Robert Edwards-Imagn Images

MLB Sets Date for 2025 Trade Deadline

Originally posted on New Baseball Media
By Chris Studley | Last updated Mar 12, 2025 2:34 PM ET

The 2025 MLB season hasn’t started yet — but we do know when trades must be finalized before the postseason. On March 12, MLB set the date for the 2025 Trade Deadline. Every year, the league sets one final deadline for teams to acquire players via midseason trade to bolster their roster before the stretch run. Once the deadline passes, teams can no longer trade for help who would become eligible for the MLB Postseason.

When is the 2025 MLB Trade Deadline?

The 2025 MLB Trade Deadline will be on July 31, 2025, at 6 PM ET. It’ll be the first time since 2019 that the deadline falls on July 31.

Traditionally, that date was the always the deadline date. However, MLB amended the rules after 2019, allowing the league’s commissioner to set the date between July 28 and August 3.

This gave the commissioner the ability to limit trades that take place in-game before the deadline. In years where the deadline fell on a travel day, this would have been common. A case point was in 2024 when then-Tigers outfielder Austin Jackson was dealt during a game.

While the 31st falls on a Thursday this year — considered either a getaway or start date for a four-game series — there are only three games on the calendar. The Rays & Yankees will play a 1:05 PM ET game, while the Braves & Reds (7:10 PM) and Rangers & Mariners (9:40 PM) will come later in the day.

Last year’s MLB Trade Deadline fell on July 30, 2024.

Potential 2025 trade targets

It’s too early to tell which players will be moved either on or near the deadline date. These moves generally sort themselves out throughout the year, as teams not in the playoff race tend to sell off assets before the trade deadline.

However, there are a few logical contenders.

One is Sandy Alcantara, the former NL Cy Young winner who missed all of 2024 recovering from Tommy John surgery. The Marlins are deep into a rebuild, and Alcantara, if healthy, could fetch Miami a solid return.

Alcantara has two years left on his current deal after 2025. Per Spotrac, he’s slated to make $17.3MM in 2026, followed by a $21MM club option for 2027.

Luis Robert Jr. is in the last year of his six-year deal signed before he made his MLB debut. Robert Jr., though, has two club options, each at $20MM. Nolan Arenado, another popular target, could also be in the mix.

If things go truly awry for the Cardinals in 2025, St. Louis could potentially deal Ryan Helsley, who can head to market after the 2025 season.

Should the Blue Jays and Padres struggle in 2025, several stars, like pending free agents Bo Bichette, Luis Arraez, and Michael King, could be made available.

This article first appeared on New Baseball Media and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: