It’s deadline day in Major League Baseball, with mere hours until the league’s 6 p.m. ET trade deadline, and teams are jockeying to make moves for the stretch run.

The Seattle Mariners made the biggest move overnight, landing slugger Eugenio Suárez in a deal with Diamondbacks, just a week after acquiring Josh Naylor from Arizona. All-Star starting pitchers Sandy Alcantara and Zac Gallen could also have new homes come dinnertime.

Which contenders will improve the most on Thursday? The baseball world is certainly set for an intriguing deadline day.

Follow along for the latest news, rumors and updates leading up to the deadline:

MLB trade deadline candidates

The hug watch is on. Here are some of the top players who could still be on the move ahead of this evening’s deadline:

• Starting pitchers: Sandy Alcantara (Marlins), Charlie Morton (Orioles), Edward Cabrera (Marlins), Merrill Kelly (D’backs), Zac Gallen (D’backs), Mitch Keller (Pirates), Joe Ryan (Twins), Dylan Cease (Padres)
• Relief pitchers: Griffin Jax (Twins), Raisel Iglesias (Braves), David Bednar (Pirates), Camilo Doval (Giants)
• Hitters: OF Luis Robert (White Sox), OF Cedric Mullins (Orioles), OF Ramon Laureano (Orioles), 3B Nolan Arenado (Cardinals), OF Steven Kwan (Guardians), DH Marcell Ozuna (Braves), 1B/OF Ryan O’Hearn (Orioles)

Brock Stewart returns to Dodgers

The Los Angeles Dodgers already boasted arguably the best bullpen in the National League, but with so many injuries to their late-inning arms, they’ve decided to take advantage of this Minnesota fire sale, adding Brock Stewart to their pen.

Stewart’s first stint at Chavez Ravine did not go particularly well. He posted a 5.46 ERA across three-and-a-half seasons with the team but has turned his career around with Minnesota. In 2025, he’s recorded a 2.38 ERA and 10.9 K/9 rate with the Twins. He’ll be a massive help to a Dodgers’ team looking to stay in front of the NL West amid injuries to key relievers like Tanner Scott and Michael Kopech.

Harrison Bader continues Minnesota-Philadelphia pipeline

For the second time in two days the Twins and Phillies have made a trade. Following in the footsteps of closer Jhoan Duran, the Phils are adding outfielder Harrison Bader, ESPN’s Jeff Passan is reporting.

Bader provides more offense than lefty-hitting Max Kepler — the former Twin the Phils added as a free agent over the offseason. Bader, 31, hit .258/.339/.439 with 12 home runs and 10 stolen bases in 307 plate appearances in Minnesota. But perhaps more important, he is an excellent defensive outfielder, ranking in the 92nd percentile in Statcast’s Outs Above Average metric.

The Twins are receiving a pair of minor prospects, outfielder Hendry Mendez and right-hander Geremy Villoria, according to The Athletic’s Matt Gelb.

Tigers adding closer Kyle Finnegan to bullpen

Left out of the mix as closers Mason Miller, Jhoan Duran and Ryan Helsley were traded, the Detroit Tigers have apparently made a decidedly less-splashy move. Multiple media outlets are reporting the Tigers are set to qcquire 2024 NL All-Star Kyle Finnegan from the Washington Nationals.

Finnegan is a Detroit native.

The Nationals will receive minor league right-handers Josh Randall (the Tigers’ No. 15 prospect) and RJ Sales, according to D.C.-area broadcaster Grant Paulsen.

Phillies in the market for more offense

MLB Network’s Jon Morosi seems to think the Philadelphia Phillies aren’t finished making trades. After picking up closer Jhoan Duran from the Minnesota Twins on Wednesday, the Phils are now turning their attention toward acquiring a hitter.

Morosi lists four right-handed-hitting outfielders at the top of GM Dave Dombrowski’s list: Luis Robert of the White Sox, Ramon Laureano of the Orioles, Tommy Pham of the Pirates and Harrison Bader of the Twins.

Padres-Athletics trade grades: Win-win

As we look for clarity on the impact of the huge deal between the Padres and Athletics, USA TODAY Sports’ Gabe Lacques has handed out his grades for both teams.

• Padres (RP Mason Miller, SP JP Sears): B

“It’s quite a coup getting both the game’s most dominant closer and a guy with four years of club control remaining after this season. Miller, 26, is generally untouchable in the ninth inning and in two seasons as A’s closer has nailed down 48 of 54 save opportunities, an 89% conversion rate on par with Hall of Famers Trevor Hoffman and Mariano Rivera.”

• Athletics (SS prospect Leo De Vries, 3 pitching prospects): A

“De Vries is the most significant international signing the Padres have had this decade, no small honor, and he’s consistently been challenged – and succeeded – at levels where the average player is four to five years older. Put simply: Not many 17-year-olds flash power and speed in stateside A ball and go on to the Arizona Fall League, as De Vries did in 2024.”

Padres land closer Mason Miller, give up top prospect

In what will likely be the biggest unexpected blockbuster of the 2025 trade deadline, the Padres and Athletics have made a huge impact player-for-top prospect swap.

San Diego gets All-Star closer Mason Miller, as well as left-handed starter J.P. Sears from the A’s in exchange for MLB Pipeline’s No. 3 overall prospect, shortstop Leo De Vries, USA TODAY Sports has confirmed.

ESPN reports the Padres will also give up three additional pitching prospects in the deal.

The hard-throwing Miller, whose fastball can top 100 mph, recorded 28 saves for the A’s and made the AL All-Star team last year. He has a 3.76 ERA and 20 saves in 38 1/3 innings this season.

The left-handed Sears, 29, has a 4.95 ERA in 22 starts for the A’s.

De Vries is just 18 years old, but is already holding his own as the youngest player in High-A with a .245/..357/.410 slash line, eight home runs and eight stolen bases in 368 plate appearances.

Tigers betting on Sewald’s return to form

Although he’s been sidelined for three weeks and not expected to return until September, the Detroit Tigers believe reliever Paul Sewald can help them down the stretch and into the postseason.

The Tigers picked up the former Mariners and Diamondbacks closer in a minor deal with the Cleveland Guardians. Sewald (4.07 ERA, 2 saves in 15 1/3 innings with Cleveland) has been out since July 11 with a shoulder strain.

Andrew Kittredge trade to Cubs official

The Chicago Cubs and Baltimore Orioles have finalized their trade sending reliever Andrew Kittredge to the Windy City.

The Orioles receive 17-year-old shortstop Wilfri De La Cruz in return. The native of San Pedro de Macoris, D.R., has been playing for the Cubs’ team in the Dominican Summer League, posting a .442 on-base percentage in 113 plate appearances with no home runs and five stolen bases.

Blue Jays add Shane Bieber to rotation

The Toronto Blue Jays have finalized a trade with the Cleveland Guardians to acquire 2020 AL Cy Young award winner Shane Bieber, the team announced Thursday.

The 30-year-old right-hander underwent Tommy John surgery in 2024 and has recently begun ramping back up in the minor leagues. He’s made just four starts totaling 11 1/3 innings, but the Jays apparently feel the two-time All-Star can help their rotation down the stretch.

The first-place Jays have three solid starters in Kevin Gausman, Jose Berrios and Chris Bassitt, but have seen uneven results from Max Scherzer and Eric Lauer, among others, in the final two rotation spots.

The Guardians will receive Class AA pitching prospect Khal Stephen in return.

Who are the Diamondbacks getting in Eugenio Suarez trade?

The big trade news overnight was slugging third baseman Eugenio Suarez going to the Seattle Mariners — pairing up the 36-homer hitter with the major league leader in that category, M’s catcher Cal Raleigh (41).

Understandably, there was less attention on the players Arizona will receive in return.

From Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic:

• 1B Tyler Locklear, 24, struggled during his first taste of the majors last season but has been one of the hotter hitters in the minors in recent weeks. For Triple-A Tacoma, he owns a solid .316/.401/.542 line with 19 homers on the season and has hit .390 with 13 homers and a 1.249 OPS over his past 30 games.
• RHP Juan Burgos, 25, is a reliever who logged 31 innings in the upper minors with a 0.87 ERA and 31 strikeouts compared to just nine walks. He made his major league debut earlier this month.
• RHP Hunter Cranton, 24, was a third-round pick last year out of Kansas. He has logged a 1.13 ERA in eight innings at High-A, walking three and striking out 11.

Red Sox land veteran lefty Steven Matz

The St. Louis Cardinals are sending pitcher Steven Matz to the Boston Red Sox for prospect Blaze Jordan, the team announced Thursday.

Matz, 34, is a former starter who’s mainly been used in the bullpen during his time in St. Louis. He has a 3.44 ERA in 32 appearances this season.

Jhoan Duran trade grades: Who won Phillies-Twins deal?

Just ahead of MLB’s trade deadline day, Philadelphia Phillies president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski made a big splash by landing one of the top closers on the market – Jhoan Duran from the Minnesota Twins for pitcher Mick Abel and catcher Eduardo Tait.

• Phillies grade: A
• Twins grade: B+

Read a full analysis of the trade here.

– John Leuzzi, USA TODAY

Ryan Helsley, Tyler Rogers trades reshape Mets bullpen

The Mets front office is building a monster of a bullpen ahead of the trade deadline. A few hours after the team acquired Tyler Rogers from the Giants on Wednesday afternoon, the Mets agreed to a deal to land Cardinals right-handed closer Ryan Helsley.

It is an arms race in the National League East, with the Phillies adding Twins closer Jhoan Duran.

This season, Helsley has converted 21 out of his 26 save opportunities while pitching to a 3.00 ERA, 1.39 WHIP and 41 strikeouts in 36 innings. The 31-year-old, who is on an expiring $8.2 million deal, is a two-time All-Star. He has spent each of his seven seasons with the Cardinals, where he was drafted in the fifth round in the 2015 MLB Draft. – Andrew Tredinnick, NorthJersey.com

Ke’Bryan Hayes trade: Did Reds get ‘best defender in baseball’?

Ke’Bryan Hayes, 28, comes to Cincinnati in exchange for veteran reliever Taylor Rogers, who the Reds acquired this past offseason, and prospect Sammy Stafura, 20, who was drafted in the second round with the 43rd overall pick in 2023 and who was in big league camp this past spring training.

Hayes, a Gold Glover in 2023, checks several boxes for Cincinnati at the trade deadline as he’s under team control through 2029, and affords the club flexibility with its existing players and prospects. Most significantly, Hayes will be a clear upgrade defensively.

“He might be the best defender in baseball,” Reds manager Terry Francona said. “If not, he’s right there. He’s that good. We’re trying to find ways to get better and sometimes it might not be the sexiest move but we care so much about trying to play clean baseball and this will be a huge step in that direction.” – Pat Brennan and Gordon Wittenmyer, Cincinnati Enquirer

When is the 2025 MLB trade deadline?

The MLB trade deadline is set for 6 p.m. on Thursday, July 31.

What time is the MLB trade deadline?

The 2025 MLB trade deadline falls at 6 p.m. ET.