Who Execs, Scouts Believe Will be Dealt at MLB Trade Deadline

The MLB trade deadline is exactly two months away on August 3.

So in a continued poll with MLB executives and scouts, Athlon Sports asked which players are most likely to be shipped out at the deadline.

Some of the names might surprise you and some won't.

Let's get into it!

Tarik Skubal SP

The least surprising name on this list is Detroit Tigers ace and back-to-back AL Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal. The southpaw received surgery to remove a loose body from his left elbow last month, but is expected to rejoin the Tigers' rotation in June. Detroit will surely receive a historic haul of prospects in return if they pull the trigger on a Skubal trade this summer. The Tigers are 25-38 and in fourth place in the AL Central and are looking like future sellers. Skubal is their crown jewel.

Yordan Alvarez DH

Executives I spoke with in our continued poll named Houston Astros superstar DH Yordan Alvarez as one of the biggest names that could go at the deadline. However, sources say an Alvarez trade is viewed as unlikely given how much the Astros love the slugger. Alvarez is also under club control for two more full seasons. Teams will surely come calling about the Astros' big bat ahead of the deadline, but it remains to be seen if they will be able to pry him away from Houston.

Mike Trout OF

It's certainly time for the Los Angeles Angels and Mike Trout to part ways. Despite having a full no-trade clause in his 12-year, $426.5 million contract, executives and scouts believe Trout will waive it to go to a contender this season. The 23-39 Angels are once again in the basement of the AL West and the 34-year-old Trout doesn't have many playing years left. Trout has four more seasons remaining on his deal and around $150 million total.

Jarren Duran OF

There aren't many players who play the game harder than left fielder Jarren Duran of the Boston Red Sox. Duran's name has been brought up in trade rumors plenty of times in the past year due to the Red Sox's surplus of outfielders. The 29-year-old comes along with two more years of club control and would bring elite speed and defense to any contender. He's struggling overall this season at the plate with a .219 average, .285 on-base percentage and .701 OPS, but is hitting .328 in his last 15 games with six home runs and 15 RBI. He's also slugging a respectable .416 on the year with 10 homers.

David Bednar CL

New York Yankees closer David Bednar was a surprise name mentioned to me by a National League executive. The Yankees have the second-best record in the American League at 36-24 and are only one game behind the Tampa Bay Rays in the East. They're in desperate need of more bullpen help and subtracting their closer would be a shocking strategy. But Bednar is a free agent after this season and he has struggled with a 4.50 ERA and 1.58 WHIP in 24 innings. The Yankees could dump him as long as they have a bigger move in their arsenal to improve the bullpen.

Michael Wacha SP

The Kansas City Royals are in last place in the AL Central at 23-38 and will surely be sellers at the trade deadline. Right-handed starting pitcher Michael Wacha is making $18 million this season, $14 million next season and has a 2028 club option for $14 million. Wacha, 35, got roughed up for six earned runs on eight hits in his last start against the Texas Rangers, but has a respectable 3.23 ERA and 1.12 WHIP in 12 starts and 75.1 innings this season.

5 Colorado Rockies

Like the Royals, the 24-38 Colorado Rockies will be obvious sellers at the deadline, barring anything unforeseen. One executive I spoke with named five Rockies players that are likely to be dealt: reliever Antonio Senzatela, starter Michael Lorenzen, outfielder Brenton Doyle, starter Tomoyuki Sugano and outfielder Mickey Moniak. But Moniak, who was having a stellar year, is dealing with right ankle tendonitis and is less likely to be dealt unless this ailment subsides in the coming months.

Eugenio Suarez DH/3B

It seems like power-hitter Eugenio Suarez's name is brought up ahead of the trade deadline every year. Last summer, the Arizona Diamondbacks sent him to the Seattle Mariners, where he helped his new team make it all the way to Game 7 of the ALCS. This year, Suarez is off to an abysmal start to his campaign with a .665 OPS and an uncharacteristic four homers. To put it into context, Suarez hit 49 homers a season ago. The Cincinnati Reds are 31-29 but in last place in a tough NL Central division. Suarez has a mutual option with the Reds in 2027, but those typically get declined by one side or both. There's still a chance that Suarez catches fire and finds his slug this season. For that, a contender could take a chance on him at the deadline.

Brandon Lowe 2B

Pittsburgh Pirates second baseman Brandon Lowe is off to a great start for the Buccos in 2026. Lowe, 31, has a .878 OPS and 15 homers in 55 games, which are elite offensive numbers for his position. Usually the Tampa Bay Rays know something we don't, but in this case trading Lowe may have been a mistake. Lowe is playing on a $11.5 million club option and will be a free agent after the season. The Pirates are 33-28 and in second place in the NL Central, 5.5 games back of the Milwaukee Brewers. They currently have a real shot to grab an NL Wild Card spot. Regardless, executives and scouts believe the Pirates will ship Lowe out at the deadline.