With the MLB trade deadline looming, things are a little bit distorted in the market due to the limited number of teams who are clear sellers.
As of Monday morning, 22 of 30 teams are within five games or less of a playoff spot, meaning many teams will be looking to add and few are immediately set to sell. According to ESPN’s Buster Olney, trade prices are “enormous” with roughly two weeks to go before the July 31 deadline.
Olney uses the example of New York Mets pitcher Zack Wheeler, with the Mets seeking high-end prospects in exchange for him despite the fact that he would be a rental for the team acquiring him.
It is quite clearly a sellers’ market, with even teams sitting below .500 looking into adding players at the deadline. It could make for a chaotic few weeks, and a few teams desperately overpaying for players in the market.
