MLB Trade Deadline Insights
MLB Trade Deadline Nears: Olney and Passan Offer Predictions on Key Deals, Dodgers' Skubal Impact
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The Los Angeles Dodgers made the biggest splash of the 2026 MLB trade deadline by acquiring ace starter Tarik Skubal, according to TSN. With less than 36 hours remaining before the 6 p.m. ET deadline on Aug. 3, the summer's top blockbuster deal is already done — but more moves are expected.
ESPN insiders Buster Olney and Jeff Passan are tracking the final push. ABC7 reports that Passan flagged the American League as the place to watch for the most meaningful last-minute deals, while Olney sees Skubal as a potential October game-changer for Los Angeles.
Dodgers Land Skubal in Deadline's Biggest Trade
The Dodgers needed rotation depth, and they got it in a major way. Tarik Skubal is one of the best pitchers in baseball. Adding him gives Los Angeles a dominant arm at the top of their staff. 6ABC notes this was the summer's top blockbuster move, with no other deal coming close in terms of star power.
Olney believes the Skubal trade could have a huge impact come October, according to ABC13. The Dodgers already had a strong roster. Now they have an elite ace to anchor their postseason rotation. That makes them even harder to beat in a short series.
American League Deals Could Reshape the Pennant Race
Passan pointed to the American League as the most active market in these final hours. ABC30 reports that division leaders in the National League are not expected to be the main players. The AL race is tighter, which means more teams are willing to buy.
Teams chasing AL playoff spots have strong reasons to deal before the 6 p.m. deadline hits. A single trade for a starter or a bullpen arm can shift a division race. Passan's intel suggests at least a few significant AL deals are still in the works.
Olney and Passan Flag Moves That Could Shape October
Beyond the Skubal trade, both insiders see the next 36 hours as critical. ABC7 News reports that Olney and Passan believe the deals made now will define which teams are built to win in October. Depth additions — especially in the bullpen — could matter just as much as headline trades.
Olney specifically called out back-to-back game stretches as a pressure point. Teams without rotation depth will feel that pain in the playoffs. That is exactly why the Dodgers moved so aggressively to land Skubal before the clock ran out.
The Deadline Clock Is Running Out Fast
The Aug. 3 deadline at 6 p.m. ET is firm. After that, no trades can be made until the offseason. ABC13 notes that teams still negotiating must finalize all deals before that cutoff. Any player not traded by then stays on their current roster for the rest of the year.
Front offices across baseball are working the phones hard. The Skubal deal raised the stakes for everyone. Contenders who feel they fall short of the Dodgers now face pressure to respond. Expect a flurry of smaller moves in the hours that remain.
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