MLB Trade Deadline: Top Sellers and Fantasy Baseball Players to Watch

As the MLB regular season gets rolling again, the trade deadline is just a couple weeks ago (August 3). In this article, let's look at likely sellers and some possible trade candidates to keep an eye on in your fantasy baseball leagues.

We will only discuss for-sure sellers here, so I'm going to make my cutoff teams that are less than five games back in the Wild Card race.

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Los Angeles Angels

The Angels are 10 games back in the Wild Card race and are tied for the worst record in baseball right now. They are going to sell, probably even if they play really well coming out of the break.

The biggest trade chip is probably Reid Detmers, the young lefty starting pitcher who is enjoying a nice 2026 season. He is under control until 2028, so the Angels could get a big return for him. Detmers has been a nice fantasy asset so far, and could see his value upped if he lands on a better team.

Zach Neto is another big trade chip, although he has three more years of control left, so he might not be moving. If he does, expect some big-time prospects to go back to LA. Neto has been a solid fantasy asset this season, and could become a must-own asset if he lands with a contender.

Jose Soriano is another pitcher who could be dealt. He started the year hot but has regressed some. He could get a fantasy boost if he lands with a better team before the deadline.

Jorge Soler and Jo Adell are a couple other hitters to keep tabs on. Adell has been the better fantasy asset, but Soler has a better history, so maybe a contender lacking outfielders could go after him.

Kansas City Royals

The Royals are tied with the Angels for the worst record in the game. It's been a very disappointing season, and for a team hoping to compete soon, I'd expect KC to try to infuse their roster with more MLB-ready talent, not prospects with ETAs several years from now.

Michael Wacha is a veteran starting pitcher to keep tabs on. He has been up and down as a fantasy asset this season, but could be reinvigorated by a trade to a contender, so he's one to keep closer tabs on.

The only other notable trade assets are probably Lane Thomas and Starling Marte. They are daily starting options on bad teams, but probably just platoon guys on contenders, so while they are worth tracking, I'm not super enthused about them as trade candidates.

There's some relievers who could also be dealt, but none are likely good enough to become closers for other teams, so again, there's not a lot of fantasy appeal there.

Colorado Rockies

The Rockies are the worst team in the NL, and are a win ahead of the Angels and Royals right now. Colorado has improved from past years, but still is a seller this year.

There's no easy-to-point-to trade candidates, but there's some intriguing names, like Hunter Goodman and Ezequiel Tovar. Goodman is under control for three more years, while Tovar is under contract through 2030, and has a club option in 2031.

Tovar seems more likely to be moved, but the return likely won't be great as he's struggled most of this season. A team needing a shortstop could make the move though, so keep tabs on him.

Goodman is going to get some interest as a high-level catcher over the past couple years. Teams, like the Yankees, could use Goodman, so I bet he gets dealt before the deadline. Goodman's fantasy outlook is already good, but he could be a top-end fantasy catcher if he lands in a good/great offense.

Jake McCarthy and Mickey Moniak are a couple controllable outfielders that the Rockies could move on from as well. Those two would likely be platoon options for contending teams, so the best thing for their fantasy outlooks would likely be to stick in Colorado.

New York Mets

The Mets have been bad most of the season, and are 11.5 games back right now, so only a hot start after the break could take them off the seller line.

New York has told other teams that the only players not available for trades would be Juan Soto, Nolan McLean, Carson Benge, A.J. Ewing and Christian Scott. That leaves a ton of notable players, like Francisco Lindor, Bo Bichette, Clay Holmes and Freddy Peralta.

The four are already good/great fantasy assets, but moves to contenders could up their fantasy values for the remainder of the year. It could take them from owned in most fantasy leagues to must-own status, so be ready to add them if they get moved.

Athletics

The Athletics could be a new seller after losing the last nine games before the break. How the team performs directly out of the break will determine if the team ends up as a seller, or decides to add and push for a Wild Card spot.

The big name that could be dealt away if the Athletics sell is catcher Shea Langeliers. He's a high-end fantasy catcher already, and a move to a true contender could make him an elite fantasy catcher for the rest of the season.

Jonah Heim and Mark Leiter Jr. are a couple other lower-level names who could be sent packing if the Athletics end up selling. Heim could have some fantasy value if he lands in the right spot, but I see him more as a platoon option, not an everyday starter. Leiter is likely to top out as a setup man, so that limits the reliever's fantasy outlook. 

San Francisco Giants

San Francisco is tied with the Athletics, but that puts them 10.5 games back in the NL Wild Card race. They are likely to sell, and they have several notable names to watch.

Jung Hoo Lee is a contact-hitting outfielder who could have appeal, and he is signed three more years after this season, but at a high price. Getting to a true contender could turn Lee from a solid fantasy asset to a must-own one, so keep tabs on him.

Luis Arraez is another contact hitter looking for a new home. The second baseman would be a welcomed addition to many contending teams, so I'd be shocked if he isn't moved. He could get a fantasy boost if he indeed moves, so be ready to add him or acquire him.

Matt Chapman is another locked-in veteran who could be traded away. He's signed four more years after this year, so we'll see if anyone wants to take him on. Chapman has struggled this year, but could get a huge boost if he gets dealt away, so be watching for that.

Robbie Ray is a veteran pitcher who has an expiring contract, so I'd expect him to be moved. He's been up and down as a pitcher this season, but contending teams can always use more arms, and he could be a better fantasy asset if he's moved, so we'll keep tabs on that.

San Fran could really gut the roster at the trade deadline, but those are the biggest four names to be watching.

Cincinnati Reds

Cincy is the closest to a Wild Card spot, but are eight back, so only a hot stretch to end this month would take them off the seller list.

They don't have a ton of high-end trade options, but guys like Nathaniel Lowe, Eugenio Suarez and Brady Singer could appeal to some contenders.

Suarez is the name to keep close tabs on, as he's been a high-end fantasy asset in the past. A trade could change his fortunes this season.

A lot can change between now and the trade deadline, but the FantasySP team will cover the biggest trades in fantasy baseball breakdown articles, so check back for those!