What happened: Jeff Passan of ESPN has published an early preview of the 2026 MLB trade deadline. The piece frames how the contender-versus-seller picture is taking shape well ahead of the July deadline.

Why it matters: This continues Passan's early read on the 2026 deadline, and early previews like it set the market's expectations for which clubs push to buy and which begin to sell. With the deadline approaching, front offices are sorting into camps, and that positioning shapes the summer's roster movement.

What to watch: Watch how the buyer-seller split hardens as the deadline nears and whether contenders act early to lock up targets.