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2025 MLB Trade Deadline Predictions and Betting Odds

The MLB trade deadline is only a week away, so front offices around the league are running out of time to decide whether to buy, sell, or stand pat.

With the league still sorting itself into contenders and pretenders, the rumor mill is already in high gear. From power hitters amid bounce-back campaigns to veteran pitchers on expiring deals, this year’s market features plenty of compelling names.

Here’s where we think some of the most talked-about names could end up, and what it could mean for the playoff race.

When is the MLB Trade Deadline?

The 2025 MLB trade deadline is set for Wednesday, July 31. Teams must finalize deals by 6 p.m. ET to make an impact before the stretch run. Rumors are already picking up steam with several key names circulating in conversations around the league.

Let’s take a gander at some MLB trade deadline odds and make a few predictions. Odds in this post are courtesy of BetOnline.

MLB Trade Deadline Odds

Eugenio Suarez Next Team Odds

• Yankees: +250
• Cubs: +400
• Mariners: +500
• Reds +550
• Field: +300

It looks more likely by the day that the Diamondbacks will be sellers over the next few days. Arizona entered the season with World Series aspirations, but a 3-game sweep at the hands of the Astros this week dropped the D-Backs to 10 games behind the Dodgers for first place in the NL West. With plenty of other teams already in front of Arizona in the Wild Card hunt, it makes sense for the D-Backs to sell off some of their veterans on expiring deals.

Eugenio Suarez is going to be the hottest commodity ahead of the deadline. The 34-year-old has slugged 36 homers this season, the third-most in baseball behind only Cal Raleigh and Aaron Judge. There are also plenty of teams out there in need of help at the hot corner, with the Yankees, Cubs, and Mariners all looking like decent fits. The Reds – one of Suarez’s old teams – are also reportedly sniffing around.

The most desperate team of the bunch is likely the Yankees. GM Brian Cashman has already said he plans to be aggressive ahead of the deadline, and third base is New York’s most glaring need. Oswaldo Cabrera is injured, Jazz Chisholm recently moved back to second base, and DJ LeMahieu was released. Suarez would not only hold down the position, but he would also give Judge some much-needed protection in the lineup.

Chicago (+400) and Seattle (+500) are also in the market for upgrades at third. The Mariners are particularly well-stocked when it comes to prospects that could tempt the D-Backs, but something tells me the Yankees won’t falter in their pursuit if they want to get their guy.

Josh Naylor Next Team Odds

• Red Sox: +275
• Rangers: +400
• Mariners: +500
• Field: +350

Suarez isn’t the only Diamondback likely to find a new home by next Wednesday. Arizona nabbed Josh Naylor from the Guardians in exchange for Slade Cecconi last winter after Christian Walker left for Houston as a free agent. Naylor, like Suarez, isn’t really known for his defense, but left-handed power bats are hard to come by.

On the year, Naylor is hitting .292/.360/447 with 11 home runs and 59 runs driven in across 93 games. He’s also still in the prime of his career at 28, though he’ll be a free agent at season’s end. That he’s a rental will likely drive down his asking price, but Arizona can slide Pavin Smith in as the everyday starting first baseman if Naylor is dealt.

The Red Sox (+275) check in as the favorite to land Naylor’s services, followed by the Rangers (+400) and Mariners (+500). Seattle is certainly in need of offensive help, and perhaps they can swing a mega-deal that lands them both Suarez and Naylor to man the opposite corners of the infield. I wouldn’t count them out, especially at the +500 odds.

Everybody figured Boston was punting on the season when they shockingly traded Rafael Devers to the Giants last month, but the Sox have climbed back into the postseason race thanks to a hot streak just before the All-Star break. Incumbent first baseman Triston Casas is done for the year with an injury, and the team has platooned Abraham Toro and Romy Gonzalez at the position ever since. I’m not sure a lefty bat like Naylor is a huge priority given how lefty-heavy the lineup is already, but he would certainly be an upgrade over Toro to deploy against right-handed pitching.

Texas is a potential wild card. They failed to live up to preseason expectations for most of the first half, but the Rangers have quietly rattled off 8 wins in their last 10 games to get back into the hunt. The offseason acquisition of Jake Burger hasn’t panned out, and they recently scooped journeyman Rowdy Tellez off the scrap heap after the Mariners released him. Assuming Naylor would come at a reasonable price, I think Naylor-to-Texas makes a whole lot of sense.

Ryan O’Hearn Next Team Odds

• Mariners: +300
• Rays: +375
• Giants: +450
• Astros +500
• Rangers +550
• Field: +325

The Orioles breezed their way to an AL East title last season, only to flame out in the Wild Card round against the Royals. Things haven’t gone according to plan in Baltimore this season despite lofty preseason hopes. The O’s are 13 games under .500 and sitting in the cellar of the division, and they’re the only team in the AL East with a negative run differential. This is still a young roster on aggregate, but don’t be surprised if the O’s decide to sell some of their vets before next week.

Ryan O’Hearn – fresh off of his first-ever All-Star selection – looks like an obvious candidate to move. He’s leading the team in batting average (.281) with 12 homers and 37 RBI through 88 games, and he’s been a revelation in three seasons with the team since struggling earlier in his career with the Royals. As mentioned with Naylor, lefty hitters with power tend to be hot commodities.

You guessed it, the Mariners (+300) look like a potential fit. Texas could also get into the fray if they whiff on Naylor, but I think the Astros (+500) look like the best value bet.

Houston is atop the AL West despite an incredible rash of injuries to key players, including Yordan Alvarez, Jeremy Pena, and Isaac Paredes. Holding off Seattle and Texas in the division won’t be easy, and a lefty bat is a desperate area of need. With Alvarez injured, the Astros’ most potent left-handed hitter is…Victor Caratini? Taylor Trammell? It’s a little dire, and you can expect opponents to give Houston a steady dosage of right-handed pitching come playoff time.

The Astros’ farm system leaves plenty to be desired, but an O’Hearn rental presumably won’t have much prospect cost. I think O’Hearn is a great bet to wind up in H-Town at +500.

Steven Kwan Next Team Odds

• Dodgers: +375
• Padres: +375
• Royals: +450
• Field: +325

First off, a Steven Kwan trade is reportedly pretty unlikely. He’s under team control until after the 2027 season, and the former All-Star will come with a hefty asking price as a result. The Guardians also aren’t surefire sellers, as they’re only 2.5 games out of a Wild Card spot as of this writing.

If they do decide to put Kwan on the market, you can expect the line of suitors to form to the left. Chief among them is the Dodgers, who are surely looking to upgrade over the disastrously ineffective Michael Conforto. The reigning champs have struggled offensively for several weeks, with Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman, and Teoscar Hernandez among the veterans who aren’t performing at peak levels.

Adding Kwan would allow the Dodgers to jettison Conforto while also giving them a proven leadoff bat from the left side. Kwan doesn’t hit for much power, but his .357 career on-base percentage would come in handy ahead of Shohei Ohtani in the lineup.

I don’t think a Kwan trade is likely. If he is on the move, however, I wouldn’t be surprised if he lands in LA.

Merrill Kelly Next Team Odds

• Astros: +225
• Blue Jays: +350
• Yankees: +450
• Field: +300

Merrill Kelly is yet another Diamondback who could be on the move. He’s been a mainstay in Arizona’s rotation since returning to the majors from Korea in 2019. This season, the 36-year-old has pitched to a 3.36 ERA across 122 innings for the scuffling D-Backs.

The starting pitching market is fairly soft, so Kelly could be the biggest name to hit the trade block. The Astros (+225) look like the favorites, though the Blue Jays (+350) and Yankees (+450) are also logical landing spots. Houston’s starting rotation has also been crushed by injuries to Spencer Arrighetti, Lance McCullers Jr., and Ronel Blanco, among others. You can say the same of the Yankees, while the Blue Jays could use a fifth starter to slot in behind Kevin Gausman, Jose Berrios, Chris Bassitt, and Max Scherzer.

I like the value on New York’s +450 odds, but Toronto is my favorite potential landing spot for him. The Blue Jays are in a dogfight with the Yankees atop the AL East, and I’d be surprised if they stood pat and let the Yanks make all of the splashy moves ahead of the deadline.

Seth Lugo Next Team Odds

• Blue Jays: +300
• Cubs: +375
• Cardinals: +400
• Field: +325

The Royals are yet another team failing to live up to expectations, so 35-year-old Seth Lugo could find a new home before long. Lugo quietly finished second in AL Cy Young voting last season, and he’s been remarkably consistent since he became a full-time starter a few seasons ago with the Padres.

This year, Lugo’s 7-5 with a tidy 2.95 ERA in 19 outings for Kansas City. Durability has never been an issue for him, and his versatility will make him a nice get for one lucky team. The same teams interested in Kelly – Houston, New York, and Toronto – make sense for Lugo, as well, but keep an eye on the Cubs.

Chicago boasts one of the most potent offenses in baseball, but they could use some reinforcements on the starting staff. Justin Steele’s season-ending injury was a devastating blow, while Shota Imanaga has struggled a bit after a successful rookie campaign in 2024. Matt Boyd has been a nice reclamation project, but the Cubs’ rotation is lacking a frontline starter capable of carrying them through the postseason.

I’m not suggesting Lugo is that kind of a pitcher, but he’s a reliable right-hander that’ll give them some useful depth in the rotation. Don’t be surprised if Lugo winds up in the Windy City.

Marcell Ozuna Next Team Odds

• Tigers: +400
• Yankees: +450
• Marlins: +500
• Padres +500
• Field: +300

The Braves were a trendy pick to win it all before the season began, but they haven’t been able to recover from a disastrous start. Injuries have piled up, and they now have little hope of catching up to the Mets and Phillies in the division. Atlanta’s best course of action is likely to sell off a few veterans and give it a try again in 2026.

Marcell Ozuna looks like the most likely player to move. He’s slumping at the plate this season, but Ozuna is just a year removed from smacking 39 home runs and driving in 104. Perhaps his age (34) will give some teams pause when it comes to parting ways with good young assets in a deal, but a team in need of some thunder from the DH spot should come calling.

The Tigers (+400) are understandable favorites, especially given the way their bats have struggled in recent weeks. However, I think the most likely landing spot for Ozuna is San Diego. The Padres are still in the thick of not only the Wild Card race, but they’re closing in on the Dodgers atop the division despite a host of underwhelming hitters populating the lineup behind Manny Machado, Fernando Tatis Jr., and Jackson Merrill.

Only the Rockies have gotten less production from the DH spot this season, which is saying something. GM AJ Preller is among the most aggressive executives in the sport, so I don’t expect him to let this opportunity pass him by.

Griffin Jax Next Team Odds

• Phillies: +300
• Rangers: +375
• Rays: +450
• Dodgers +450
• Field: +325

The Twins have loads of talent, particularly in the bullpen. Don’t be surprised if Minnesota fields offers for a handful of different relievers, including closers Jhoan Duran and Griffin Jax.

Jax’ ERA is pushing 4.00 this season, but the surface numbers don’t tell the full story. The 30-year-old has a strikeout rate well north of 30 percent since moving into the Twins’ bullpen, and his 1.95 SIERA suggests that ERA is wildly unlucky. Jax also has one of the highest swinging strike rates in baseball, which is indicative of his electric stuff.

Teams are always in the market for relief help, but the Dodgers may be more desperate than most. Tanner Scott just went on the injured list with a forearm issue, while Michael Kopech is on the shelf with a knee issue. Blake Treinen and Brusdar Graterol are also sidelined, while veteran Kirby Yates has been a massive disappointment. We saw last season yet again how important bullpens are to championship runs, and I’d expect Andrew Friedman to hunt some big-name relievers ahead of next week’s deadline.

Duran is probably the biggest fish, but Jax wouldn’t be a bad consolation prize. Once again, I love the value on Los Angeles here at +450 to land Jax.

Summary

This could be one of the most active deadlines in recent memory, particularly with teams like the Diamondbacks, Royals, and Orioles in sell mode. Those sellers have some leverage with the trade market rich with contenders, as well.

Our MLB trade deadline predictions highlight some power bats, veteran arms, and bullpen pieces who could shift the balance of power across both leagues. From Suarez potentially heading to the Bronx to Lugo anchoring the Cubs’ rotation, every move matters.

Keep a close eye on these key players leading up to the deadline, and be sure to check out our list of the best MLB betting sites where you can start wagering on the MLB trades.