With just 30 days until the MLB trade deadline, 25 of the 30 teams are still within striking distance of postseason position, and so much could change between now and July 31.

So I decided to poll decision-makers in major-league front offices to get their opinions on the trade market, including the key players who they think have the best chance to be traded at this year’s deadline.

I surveyed more than 40 executives — mostly presidents of baseball operations and general managers — and asked them to name the best starting pitcher, reliever and position player they think will be traded this month.

The execs were granted anonymity so they could answer candidly, as well as asked not to include any of their own players. Their responses were illuminating. Some answers were expected, but others were truly surprising. However, what really stood out was the number of teams that didn’t really know where this year’s trade market is headed.

Said one National League president of baseball operations: “I have no clue. Can’t make sense of (it) at all. That will obviously change over the next month, but it’s really tough to read now, as most teams are saying they are looking to buy.”

An American League general manager told me, “We are all waiting for teams to decide if they’re going to sell, but it might take until close to the deadline for teams like the Diamondbacks, Orioles, Red Sox, Guardians and Angels to make that call.”

What twists and turns lie ahead? The answers I received offer some possibilities — and clues.

Here are the starting pitchers, relievers and position players who were mentioned the most, the players the execs felt are most likely to be dealt at the trade deadline, along with my thoughts on them.

Starting pitchers1. Sandy Alcantara, RHP, Marlins

Alcantara was the player mentioned the most overall — by far. That was fascinating to me because he’s 4-8 with a 6.98 ERA and I doubt the Marlins would get the requisite value for him if they traded him now. Instead, they could wait until the offseason to cash-in, perhaps after he’s had a strong August and September. However, several execs pointed to the fact that he pitched better in June and seems to be healthy and getting closer to top form.

Here’s how one GM put it: Max Fried and Corbin Burnes each got more than $200 million in free agency, yet an acquiring team would get Alcantara for three postseasons at a much lower cost. So it makes sense for some teams to try to trade for an ace now, as it would be a lot less expensive than trying to sign a starter like Dylan Cease or Michael King in free agency this winter.

Alcantara, 29, is in his first season since Tommy John surgery, and after a poor start, has allowed three runs or less in four of his past five outings. He is making $17.3 million this year, will make the same next year and has a $21 million team option for 2027.

The Marlins will have to get a significant prospect package in return to trade him now, because if they don’t get the right offer or if Alcantara falters, they can always wait until the offseason or the 2026 trade deadline. Most execs believe he will be moved at this deadline though.

2. Mitch Keller, RHP, Pirates

A lot of teams have called Pittsburgh to inquire about Keller. The Pirates need offense and realize they’re going to have to trade from their starting rotation to acquire young, impact bats. Keller, 29, has a 3.90 ERA and 1.22 WHIP over 17 starts. He’s signed through the 2028 season at an average annual salary of about $18 million. The Cubs and Mets are among the possible landing spots for Keller.

Merrill Kelly has only ever pitched for Arizona. He is an impending free agent. (Christian Petersen / Getty Images)3. Merrill Kelly, RHP, Diamondbacks

Kelly, 36, is an impending free agent who grew up in Arizona and would prefer to finish his career as a Diamondback. However, as one GM told me, the D-Backs can trade him at the deadline as a rental and then re-sign him in the offseason. That would allow Arizona to improve its farm system with a solid prospect or two as the return. Kelly is 7-4 this year with a 3.49 ERA and 1.07 WHIP over 17 starts. He’s struck out 100 in 98 innings. His 2025 salary is just $7 million.

4. Andrew Heaney, LHP, Pirates

Heaney, 34, has a 4.16 ERA over 17 starts. The veteran lefty is a quality back-of-the-rotation inning-eater who could especially help a contending team that’s been dealing with rotation injuries, such as the Mets.

5. Zach Eflin, RHP, Orioles

Eflin was just placed on the injured list (back discomfort), which will be a red flag at the trade deadline. It’s his second time on the IL this season. How he recovers and pitches between now and the end of the month will likely determine if he gets moved. He will be a free agent after this season and is making $18 million. Eflin, 31, is 6-5 with a 5.95 ERA over 12 starts.

6. Zac Gallen, RHP, Diamondbacks

Gallen is not having the free-agent walk year he wanted, going 6-9 with a 5.45 ERA over 18 starts. But he has three top-10 finishes in the NL Cy Young Award voting in his career, including the third-most votes in 2023, and a 3.53 ERA over 160 starts.

His secondary pitches have not been as crisp this season and his average fastball is down a half mile an hour. Meanwhile, his walk and home run rates have increased while his strikeout rate has fallen. Maybe he’d benefit from a change of scenery. A trade could help him finish the season strong and boost his free agent value.

7. Edward Cabrera, RHP, Marlins

Cabrera is under control through the 2028 season and is arbitration-eligible next year. He has a 3.41 ERA over 14 starts with 75 strikeouts over 71 1/3 innings. In his last seven starts, he’s 3-1 with a 1.46 ERA and 42 strikeouts to 16 walks. The key for Cabrera, 27, has been the improved command and control of all his pitches. (He has averaged 3.79 walks per nine innings, but that’s down from 4.67 last year and 5.96 the year before.)

Cabrera is in his prime and has multiple years of control, both of which increase his trade value. The Marlins are not looking to move him, but if they can “win” a trade, they’d have to consider it.

Relievers1. Aroldis Chapman, LHP, Red Sox

The execs overwhelmingly picked Chapman as the reliever most likely to be traded in July. The 37-year-old is having a banner season, posting a 1.32 ERA over 37 appearances with 14 saves and 50 strikeouts in 34 innings. He would be a difference-maker in any bullpen. Two years ago, Chapman was traded from the Royals to the Rangers in a late-June deadline deal for lefty Cole Ragans and a minor-league outfielder.

2/3. David Bednar, RHP, and Dennis Santana, RHP, Pirates

The Pirates have made everyone apart from Paul Skenes and Andrew McCutchen available at this year’s deadline. Bednar and Santana are “all but gone,” according to one GM, and “could be packaged together.”

Bednar has been much better after a poor 2024 season, logging a 2.73 ERA with 12 saves over 33 appearances. Santana has a 1.50 ERA, 0.78 WHIP and five saves over 36 games. Bednar, 30, and Santana, 29, are both controllable and arbitration-eligible in 2026.

4. Félix Bautista, RHP, Orioles

The Orioles claim they’re not going to sell and instead will try to buy pitching. However, their best play might be to trade Bautista for multiple young starting pitching prospects to quickly reboot for the 2026 season.

Bautista has tallied 16 saves with a 2.73 ERA over 30 appearances in his first season back from Tommy John surgery. He’s struck out 43 in 29 2/3 innings. He is under team control through 2027, which increases his trade value significantly.

Mason Miller has generated trade interest in the past. Could the A’s deal the flamethrower this year? (Lachlan Cunningham / MLB Photos via Getty Images)5. Mason Miller, RHP, Athletics

The A’s received plenty of trade offers for Miller over the past couple of years, but they’ve always shied away. However, this year could be different if they plan to keep him in the closer role. One NL GM told me, “I think the A’s would be foolish to hold on to him if they’re not going to convert him into a starter, especially with the trade return they could get for him now.”

Miller has converted 17 saves of 20 save opportunities with a 4.55 ERA and 52 strikeouts over 31 2/3 innings. He’s averaged 100.9 mph on his fastball for a second consecutive year, and batters are hitting just .122 against his wipeout slider. There are multiple teams that would love to trade for Miller and transition him to starting as they believe he could develop into an ace. Miller, 26, is under team control through 2029, so the return in a trade for him would have to be massive.

6. Ryan Helsley, RHP, Cardinals

The Cardinals are in the NL Central and NL wild-card races and appear closer to being a buyer than a seller. However, Helsley is eligible for free agency this offseason and St. Louis could decide trading him at the deadline for future assets makes more sense than keeping him. How the team performs in July will determine if Helsley is dealt, according to one AL GM who has talked with the Cardinals.

Helsley, 30, has a 3.41 ERA over 29 appearances and 16 saves. Batters are hitting just .077 against his wipeout slider, although they’ve been teeing off on his 99 mph four-seamer, hitting .429 against that pitch.

7. Emmanuel Clase, RHP, Guardians

Clase’s name kept coming up in the survey, which surprised me as he’s considered one of the top closers in the game. He’s also under team control through the 2028 season. Clase, 27, has a 3.28 ERA over 37 appearances and 18 saves this year.

The Guardians, who rank 26th in runs, need more offense. Perhaps they’d be willing to make a buyer-to-buyer type of trade to give up a lock-down leverage reliever for a middle-of-the-order impact bat to address this weakness.

8/9. Jhoan Duran, RHP, and Griffin Jax, RHP, Twins

Duran, 27, is under team control through the 2027 season. He’s having an excellent season with a 1.69 ERA over 39 games, 12 saves, and 42 strikeouts in 37 1/3 innings. Jax, 30, is controllable through 2027 and has a 4.08 ERA with 60 strikeouts over 35 1/3 innings. In his breakout 2024 season, he logged a 2.03 ERA over 72 appearances. The Twins are faltering but I was surprised that both of these relievers were mentioned by execs. Wishful thinking by some contending teams?

Position players1. Josh Naylor, 1B, Diamondbacks

The Diamondbacks say they will be buyers at the trade deadline with acquiring pitching the priority. However, opposing teams believe they’ll be sellers, or at least open to trading their impending free-agent bats for more pitching; one of those hitters, Naylor, was mentioned more than any other position player by execs in our poll.

Naylor, 28, is slashing .304/.359/.471 with 10 home runs and 53 RBIs. Last season he mashed 31 home runs with 108 RBIs for Cleveland. Several teams, including the Mariners, Rangers, Giants, Reds and Red Sox, need a power bat like Naylor.

2. Ryan O’Hearn, DH, Orioles

If the Orioles become sellers, O’Hearn could end up being the trade deadline headliner for Baltimore. A soon-to-be free agent, he is slashing .295/.383/.473 with 11 home runs and 30 RBIs in 244 at-bats, which is similar to Naylor’s season, as are his most-likely landing spots. O’Hearn’s best position is DH, but he can play first base and left field as well. The 31-year-old is making only $8 million this year, which enhances his trade value.

3. Luis Robert Jr., CF, White Sox

Robert just went on the IL with a hamstring injury, and he’s arguably having the worst year of his career as he’s batting .185 with a 64 OPS+, though he’s stolen 22 bases and played solid defense in center field. So … why is he on this list?

Several execs don’t think Robert will be traded at this year’s deadline, instead believing that the White Sox will wait until the offseason, hoping he plays better in August and September and regains his trade value. However, a few believe he’ll get traded anyway because of the low supply of power bats and outfielders at the deadline, along with teams understanding what a change of scenery could mean for him. He is making $15 million this year and has $20 million team options for 2026 and 2027.

Robert’s career-highs include 38 home runs in 2023 and 23 stolen bases in 2024. He won a Gold Glove Award in 2020. He hasn’t had any lineup protection over the last couple of years and some teams question his desire and mental toughness.

4. Eugenio Suárez, 3B, Diamondbacks

Suárez has had a tremendous first half, belting 26 home runs with 69 RBIs, so his value is high despite being an impending free agent. Arizona could swap him in a buyer-to-buyer type of trade for a starting pitcher or impact reliever. The Diamondbacks’ top prospect, Jordan Lawlar, could replace Suárez, 33, at the hot corner if he’s traded. A reunion with the Mariners or a deal with the Yankees, who could then move Jazz Chisholm Jr. back to second base, would make a lot of sense.

5. Cedric Mullins, CF, Orioles

Mullins, 30, is an impending free agent who could be available on the thin outfield market. He is having a down year, batting just .214 with a 99 OPS+, but does have 12 homers and eight stolen bases and remains an elite defensive center fielder. A trade sending Mullins and Bautista to the Phillies could be a great fit for Philadelphia, which would have to give Baltimore a strong prospect package to make that hypothetical deal work.

Could Jarren Duran be on the move at the deadline? (Paul Rutherford / Getty Images)6. Jarren Duran, LF, Red Sox

I was surprised by how many front office executives mentioned Duran. It makes me think the Red Sox may have decided Wilyer Abreu will play right field and Roman Anthony will play left going forward. Duran, 28, is under team control through 2028. Last year he led the majors in doubles (48) and triples (14) and had 21 homers, 75 RBIs and 34 stolen bases. This year he is slashing .253/.313/.410 with 20 doubles and a league-leading nine triples. He has been linked with the Padres and Phillies in trade talks.

7. Bryan Reynolds, RF, Pirates

Reynolds, 30, is under team control through 2031 at a salary of approximately $15 million per season, which should be considered market value. This year he is slashing .240/.305/.397 with 10 home runs and 45 RBIs. He has hit between 24 and 27 home runs each of the past four seasons while averaging just over 3.0 bWAR per year. He’s a consistent player who can play either outfield corner. The Pirates are looking for younger bats in return.

8. Taylor Ward, LF, Angels

The Angels insist they’re buyers, but come the deadline, I expect them to not make the same mistakes they’ve made in the past as they should be sellers; if not, a buyer-to-buyer trade involving Ward would still make sense. Ward, 31, is hitting .217 with a .292 on-base percentage but has mashed 20 homers and driven in 57 runs. He is under team control through 2026. A trade to the Royals would make a lot of sense.

9. Adolis García, RF, Rangers

García is under team control through next year and is hitting .231 with an 89 OPS+. If he doesn’t pick it up in July and the Rangers don’t start playing better, Texas could decide to move on from him. García, 32, making $9.25 million this year and is arbitration-eligible next year.

He’s an above-average defender in right field with a rifle for an arm. Offensively, he ranks in the 94th percentile in average exit velocity and in the 85th percentile in hard-hit rate. However, his overall production continues to decline as his home runs have fallen from 39 in 2023 to 25 last year to 10 so far this year.

10. Wilyer Abreu, RF, Red Sox

Abreu was mentioned because some teams would prefer him over Duran in a trade due to his elite defense. He also has an additional year of control (through 2029). However, I get the impression Boston’s preference is to trade Duran over him unless the return for Abreu was much better.

Abreu, 26, is batting .256 with 16 home runs and a 125 OPS+. He will again be in contention to win the Gold Glove Award for AL right fielders.

11. Steven Kwan, LF, Guardians

This shocked me, but multiple teams mentioned Kwan, who has won three consecutive Gold Glove awards and is having another nice season. Kwan is slashing .296/.359/.418 (118 OPS+) with six home runs, 18 doubles and 11 stolen bases in 12 attempts. Kwan, 27, is under team control through 2027 and is arbitration-eligible going forward. Perhaps the Guardians would consider dealing him for a more impactful power bat.

12. Luis Rengifo, INF, Angels

Rengifo, 28, is one of the more sought-after Angels because of his positional flexibility and the way he plays the game. He can play second, short and third and will be a free agent after this season. Last year he slashed .300/.347/.417 with 13 doubles and 24 stolen bases. However, this year he’s batting just .233 with nine doubles, and he’s been caught stealing five times in seven attempts. There’s been some buzz about Rengifo as a possible trade target for the Yankees.

13. Alex Bregman, 3B, Red Sox

This was another shocking name to me, but some execs believe the Red Sox could move on from Bregman at the trade deadline if they can’t extend him by then. Bregman and his agent, Scott Boras, have told the Red Sox they are open to signing a long-term extension now. But if the two sides can’t work out a deal, don’t be surprised if Boston trades him to either the Tigers or Mariners at the trade deadline.

Bregman, 31, is on the IL with a strained right quad but has slashed .299/.385/.553 with 11 home runs in 197 at-bats this season. He has two $41.7 million options remaining on his contract but can opt out after this season or next. He would bring valuable postseason experience and production (19 homers in 99 playoff games) to an acquiring team.

14. Nick Castellanos, RF, Phillies

The Castellanos rumors just never go away, and for that reason alone, multiple GMs think there’s a chance he could get moved if Philadelphia can find a better right-field option. Castellanos, 33, is hitting .282 with 10 home runs and a 111 OPS+. He’s a well-below average outfielder and is signed through 2026 at $20 million per year, so Philadelphia would have to pay down his contract to move him.

(Illustration: Will Tullos / The Athletic. Jasen Vinlove, David J. Griffin / Getty Images)