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Playoff Push Narrows MLB Trade Market, Wild-Card Sellers Emerge

6/26/2026

28 2 Full Breakdown

Summary

Playoffs Narrow Trade

The 12-team MLB playoffs, which begin on Aug. 3, have narrowed the trade market.
A 2022 wild-card addition leaves three teams per league on the fringe, with eight third-wild-card teams averaging 86.4 wins.
Toronto (39-41, .488) projects a 79-83 record, while Cleveland (42-39, .519) is on pace for 84 wins.
Potential NL sellers include the Reds, Mets, Giants and Rockies, with five teams within three games of the final wild-card.

Summary

Cashman Targets Trade

Yankees GM Brian Cashman is targeting a trade for shortstop CJ Abrams before the Aug. 3 deadline.
Abrams leads with 17 homers, 57 RBIs and a .896 OPS, posting a 1.150 OPS in his last seven days.
Matt Chapman, with a six-year, $151 million deal through 2030, recorded six homers, 23 RBIs and .981 OPS as the Yankees, 48-31, opened a series at Fenway on June 25, 2026 to extend their AL East lead.

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Playoffs Narrow Trade

The 12-team MLB playoffs, which begin on Aug. 3, have narrowed the trade market.
A 2022 wild-card addition leaves three teams per league on the fringe, with eight third-wild-card teams averaging 86.4 wins.
Toronto (39-41, .488) projects a 79-83 record, while Cleveland (42-39, .519) is on pace for 84 wins.
Potential NL sellers include the Reds, Mets, Giants and Rockies, with five teams within three games of the final wild-card.

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