With the Major League Baseball trade and draft signing deadlines fast approaching, front offices across the league are making critical decisions that will shape the rest of the 2025 season. Teams have until 5 p.m. ET on Monday, July 28, to sign their 2025 draft picks. This deadline applies to players selected out of four-year colleges and high schools. For players drafted from junior colleges, MLB’s “draft-and-follow” option allows teams to sign them up until the beginning of next year’s draft.
While the draft deadline doesn’t directly impact players on current MLB rosters, the trade deadline, which lands at 6 p.m. ET on Thursday, July 31, plays a major role in shaping postseason contenders.
Let me break it down for folks who aren’t familiar with the business. The MLB draft deadline only matters for the newly drafted guys, not the big leaguers already on rosters. Once picked, college and high‑school players must sign by July 28 or they lose that slot.
But that same deadline is the trade deadline too; teams hammering out trades, making big moves across rosters before that cutoff. That’s when players get moved.The days leading up to the deadline are already heating up, with the Arizona Diamondbacks and Seattle Mariners making one of the first major moves. Arizona traded first baseman Josh Naylor to Seattle in exchange for minor league pitchers Ashton Izzi and Brandyn Garcia.
Naylor is batting .292 with 11 home runs and 59 RBIs this season and brings immediate offensive firepower to the Mariners roster. The latest Mariner was obviously sorely needed, getting added to the lineup less than 24 hours after being traded. Garcia and Izzi, ranked 13th and 16th respectively in the Mariners farm system, head to Arizona to bolster their minor league pitching depth.
In another move signaling Arizona’s willingness to sell, the Diamondbacks dealt veteran outfielder Randal Grichuk to the Kansas City Royals in exchange for right-handed pitching prospect Andrew Hoffman. Grichuk, who is hitting .243 with seven home runs this season, adds depth to the Royals outfield.
The New York Mets are also active ahead of the deadline. On Friday, they acquired hard-throwing lefty Gregory Soto from the Baltimore Orioles in exchange for two pitching prospects. The Mets have also been linked to several trade discussions involving starting pitching and center field help. One notable rumor involves the Mets targeting Marlins ace Sandy Alcantara, despite his 6.66 ERA and diminished K-rate this season. Alcantara, under contract through 2026 with a $21 million club option for 2027, could be a high-risk, high-reward acquisition in Queens.
In addition to Alcantara, the Mets are exploring a potential blockbuster deal with the Pittsburgh Pirates that would send Mark Vientos, Blade Tidwell, Drew Gilbert, and Jonathan Santucci to Pittsburgh in exchange for Oneil Cruz and Mitch Keller. However, the Mets may now reconsider shutting down the Vientos trade altogether after his clutch, go-ahead run double against the Giants in their latest win against San Francisco. Multiple teams have also expressed interest in Mets DH Starling Marte while the Amazins expressed interest in acquiring Brent Rooker from the Oakland A’s as part of a broader effort to reload amid a possible playoff push.
Meanwhile, the New York Yankees made a notable move of their own, acquiring utility player Amed Rosario from the Washington Nationals in exchange for RHP Clayton Beeter and OF Brown Martinez. Rosario, a former Met, adds versatility and depth to the Yankees’ lineup. The club has reportedly shut down any trade possibilities involving Eugenio Suárez but remains active in scouting additional infield options such as Brendan Donovan, Willi Castro, and Yoan Moncada.
Out west, the San Diego Padres are exploring deals for White Sox center fielder Luis Robert Jr. and Athletics outfielder Ramón Laureano.
As front offices weigh short-term upgrades against long-term development, the pressure is mounting. With both the draft signing and trade deadlines looming, the next few days will be crucial in determining who’s buying, who’s selling, and who’s planning for October and beyond.
And let’s not forget the unconfirmed rumor that could shift two franchises dramatically: a proposed Mets-Pirates trade that would send Oneil Cruz and Mitch Keller to Queens in exchange for Mark Vientos, Blade Tidwell, Drew Gilbert, and Jonathan Santucci. Meanwhile, the Phillies are reportedly interested in Cruz too, who’s slashing .219/.319/.419 with 16 homers and 40 RBIs just one week out of the All Star break.
So while the trade talks swirl, the 2025 MLB Draft class is already making noise. The Top 10 picks are packed with elite talent and raw potential that could shift the culture of the game:
1. Charlee Soto (Twins) – A 6’5” flamethrower from Reborn Christian Academy, already topping out at 98 mph. Minnesota is banking on his ceiling being sky-high.
2. Travis Bazzana (Athletics) – The Aussie import from Oregon State hit over .370 with speed, swag, and patience. Oakland/Vegas finally has something to build on.
3. Jac Caglianone (Rockies) – Florida’s 2-way powerhouse with 33 HR and a fastball that hits 97. Colorado wants the next Ohtani — he might just be it.
4. Nick Kurtz (Angels) – A disciplined, former A’s slugger with big-league power. Think Freddie Freeman but with SoCal flair.
5. Chase Burns (White Sox) – Tennessee ace with a high-90s heater and a wipeout slider. MLB-ready in less than two summers.
6. Braden Montgomery (Royals) – Texas A&M’s do-it-all outfielder. He’s got a cannon for an arm and serious 30/30 upside.
7. JJ Wetherholt (Cardinals) – Contact hitter with elite wheels. This West Virginia standout could be St. Louis’ next infield anchor.
8. Hagen Smith (Angels – comp pick) – Another power arm for L.A., this one a lefty from Arkansas with a filthy breaking ball.
9. Bryce Rainer (Red Sox) – One of SoCal’s best prep shortstops, and Boston’s next Fenway favorite.
10. Cam Caminiti (Nationals) – Nephew of Ken Caminiti, this 6’4” southpaw throws with polish and poise — a future ace in D.C.
With the July 28 signing deadline looming and the July 31 trade deadline ready to flip the league on its head, MLB is turning up the temperature. Whether it’s a last-minute blockbuster or a rookie ready to shine, the next few weeks will separate the contenders from the pretenders and reshape the diamond for seasons to come.