The Major League Baseball trade deadline usually falls on July 31 each year, but for 2022, it’s been pushed back to Tuesday, August 2 at 6 pm ET. As part of the new collective bargaining agreement, MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred was given the flexibility to set the deadline on a date between July 28 and August 3. This year’s deadline was set on a weekday in the hopes of gaining more activity and coverage than it would have had on a weekend.
With the midpoint of the regular season now in our rearview mirror, World Series odds are seemingly at the forefront of every club decision. The trade deadline is approaching fast, and this is the last opportunity for teams to acquire the missing links they need to compete in the baseball playoffs.
MLB Trade Deadline 2022
The trade deadline is the last point during the season when players can be traded. In accordance with league rules, all MLB trades must be submitted to the league office by 6 p.m. ET on August 2.
Once the deadline has passed, trades are no longer permitted, but players can still be placed and claimed on outright waivers.
The last few weeks before the trade deadline are one of the busiest periods for player movement each season. By the time teams have returned from the All-Star Break, they have already played over half of the regular season. Team executives have identified their team’s strengths and weaknesses, and the trade deadline is their last chance to act on that information.
🎥 #Yankees and #Mets players sound off on the possibility of acquiring superstar Juan Soto pic.twitter.com/47It0xOP1m
— New York Post Sports (@nypostsports) July 18, 2022
Buyers vs. Sellers
Teams generally fall under two categories — buyers and sellers.
To put it simply, buyers are teams that are likely to make the postseason this year and are therefore focused on acquiring certain positions to fine tune their roster for October.
Sellers are teams that have a slim chance of making the playoffs this year, so they have turned their focus to future seasons by selling high-value players for promising prospects.
If a high-caliber player is on a non-contention team, buyers will want to acquire him to fill a spot in their roster for the current season. The selling team will likely want to move this player because they are not in a position to utilize him this season, and the team will be better off in the long run with multiple young prospects that can flourish in a future season when they are in contention.
2022 Baseball Deadline Trade Rumors
Arguably the hottest player available on the market is outfielder Juan Soto. Soto recently turned down a 15-year, $440 million contract extension from the Washington Nationals, and teams are now scrambling to put together trade packages for the All-Star before August 2.
We post every Juan Soto HR no matter what. pic.twitter.com/Mepkx0U3PK
— Washington Nationals (@Nationals) July 13, 2022
Catcher Willson Contreras (Chicago Cubs), pitcher Luis Castillo (Cincinnati Reds), and outfielder Andrew Benintendi (Kansas City Royals) are also high-profile trade chips likely to be moved over the next week, though the list goes on.
Most teams across both the American League and National League are looking to make big moves, whether it’s buying or selling, before the deadline.
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