What happened: ESPN's Jeff Passan published a new early look at the 2026 MLB trade deadline market, assessing which contenders could buy and which clubs could look to sell. It is the latest in a run of similar deadline-market previews ESPN has published since early June.

Why it matters: Front offices still have weeks to declare buyer or seller intentions, and recurring previews like this one reflect how unsettled the contender picture remains this late in July. Repeated coverage of the same market from one outlet signals sustained reader interest in deadline speculation.

What to watch: Expect reported trade talks and roster decisions to sharpen as more teams clarify their buyer or seller status ahead of the deadline.