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MLB·PREVIEW·August 3, 2026 08:37 AM ET

MLB trade deadline enters final hours before 6 p.m. ET cutoff

August waiver trades have been barred since 2019

Wire Report IntelligenceUpdated Aug 31 min read
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What happened: Players on 40-man rosters remain eligible to be traded until the window closes Monday. Afterward, those players may be placed and claimed on outright waivers but cannot be traded.

Why it matters: Monday’s decisions will shape postseason rosters and determine which clubs exchange current talent for longer-term assets. The single-deadline system leaves no August waiver-trade period for later adjustments.

By the numbers: The 2026 cutoff is Monday, Aug. 3, at 6 p.m. ET. MLB eliminated August waiver trades in 2019.

What to watch: Completed deals and any transactions submitted near the cutoff will command attention through the evening.

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