Whether it’s a contender hunting for the final piece of a championship puzzle, a bubble team trying to stay in the race or a rebuilding club looking to stock up for the future, every team has its share of needs to address prior to the Trade Deadline.
No matter the approach, the goal is the same for every team: Come out of the Deadline in a better position than they went in.
With the help of MLB.com’s beat reporters, here’s a look at one area each club should be looking to upgrade by the Trade Deadline on Aug. 3.
The following numbers are entering Sunday’s games.
2026 Trade Deadline: Aug. 3, 6 p.m. ET
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AL CENTRAL
Guardians: Right-handed bat
The Guardians entered Sunday tied for the second fewest runs per game (4.0) of any MLB team. José Ramírez (left hamate fracture) and Angel Martínez (non-displaced left foot fracture) will provide a boost when they return from the injured list in the coming weeks, but acquiring a hitter could augment things further — including if they bat right-handed. Gabriel Arias, David Fry, Austin Hedges and Rhys Hoskins are the only players on the Guardians’ active roster who exclusively bat from that side. Ramírez, Martínez, Patrick Bailey and Brayan Rocchio are switch-hitters. — Tim Stebbins
Royals: Offense
With one of the worst records in the AL, the Royals are looking more like sellers if they do anything at the Deadline this year. They’ll be looking for Major League-ready talent to help them next year and beyond, and at the top of that list has to be better offensive depth, both in the infield and outfield. With the injuries to their pitching staff that will trickle into next year as well, the Royals will also always be looking for more depth arms in the rotation and bullpen. — Anne Rogers
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Tigers: Right-handed bat
The Tigers made back-to-back Wild Card berths and postseason runs on the strength of manager A.J. Hinch leveraging matchups with effective pinch-hitters and role players who crush lefties. It hasn’t worked out this season; they’re batting about 40 points lower against lefties than last year with about an 80-point plunge in OPS, and the dropoff is even greater among right-handed hitters off lefties. Jahmai Jones has yet to find last year’s form as a platoon specialist, and Matt Vierling’s production off lefties is the lowest of his career. A righty-hitting outfielder would be a big help, or the Tigers could give a shot to infield prospect Max Anderson, who’s crushing southpaws at Triple-A Toledo. — Jason BeckMax Anderson delivers five-hit, two-homer performance
Twins: Bullpen, bullpen, bullpen
Yes, they could probably use some starting depth. But the bullpen was already a need even before Anthony Banda suffered a lat injury that will cost him months, not weeks. The Twins could use relief help from both the right and left sides to bolster a corps that has a couple of reliable late-inning options but nowhere near enough depth. — Matthew Leach
White Sox: Pitching of any kind
Starting pitching makes sense for the White Sox, who have some talented arms presently in place gradually moving toward unchartered single-season innings territory. But every contending team and non-contending team will be looking for pitching, and general manager Chris Getz won’t tear down what his group has meticulously built simply to bump up their playoff contention in 2026. The arms acquired would have to make sense beyond ‘26. Relievers could help the White Sox as well, although they do have internal candidates such as a rehabbing Tanner McDougal. — Scott Merki
