has hit 19 home runs, stolen 14 bases, and scored 73 runs while playing okay defense. His walk rate has improved, although a strikeout rate above 30 percent and a recent power drought- no home runs in his past 15 games- create legitimate questions as this weekend approaches
Neto has more of a track record than Abrams, but similar to Abrams, I do not see him moving this deadline.
Dean’s Prediction
Zach Neto stays with the Angels.
5. Luis Arraez | 2B | San Francisco Giants
2026 At a Glance: .328 AVG | .364 OBP | .811 OPS | 4 HR | 43 RBI | 10 SB
Contract Status: Playing on a one-year, $12 million contract and eligible for free agency after the 2026 season.
Luis Arraez is arguably having his best all-around season ever. I think he is the most underappreciated player of the last 5 years, and has been underutilized by his teams.
This is one of the clearest trade situations on the list. San Francisco is out of contention, Arraez is approaching free agency, and he is playing great.
Dean’s Prediction
Luis Arraez is traded to the Tampa Bay Rays.
6. Freddy Peralta | SP | New York Mets
2026 At a Glance: 5-9 | 4.99 ERA | 113.2 IP | 113 K | 1.48 WHIP
Contract Status: Earning $8 million in the final season of his extension and eligible for free agency after 2026.
As I am writing this, Freddy was scratched from his start. So, seems obvious that he is getting traded.
Peralta has not delivered the season the Mets expected when they acquired him from Milwaukee. He has allowed 120 hits and 48 walks in 113.2 innings, and his performance has deteriorated as the deadline approaches. Over his past seven starts, Peralta is 0-4 with a 7.92 ERA and a 1.96 WHIP. That is a dramatic decline from his 2025 season, when he finished 17-6 with a 2.70 ERA for the Brewers.
“Insiders” around the league have whispered that his bad season is because of the Mets. Feels like a rumor that Freddy Peralta’s camp would start.
Dean’s Prediction
Freddy Peralta is traded to the Chicago Cubs.
I think the Cubs are willing to take the risk to try and get in the way of the Brewers reuniting with Peralta. I can also see them wanting to try and set the market before Skubal gets traded.
7. Luke Weaver | RP | New York Mets
2026 At a Glance: 2-1 | 1.88 ERA | 43 IP | 44 K | 0.84 WHIP
Contract Status: Signed through 2027 on a two-year, $22 million contract.
Weaver has rebuilt his value with one of the best seasons of his career. He has allowed only 26 baserunners across 43 innings and recently completed a stretch of 25 consecutive scoreless innings. His strikeout total is not overwhelming, but his improved command, changing pitch mix and ability to limit hard contact have made him a dependable late-inning option. Over his past 30 appearances, Weaver has recorded a 0.84 ERA and 0.75 WHIP.
Unlike Peralta, Weaver is not a rental. His contract includes another season at a manageable salary, allowing the Mets to demand more than a typical middle-relief return. Pittsburgh and Milwaukee are among the clubs reportedly interested.
Dean’s Prediction
Luke Weaver is traded to the Milwaukee Brewers.
I believe the Cubs will swoop in and get Peralta, so the Brewers will settle for Weaver. (I also don’t totally believe that Milwaukee wants Peralta.)
8. Robbie Ray | SP | San Francisco Giants
2026 At a Glance: 10-6 | 3.08 ERA | 122.2 IP | 107 K | 1.29 WHIP
Contract Status: In the final season of a five-year, $115 million contract and eligible for free agency after 2026.
Ray has rebuilt his deadline value at exactly the right time. The 34-year-old left-hander has a 3.08 ERA through 122.2 innings and has been particularly effective during the second half of the summer. Over his past seven appearances, Ray is 5-0 with a 1.26 ERA. San Francisco also came out today and said they would pay down his salary. Teams love that.
Dean’s Prediction
Robbie Ray is traded to the Houston Astros.
9. Casey Mize | SP | Detroit Tigers
2026 At a Glance: 4-6 | 2.70 ERA | 86.2 IP | 85 K | 0.99 WHIP
Contract Status: Earning $6.15 million in 2026 and eligible for free agency after the season.
Mize has finally delivered the season Detroit envisioned when it selected him first overall in 2018. He owns a career-best 2.70 ERA, has allowed only 67 hits in 86.2 innings and has struck out 85 batters against 19 walks. His 2.9 FanGraphs WAR is already a career high.
Detroit has already scratched him, which is the sign that a trade is coming.
Dean’s Prediction
Casey Mize is traded to the Philadelphia Phillies.
Philadelphia will remain in the Skubal conversations but ultimately avoid the prospect cost required to acquire him. Mize offers a more affordable rotation upgrade without forcing the Phillies to empty the top of their system.
10. Kevin Gausman | SP | Toronto Blue Jays
2026 At a Glance: 4-10 | 4.51 ERA | 121.2 IP | 123 K | 1.27 WHIP
Contract Status: In the final season of a five-year, $110 million contract and eligible for free agency after 2026.
Gausman’s name value is stronger than his current performance. The 35-year-old owns a 7.27 ERA with a 1.85 WHIP over his past seven outings. The overall strikeout total remains respectable, 123 in 121.2 innings, but his recent results have hurt his trade value.
That does not eliminate his market. Gausman is an experienced starter with more than 2,000 career innings, postseason experience and an expiring contract. Toronto is buried in the American League East and has little incentive to retain a veteran who can leave after the season.
Dean’s Prediction
Kevin Gausman is traded to the Chicago White Sox.
The White Sox have to make a move, and this will probably be the biggest “splash” that won’t cost them.
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