The MLB trade deadline is about a week away, and several playoff contenders are in dire need of an extra kick to push them into World Series contention.
Whether it's a great starting pitcher, a platoon role hitter, or just some depth in the bullpen, there is a myriad of players available across the league who could help bolster your favorite team's roster.
While superstars like Tarik Skubal, Byron Buxton and Mason Miller will certainly steal the headlines if they swap teams, it's the smaller, more subtle moves that could shape the upcoming MLB postseason above all else. Here is one player every team in playoff position should target as the trade deadline approaches.
MLB trade deadline targets for each playoff team
AL East
Now I know what you're thinking, "The Rays? Going after the biggest player available? Never in a million years." Well, I guess 2026 might be that one in one million. The Rays have made efforts in recent years to acquire big name players in both free agency and at recent deadlines.
In 2023, during the final year of Shohei Ohtani's contract with the Angels, the Rays reportedly offered Junior Caminero and another top prospect Carson Williams for Ohtani's services. The team also went after Freddie Freeman and Aaron Judge during free agency this decade as well.
Not only would acquiring Skubal show the world that even a small market team like the Rays can make a push for a World Series, but it would give the Rays a postseason rotation that could compete with the best of the best, featuring a two-time Cy Young winner, two more All-Stars in Drew Rasmussen and Nick Martinez and Shane McClanahan.
The Yankees have collected -0.6 bWAR from their catchers this season. That ranks 21st in MLB per Baseball Reference. Jeffers would give the Yankees an immediate upgrade at their most troublesome position, and with Cody Bellinger moving to the IL, the team will need some offense if they want to catch up to the Rays and earn themselves a shot at an AL East title.
Jeffers' 158 OPS+ is far above what any other catching option on the trade block might be able to offer. While he certainly would be a downgrade from Wells in terms of catcher framing, Jeffers has still ranked as an above average catcher when it comes to framing, ranking 26th among all catchers in the league this year. There really isn't a downside to this trade aside from the prospects that the Yankees would need to give up. But the Yankees do have a myriad of prospects.
The Red Sox made a smart move in acquiring Curtis Mead already. The team needed pop and Mead now ranks second on the team in home runs. However, they could use even more in their lineup. Neto provides solid pop from a non-power position but also gives the team a massive offensive upgrade overall at the position.
With Trevor Story on the 60-day IL, and boasting a lackluster .547 OPS when healthy, Neto is exactly the type of bat that Boston could just plop near the top of their lineup to give everyone else a solid boost.
AL Central
The White Sox are in an interesting position. They aren't considered an elite ball club just yet but are probably only a few years away, so they likely don't want to trade away any of their top prospects. If they are dead set on acquiring a game-changer though, former Cy Young winner Sandy Alcantara would be a massive get.
While Alcantara won't help a ton in the ERA department, he would help massively with innings. Currently, the White Sox have just two pitcher with over 100 innings pitched on their roster. Alcantara leads baseball in that category. The White Sox bullpen ranks ninth in ERA this season, so anyone who can give them innings and keep them fresh for the postseason would be a great addition to the club.
The Guardians might not be very many games over .500 but they are expected to buy at this year's deadline. That said, they aren't a team known for committing to massive players and selling prospects.
Jo Adell is someone who won't cost the team an arm and a leg, but he also fills one of the team's biggest needs: someone who can mash southpaws.
On the season, Adell boasts just a 92 wRC+, but against lefties, it shoots up to 164, making him absolutely dangerous in that situation. The Guardians rank 28th in baseball in team OPS against lefties (.651), so adding Adell would certainly fill the lineup out and give them a solid platoon option down the stretch.
AL West
A premier relief arm, Weaver would instantly bolster the Rangers' lackluster bullpen. Currently, the team ranks 19th in bullpen ERA, which isn't terrible, but down the stretch, getting depth in the back end of games is of the utmost importance, especially considering the Rangers' lack rotational depth as well.
The team could certainly go for a back-end starting option like Brady Singer or Seth Lugo, but Weaver is someone that could seriously make a difference in one of Texas' weakest areas. They could also add back-end bullpen arms like Brooks Raley and Kenley Jansen as well as none of them would cost too much in prospects.
Much like Cleveland, the Mariners have struggled against left-handed pitching this season, and while Schmitt is certainly a volatile hitter, who struggles to get walks, he mashes lefties. Seattle ranks dead last in team OPS vs. lefties (.640).
Furthermore, Schmitt's defensive versatility would be a massive help to the team. Seattle ranks 24th in WAR by third baseman (-0.8) and 23rd in WAR from right fielders (-1.2). Adding Scmitt could fix either of those problems based on anyone else Seattle might want to go after in free agency.
Though the Astros are currently third place in the AL West and three games under .500, they expect to be buyers at the trade deadline, hence their appearance on this list. A rental left-handed starter is exactly what the team needs as the team currently ranks 28th in starter ERA and has only played two games all season in which they threw out a southpaw to start the game.
That's concerning, and with other potential playoff teams like Cleveland and Seattle struggling against lefties all year, the team could really use someone, anyone that would slow down either of those squads.
NL East
While Gausman is not having the best season of his career right now, he is on an expiring contract and provides valuable playoff experience, something that the Braves sorely lack from their starting pitchers. All that is to say that the Braves need that kind of veteran leadership, and someone like Gausman, who has produced a 3.83 career postseason ERA, provides exactly that. Furthermore, the Braves likely could get Gausman for pennies on the dollar if the Blue Jays decide to sell.
While the Phillies undoubtedly boast one of the best 1-2 punches in baseball at the top of their rotation, the bottom of their rotation is rather thin. Robbie Ray would provide the team with someone who could take Aaron Nola's spot at the bottom of the playoff rotation and easily slide in as the team's No. 3 or 4 starter.
NL Central
While Trevor Megill has been serviceable as the team's closer this year, the Brewers really could do with someone who closes a door emphatically, and no one does that better than San Diego's Mason Miller. The Brewers have the farm system to pay an obnoxious price for an All-Star closer, and given that the Brewers have blown 15 saves this year, which is more than the Braves, Dodgers, Phillies and Diamondbacks, Milwaukee should definitely be giving San Diego a call.
The Cubs' rotation has been absolutely decimated with injuries this year. In 2026 alone, the team has had 12 players start games and only two of their pitchers have more than 80 innings on the season. Alcantara is an innings-eater, someone who could take some stress off an overly worked bullpen. Furthermore, even when their pitchers are healthy, the Cubs' rotation has been anything but solid, with only two of their top five starters recording an ERA under 4.0.
NL West
With both Blake Snell and Tyler Glasnow out with injuries, the Dodgers need a pitcher to give their team some depth. The Blue Jays make for a very smart trade partner. Considering the team has said they will at least be shopping Gausman, Shane Bieber and outfielder Daulton Varsho, the Blue Jays likely would be in the market for another outfielder.
Guess what! The Dodgers have outfielders up the wazoo in their farm system, and they likely wouldn't even need to give up one of their top five prospects to acquire someone struggling as badly as Gausman is.
DODGERS TRADE TARGETS: Will Shohei Ohtani knee issues impact strategy at deadline?
While Holmes is currently injured, he is nearing his return. The 33-year-old was fantastic before going down, posting a 2.39 ERA in nine starts.
The Diamondbacks do need pitching, and shortstop Geraldo Perdomo has said as much when speaking to the media, begging the team to bolster their rotation. The Mets would certainly love to move off of him for some value as well.
Of course, the Diamondbacks could also go with a position player, particularly first base. Outside of their top five guys in Ketel Marte, Nolan Arenado, Gabriel Moreno, Corbin Carroll and Geraldo Perdomo, the team has not gotten much out of their hitters. San Diego's Ty France would make a lot of sense for Arizona. Boasting 15 home runs and high-end defense at first, France would immediately give a boost to a D-Backs lineup that has received -1.7 WAR from first basemen on the season.
When is the MLB trade deadline?
The 2026 MLB trade deadline is set for 6 p.m. ET on Monday, Aug. 3.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY Sports: One perfect trade target for every MLB contender ahead of deadline
