Major League Baseball announced Tuesday that the 2026 trade deadline will fall on Monday, Aug. 3, at 6 p.m. EDT.
Teams will have a few extra days this summer to make their moves before rosters freeze for the playoff push, according to the Associated Press.
MLB News – League Announces New Trade Deadline Date
MLB gained flexibility under the 2022-2026 Collective Bargaining Agreement to set the deadline anywhere between July 28 and August 3. The league has used that flexibility to avoid weekends.
Here’s how the deadline has fallen in recent years:
- 2025: July 31
- 2024: July 30
- 2023: August 1
- 2022: August 2
- 2021: July 30
The 2021 deadline marked a shift. MLB moved it from the traditional July 31 slot to July 30 at 4 p.m. ET specifically to avoid Saturday afternoon games. It was also the last time the deadline hit at 4 p.m. before shifting to 6 p.m. ET.
MLB Blockbuster Trades at Recent Deadlines
The 2021 deadline brought plenty of MLB news. The Dodgers shocked baseball by landing both Max Scherzer and Trea Turner from the Nationals on July 30. Los Angeles sent their top two prospects – catcher Keibert Ruiz and right-hander Josiah Gray – plus two others to Washington.
The 2022 deadline delivered the biggest name. Juan Soto went to San Diego on August 2 in what ESPN called one of the biggest midseason trades ever. The Padres sent eight players to Washington for the 23-year-old superstar and Josh Bell. Soto had rejected a 15-year, $440 million extension offer from the Nationals.
The 2023 deadline saw the Mets tear it down. On Aug. 1, they dealt Max Scherzer to the Rangers and Justin Verlander to the Astros. Both former Cy Young winners changed teams as New York rebuilt.
In 2024, the July 30 deadline featured the Yankees grabbing Jazz Chisholm Jr. from Miami, the Dodgers adding Jack Flaherty from Detroit, and the Padres landing closer Tanner Scott, according to MLB.com’s deadline tracker.
Last year’s July 31 deadline featured massive moves across baseball. The Padres made the biggest splash by landing Athletics closer Mason Miller and starter JP Sears in a blockbuster deal. The Astros stunned the baseball world by bringing Carlos Correa back to Houston from Minnesota.
The Mariners went all-in by acquiring sluggers Eugenio Suárez and Josh Naylor from Arizona. The Mets and Phillies both upgraded their bullpens with closers Ryan Helsley from St. Louis and Jhoan Duran from Minnesota.
What the Aug. 3rd MLB Deadline Date Means
This year’s deadline gives teams three extra days compared to the July 30 deadlines of 2021 and 2024.
Front offices get more time to negotiate. Sellers get more chances to drive up prices. Contenders get more opportunities to make their moves.
Mark your calendar: Monday, Aug. 3 at 6 p.m. EDT. That’s when the real action happens.
MLB Announces New 2026 Trade Deadline Date