What happened: With the August 3 trade deadline approaching, 23 of the 30 major league clubs remain within four games of a postseason berth. This logjam has created an extreme seller's market, as front offices weigh their internal belief against the steep prospect cost required to acquire upgrades. The New York Mets, Colorado Rockies, and Los Angeles Angels have emerged as the few clear sellers ready to offload talent.

Why it matters: The expanded playoff format continues to incentivize mid-tier clubs to hold their assets rather than rebuild, shifting leverage entirely to the few organizations willing to deal. Contenders like the Los Angeles Dodgers, Atlanta Braves, and Philadelphia Phillies are actively seeking rotation help and face inflated asking prices for high-leverage arms. Detroit Tigers starter Tarik Skubal sits at the top of the market, though his availability remains uncertain.

What to watch: Front offices will spend the final days evaluating their rosters to decide whether to push their chips in or sell off assets before the 6 p.m. ET cutoff.