2026 MLB trade deadline reactions: Breaking down Skubal to the Dodgers and other top trades

The 2026 MLB trade deadline has come and gone, and boy has the playoff picture been shaken up. Big names were on the move as contenders used the deadline to add big-time talent to their rosters for the final time this season. 

The result was one of the most eventful deadlines in recent memory, with moves that could shape the postseason race and the future of several teams.

Breaking down the biggest moves of the 2026 MLB trade deadline

With SeatGeek serving as the Official Ticket Marketplace of MLB, we followed the MLB trade deadline very closely and have put together our thoughts on the top trades that were made. 

Dodgers add ace Tarik Skubal to loaded roster

We’ll start with the biggest deal of the deadline. 

The reigning two-time champion Dodgers landed Detroit ace and two-time Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal for a trio of prospects. The headliner in the deal is consensus top-100 outfield prospect Zyhir Hope, who most recently has been tearing it up at the Double-A level, while the Tigers also netted right-handed pitcher River Ryan, who has reached the MLB level but is recovering from Tommy John surgery, and 2023 third-round pitcher Brady Smith, who has been in High-A in 2026. 

Before diving into the Dodgers’ landing of Skubal, I think the Tigers did better than some pundits and anonymous MLB sources have indicated, though I do understand where many believe Detroit could have gotten more in this deal. Given that sentiment, it’s a bit surprising the Tigers pulled the trigger on this move on Saturday rather than waiting for a better offer from the Dodgers or another team closer to the deadline. Still, the Tigers were smart to deal Skubal given there was almost no chance he was going to stay with the team beyond this year. 

Now for the Dodgers. It’s easy to say the rich got richer, but I think that’s an oversimplification. Yes, the Dodgers spend more than basically every other team. Yes, the Dodgers have the sport’s greatest collection of stars. And yes, the Dodgers were – and certainly are now – the clear favorites to have Skubal on the team for next year and beyond.  

But there are a few things to note that are very important. First, many teams rumored to be in the Skubal sweepstakes could have put together a better offer than L.A. did. It’s still a steep price to pay for a rental, but the Dodgers have shown they’re willing to do so. That’s not their fault. Second, the Dodgers had a clear need for starting pitching. They have a lot of big names, sure, but Blake Snell and Tyler Glasnow are on the IL and Shohei Ohtani hasn’t been pitching of late. It’s not as simple as the Dodgers adding to an already-loaded rotation – they did need some help there, especially with an October run on the horizon. 

And last but certainly not least, the Dodgers have one of baseball’s best farm systems. It’s not like they just land every player by paying big bucks. They’re regularly putting together an elite prospect pool that allows them to trade for players like Skubal, Glasnow, Betts and others. But it’s also understandable why that all frustrates fans of other teams. I mean, the best team in the game has more stars, spends more money and has a better farm system than basically every other franchise in baseball.

The Dodgers were already the clear favorites to win the World Series this year, and adding Skubal only helps in that regard. They were also the clear favorites to ink Skubal to a long-term deal in free agency. Adding Skubal for the next three months only helps their chances of keeping him in Dodger blue for years to come. 

Red Sox poach Adley Rutschman from Baltimore

In one of the more notable and surprising moves of the deadline season, the Red Sox made a massive splash in trading for Baltimore catcher and three-time All-Star Adley Rutschman. Boston needed an upgrade at catcher in a bad way, but Rutschman being the answer is a bit surprising given the Orioles entered Monday just 2.5 games out of a playoff spot and that they would trade a player of Rutschman’s caliber to a division rival. Rutschman, a former No. 1 overall pick, will hit free agency after 2027. 

Rutschman returned to the All-Star Game this year after two dreadful offensive seasons for the Orioles in 2024 and 2025. He was one of the game’s top prospects before debuting and shining in 2022. He also had a massive year in 2023, when the Orioles were one of baseball’s top teams. He’s a switch hitter with power who grades out well defensively, and he’ll be a big boost for a Red Sox team that’s the hottest in baseball. 

Baltimore did well here with pitching prospects Anthony Eyanson and Kyson Witherspoon, outfield prospect Enddy Azocar, catcher Carlos Narvaez, and either a player to be named later or more cash. Eyanson and Witherspoon are the headliners here as they’re both recent high draft picks who are top prospects in the organization, though Azocar is also a noteworthy prospect who is just 19 years old in High-A. 

Even though the O’s got a good haul, the trade feels weird. Trading him to a division rival aside, that the O’s and Rutschman could never get an extension in place was odd. They also have failed to lock up Gunnar Henderson. Yet the team spent big on Pete Alonso this offseason, and that move has only looked more and more strange with Baltimore not extending their two homegrown stars. Additionally, Alonso signing there in the first place was a bit odd, and it only looks more odd now. It is worth noting the Orioles at least have a long-term catching option in place with Samuel Basallo, a rookie who has played well this year and who signed an extension last year. 

Freddy Peralta gets fresh start for first-place Rays

The Mets acquired former Brewers All-Star right-hander Freddy Peralta to lead the rotation for a team that had World Series aspirations. The season has been a disaster in Queens, though, and Peralta is in the midst of the worst year of his career with a 4.99 ERA as he’s set to hit free agency this winter. Peralta will get a fresh start of sorts for the next two-plus months as he’s being shipped south to Tampa Bay.

The Rays have a very notable trio atop the rotation in 2026 All-Stars Drew Rasmussen and Nick Martinez as well as former All-Star Shane McClanahan, who returned after missing the last two seasons. But Tampa was reportedly in need of another proven arm, and while the Rays didn’t go all-in for Skubal like many had speculated, they landed an intriguing arm in Peralta. He’s struggled this year, for sure, but he now joins a first-place team that always develops pitching at a high level, and he should be plenty motivated to put together a strong finish to the year into the playoffs given his status as a pending free agent. 

The Mets land a trio of prospects in outfielder Aidan Smith, pitcher Gary Gill Hill and infielder Emilien Pitre. Smith probably has the most name value in prospect circles. He was a fourth-round pick of the Mariners in 2023 out of high school who was the centerpiece of the 2024 Randy Arozarena trade, but he’s only in High-A and has really struggled this year. Gill Hill was a 2022 high school draftee in the sixth round and has reached Double-A this year with a mid-4 ERA. Pitre is maybe the most intriguing name in this return, at least this year, as he’s hitting .323 in Double-A with a .900+ OPS and more walks than strikeouts. He doesn’t provide much pop, but the guy has hit at every single stop. 

Cubs land much-needed starting pitching help

The most obvious hole any contender had before the deadline was the Cubs and adding to the rotation. Injuries, inconsistencies and other factors have made that a weak point on an otherwise very solid Chicago roster. While Cubs fans certainly would have loved for the team to take a big swing for Skubal, they made a solid addition in acquiring veteran right-hander Kevin Gausman from Toronto and Clay Holmes from the Mets. 

Gausman, 35, is in the final year of a five-year contract and will hit free agency this winter. He’s been one of the game’s best pitchers in the 2020s, though he’s taken a bit of a step back this year with a 4.38 ERA after having no higher than a 3.83 mark over his four-plus years in Toronto. The veteran still eats innings, is very reliable and can get whiffs and punchouts, and he’s a welcome addition for a Cubs team that needed starting pitching help in the worst way.

Holmes, 33, was off to a great start to 2026 before a line drive broke a bone in his leg, and he hasn’t pitched since May 15. Still, he’s expected back soon and the Cubs need all the pitching help they can get. Holmes, Gausman and Shota Imanaga give Chicago a capable rotation trio for shortened postseason series. 

Few would have expected the Jays to be sellers entering the year after winning the AL pennant in 2025, but it’s been a dreadful year north of the border, and as such, a beloved veteran like Gausman had to be moved. Toronto made out well here in its prospect return – shortstop Ty Southisene and outfielder Brett Bateman. Both are contact-oriented speedsters who won’t slug much but put the ball in play and steal bases. 

As for the Mets, they also disappointed this year as we mentioned earlier, and in the Holmes deal, they get Jefferson Rojas, an infielder who was one of the Cubs’ top prospects. He plays third base and shortstop, reached Double-A this year and is just a rock-solid all-around player who should make his MLB debut in the next year or two.

Blue Jays get long-term arm with Angels’ Jose Soriano

A day after trading Gausman to Chicago, the Blue Jays made a big deal that should help them in the future, adding intriguing right-hander Jose Soriano from the Angels. The cost was heavy as Toronto gave up top prospect Arjun Nimmala and two other prospects, but Soriano is signed through 2028 and, at his best, can be one of the top arms in the game. 

Soriano is a big get for Toronto. His 3.29 ERA on the year is impressive, and for a month-plus to start 2026, he was baseball’s best pitcher. The right-hander has wicked stuff, headlined by a hard sinker that generates a ton of groundballs. With Gausman gone, Soriano can help anchor the rotation alongside Trey Yesavage for at least the next two years. Toronto had some bad luck this year on the injury front, so there’s plenty of reason to expect the Blue Jays to contend the next two years with Soriano under contract. 

The Angels made out very well here. Outfielder/first baseman Eddie Micheletti is 23 and reached Double-A this year, where he has an .800 OPS. He should move quickly. Right-handed pitching prospect Angel Rivero is just 19 years old and has pitched well in rookie ball. The headliner is Nimmala, a consensus top-100 prospect and a former first-round pick. Nimmala is a shortstop who is just 20 years old and reached Double-A this year, where he’s posted an OPS over .800. He gives the Angels a new top hitting prospect and, given his rise through the minors and the team’s tendency to fast-track players, should debut next season. 

This is a good long-term move for both parties with the Blue Jays needing pitching help for the next year and beyond while the Angels really needed to improve a poor farm system. 

Guardians get big thump with Jo Adell and Nathaniel Lowe

The Angels parted ways with a former top prospect in Jo Adell, sending him to Cleveland, which later added veteran first baseman Nathaniel Lowe from Cincinnati. 

Adell has had a disappointing year overall after mashing 37 homers in 2025. His batting average and on-base marks are about the same as last year, but the right-handed hitter has seen his SLG dip by about .100 points as he’s OPSing under .700 with just 16 homers to date. Still, Adell has a ton of offensive upside, and he’s still only 27 years old. He’ll be a free agent after next year. The Guardians can swing big here for a hitter with big tools when he puts it all together, and they acquired him for a pretty low cost altogether. I’m surprised at the return on the Angels’ side, which was only catching prospect Jacob Cozart, a 2024 second-round pick who has reached Double-A this year and receives high marks for his work behind the dish.

Lowe is a very nice rental addition for the Guardians, who have been offensively challenged for most of the year and haven’t gotten much production from first base or DH. The veteran first baseman is OPSing over .800 with 12 homers on the year, so he’ll instantly improve the floor of this Cleveland lineup alongside Adell, who’s more of a ceiling-type player. Going to Cincinnati is short right-handed pitching prospect Alejandro Rivera, who is 20 years old and reached Single-A for the first time this year. 

Guardians get one of baseball’s best reclamation projects in Foster Griffin

Nationals lefty Foster Griffin was an MLB outcast who went overseas and pitched in Japan the last three years. The gamble worked as the lefty, now 31, returned to the States and pitched to a 3.06 ERA with 12 wins for Washington, earning All-Star honors after signing a one-year deal. He now is heading to Cleveland, where the Guardians hope he’ll help a solid rotation that is trying to help the team reclaim first place in the AL Central.

The Guardians have some notable starting pitchers in rookie All-Star Parker Messick and Gavin Williams, and Griffin now is slated as a top-three arm for this AL playoff contender. Cleveland always pitches well, and the Guards will need to lean on that strength these final two months if they’re going to catch the White Sox. 

Washington got more pitching help here, acquiring pitching prospects Will Dion, Josh Hartle and Kendeglys Virguez along with outfielder Nick Mitchell. None of these prospects jump out the page, but acquiring young talent in areas of need for a pending free agent is hardly a bad strategy.

Phillies bolster lineup with Luis Arraez, shake up defense

Three-time batting champ Luis Arraez flipped coasts, moving from the Giants to the Phillies alongside reliever Caleb Kilian for pitching prospects Ramon Marquez and Marty Gair. 

The move makes a ton of sense offensively for the Phillies, as their lineup has been top-heavy basically all year long while Arraez is leading MLB in batting average, has had more slug than in recent years and is also one of the better defensive second basemen the game has to offer. The move gives the Phillies a reliable bat to set the tone for sluggers Bryce Harper and Kyle Schwarber. The downside? The Phillies, already one of baseball’s worst defensive teams, have to drastically shake up their alignment to accommodate Arraez. Arraez will play second, Bryson Stott will move from second to third, Alec Bohm moves from third to first and, most notably, Harper returns to the outfield from first base. Arraez will help the lineup, but an already-suspect Philly defense now faces even more question marks. 

The Giants did well here, adding Marquez, a promising 20-year-old right-hander who has a sub-2 ERA this year while reaching High-A. Gair is 23 and also reached High-A this year.

Padres nab two big arms in Robbie Ray and Casey Mize

It’s been a strange up-and-down year for the Padres, but they’ve played better of late and decided to make two notable additions in the form of Robbie Ray, the 2021 AL Cy Young winner who has spent the last few years in San Francisco, and former No. 1 overall pick Casey Mize, a 2025 All-Star. Despite Ray being a pending free agent, the Padres shipped off two of their top 10 prospects to the Giants in pitcher Miguel Mendez and shortstop Joniel Hernandez, while they moved lefty pitcher Kash Mayfield, one of their top three prospects, and another southpaw in Jackson Wolf.

Ray made the All-Star team in 2025, which was the culmination of his return from Tommy John surgery in 2023 while with the Mariners. He has actually been better in 2026 with a 3.08 ERA. The veteran lefty isn’t the same strikeout savant he once was, but he’s a proven arm who will eat innings and put up quality start after quality start. As for Mize, he dealt with injury this year, but in 16 starts he owns a 2.70 ERA. He’s also a pending free agent and, like Ray, was an All-Star last year. The former top pick in the draft took a bit to catch on, but he’s a potent arm and is still just 29 years old. San Diego has dealt with injuries in the rotation and poor form from the likes of Walker Buehler, so Ray and Mize fill a major need and give the Padres a reliable No. 2 and 3 options behind Michael King. 

The Giants got a nice return from Ray considering he’s a pending free agent. Mendez is 24 and reached Double-A this year, and while the numbers aren’t the best, he has some nasty stuff and could profile as an impact reliever. Hernandez is just 17 years old after signing as one of the top international free agents in the most recent window. He’s hit over .300 in rookie ball and has a massive ceiling overall. The Tigers also did well, particularly with getting Mayfield. The 21-year-old lefty was a first-round pick in 2024 and is sporting a 3.54 ERA in High-A this year.  

Marlins sell notable bat Liam Hicks to in-state Rays

The Rays were tied to big names across the board this deadline season, and there was also buzz they wanted to upgrade at catcher given the team has had little offensive success there. Enter Liam Hicks from the Marlins. 

Hicks, in his second year, moves from Miami to Tampa Bay after OPSing nearly .800. He had a monster start to the year and overall has been one of the Marlins’ better offensive performers. He excels at staying in the zone and making a ton of contact, and at his best, he can be a middle-of-the-order run producer. Tampa Bay will hope to get more from Hicks defensively as he grades out as a below-average defender, and he’s often played first base or DHed. Those spots are both filled by Jonathan Aranda and Yandy Diaz, so the Rays will hope for Hicks to fit in well as an everyday catcher. He’s under club control through 2030. 

In return, Miami received three prospects, headlined by former first-round pick infielder Brayden Taylor. Taylor has lost some of his shine since going 19th overall in 2023, but he’s OPSed nearly .900 in Double-A this season and has positional flexibility that’s always appealing. The Marlins also received shortstop prospect Adrian Santana and right-handed pitcher Jacob Kisting. Santana is a former high draft pick in 2023 who’s only reached High-A, as has Kisting, a former Twins draft pick. Miami can mitigate the loss of Hicks with former first-round pick Joe Mack, who is one of the top catching prospects in all of baseball. 

Nationals and Red Sox fill areas of need in win-win deal

Boston has pitched great all year long but, up until a few weeks ago, really struggled at the plate. Washington, on the other hand, has had the exact opposite issue. That’s why the trade of Boston lefty rookie Connelly Early for Washington infielder Curtis Mead made so much sense.

Early has been a solid and steady arm with a mid-3 ERA in 17 starts for Boston this year, and he provides an immediate boost to a lackluster Nationals rotation both now and for the long haul. 

Mead has had a very interesting year as he started 2026 with the White Sox, who designated him for assignment after he failed to make the Opening Day roster. Washington traded Boston Smith – who we just talked about in the White Sox-Mariners deal – to Chicago for Mead, who hit .252 with 17 homers and an .852 OPS for the Nationals. Unfortunately for Mead and the Red Sox, he got hit by a pitch in his second plate appearance for the team and could potentially miss the rest of the season for his new team. While the injury is a bummer, it’s important to note that he’s under club control through the end of 2030. If his breakout 2026 is legit, the Sox should have an everyday bat for the next four full seasons. 

Yankees boost lineup with Nationals 1B Luis Garcia Jr. 

We typically see more big-name arms get dealt at the deadline rather than with bats, but we did see one of the game’s best sluggers switch clubs with the Nationals trading first baseman Luis Garcia Jr. to the Yankees for four prospects. 

The Yankees, who are still awaiting the return of Aaron Judge, were looking for a big bat to join the lineup, and Garcia certainly qualifies as just that. Before being dealt, the left-handed hitter was leading the National League in slugging percentage and had 23 homers and 76 RBIs. He’s primarily a first baseman and DH – though he has played other infield spots – so expect him to fill that role alongside Ben Rice and Paul Goldschmidt. It’s a very nice addition to a lineup that could use more thump, even when Judge does return. Plus, he’s signed through the end of 2027. 

As for the Nationals, they traded from a strength – their lineup – and added young reliever Yovanny Cruz, veteran reliever Jake Bird, relief prospect Ben Grable and starting pitching prospect Jack Cebert. Think Washington was looking for pitching help this deadline? 

This is a nice move for both sides, with the Yankees adding an immediate impact bat to help in a wide-open American League pennant race while the Nationals really need all the pitching help they can get. Here, they get two relievers who can help in the short- and long-term while they get two “lottery tickets,” so to speak, in terms of pitching prospects for a bat that will hit free agency after 2027.

White Sox get veteran arm Luis Castillo from Mariners

The White Sox entered deadline season needing some help in the rotation. Sean Burke and Davis Martin have been incredible as breakout stars for the Sox this year, but adding a proven and durable arm to help anchor the rotation was a must. Chicago did that by adding Luis Castillo in an interesting trade with the Mariners that sent veteran reliever Seranthony Dominguez, outfielder Nolan Jones and catching prospect Boston Smith to Seattle. 

For the White Sox, the trade makes all the sense in the world. They get a proven arm who will eat innings and provide a veteran presence to a young team that’s in the midst of a surprise playoff push. Castillo is a three-time All-Star who has been one of the game’s better pitchers since 2019, but he has an ERA over 5 this year. He’s signed through at least the end of 2027 and has a vesting option for 2028 should he reach an innings threshold next year. Castillo has largely been excellent for the Mariners, so it wouldn’t be shocking if he returns to form for his new team as they march towards October. Regardless, he should help in the innings department by taking the ball every five days.

As for Seattle’s return, this is a bit of addition by subtraction. The M’s got three players and cash considerations, but arguably the biggest aspect of the return is that the White Sox are taking on the entirety of Castillo’s contract. That should give Seattle more financial flexibility either for extensions or pending free agency. 

Additionally, the Mariners’ rotation has had a strange year. Emerson Hancock started the year in the rotation for an injured Bryce Miller, and the expectation was Hancock would be demoted upon Miller’s return. Hancock has been a breakout star, though, so the M’s have alternated between a six-man rotation and using one turn as a “piggyback” day, where one starter gets the starting nod and another comes in out of the bullpen for multiple innings. That all has led to the Mariners being short in the bullpen, so now, Seattle can go back to a five-man turn and have an eight-man ‘pen, with Dominguez joining the fray. This could also open the door for top pitching prospect Kade Anderson to join the team either late this year or in 2027. 

Jones had a standout season for the Rockies in 2023, but he’s struggled since and has spent all of 2026 in Triple-A between the Cleveland and Chicago organizations. As for Smith, he’s a bat-first catcher who has played some outfield, and he’s had a monster year in Double-A.