IN FOCUS: Morning Thoughts - Tranactions - Trading Deadline

 

Morning Thoughts

 

I had called for earlier this week for the promotion of catcher Chris Suero to AA-Binghamton, while, at the same time, Kevin Parada would be promoted to AAA-Syracuse. This idea came to a screeching halt when the Mets demoted Francisco Alvarez to Upstate New York. Sorry Chris. Parada is hot and you aren’t going anywhere right now.

 

Some promotions…

 

RHP Jonathan Pintaro - Transferred from AA Binghamton to MLB Mets

LHP Brandon Waddell trasferred from AAA-Syracuse to MLB-Mets

LHP Lose Castillo has been DFA'd

LHP Richard Lovelady has been DFA'd

RHP Jordan Geber - Transferred from AAA Syracuse to AA Binghamton

RHP Carlos Guzman - Activated off the Temporarily Inactive List

OF Omar De Los Santos - Placed on the AA Development List

RHP Brian Metoyer - Transferred from A+ Brooklyn to AA Binghamton

RHP Eduardo Herrera - Transferred from AA Binghamton to A+ Brooklyn

RHP Layonel Ovalles promoted to A St. Lucie

LHP Gregori Louis both promoted to St. Lucie

RHP Ty Adcock placed on Syracuse's Injured List

RHP Grant Hartwig placed on Syracuse's Temporarily Inactive List

OF Travis Swaggerty placed on Syracuse's Development List

C Chris Williams placed on Syracuse's Development List

RHP Jordan Geber transferred to Double-A Binghamton

RHP Dakota Hawkins transferred to High-A Brooklyn

RHP Justin Garza optioned from New York and activated by Syracuse today

    I’m thrilled for Pintaro, but he wasn’t the Binghamton starter that I had hoped would be sent to New York.

The MLB trade deadline is a critical date in the Major League Baseball season, marking the last opportunity for teams to trade players without restrictions until the offseason. Below is a concise explanation of the key rules and mechanics governing the MLB trade deadline, based on the most current information available as of June 25, 2025:

Key MLB Trade Deadline Rules (2025)

Deadline Date and Time:

The 2025 MLB trade deadline is July 31, 2025, at 6 p.m. ET. After this time, teams cannot complete standard trades until the offseason, though other roster moves (e.g., waivers) are still possible.

Purpose of the Deadline:

The deadline exists to prevent teams from making significant roster changes late in the season, which could disrupt competitive balance as playoff races intensify.

Eligible Players for Trades:

Any player on a 40-man roster can be traded before the deadline, provided they meet specific conditions (e.g., no trade clauses or service time restrictions).

Players with 10-and-5 rights (10 years of MLB service time, with at least 5 consecutive years with the same team) can veto any trade.

Players with no-trade clauses in their contracts (full or partial) must consent to any trade involving them. Partial no-trade clauses may specify certain teams the player cannot be traded to without approval.

Post-Deadline Restrictions:

After July 31, 2025, at 6 p.m. ET, teams cannot execute standard trades. However, players can still be moved via waivers:

August Waiver Period: Players placed on revocable waivers can be claimed by other teams. If claimed, the original team can let the player go, negotiate a trade with the claiming team, or pull the player back.

Only players who clear waivers (i.e., are not claimed) can be traded in August, but they must have been in the organization before September 1 to be postseason-eligible (see below).

Postseason Eligibility:

For a traded player to be eligible for the postseason, they must be on their new team’s roster (or in the organization) by August 31, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. ET. This rule applies to both deadline trades and any subsequent waiver moves.

Players acquired after August 31 are not eligible for postseason play, even if they are on the active roster.

Player to Be Named Later (PTBNL):

Trades often include a “player to be named later” to finalize the deal. The PTBNL must be identified and transferred within six months of the trade (typically by the end of the season or during the offseason).

Alternatively, teams may agree on cash considerations instead of a PTBNL.

Cash Considerations:

Teams can include cash in trades to offset salary obligations or as part of the trade package. There is no strict limit on cash amounts, but the receiving team must assume at least a portion of the player’s contract in most cases.

Recent Rule Changes:

Since 2019, MLB eliminated the August trade waiver period as a primary mechanism for trades, making the July 31 deadline the main window for roster changes. This change simplified the process and placed greater emphasis on the deadline.

Unlike in past years, there is no distinction between “hard” and “soft” deadlines; July 31 is now the definitive cutoff for standard trades.

Impact on Minor Leaguers:

Minor league players not on the 40-man roster can be traded more freely, even after the deadline, as they are not subject to the same waiver rules. However, they must still meet the August 31 deadline for postseason eligibility if promoted to the majors.

Contract and Service Time Considerations:

Players under team control (e.g., pre-arbitration or arbitration-eligible) are often prime trade targets due to their cost-effective contracts.

Players on expiring contracts (free agents at season’s end) are commonly traded by non-contending teams to playoff hopefuls, often for prospects or future assets.

Strategic Implications

Buyers vs. Sellers: Contending teams (“buyers”) acquire players to bolster their rosters for a playoff push, while non-contending teams (“sellers”) trade veterans for prospects or younger talent to build for the future.

Prospect Protections: Top prospects are often untouchable in trade talks, but teams may part with mid-tier prospects to secure impactful players.

Salary Cap and Luxury Tax: Trades must consider the Competitive Balance Tax (CBT) threshold. Teams over the CBT limit may trade high-salary players to shed payroll or avoid further penalties.

Exceptions and Edge Cases

Injured Players: Players on the injured list (IL) can be traded, but their health status may impact their trade value. They must still meet postseason eligibility rules.

Suspended Players: Players serving suspensions can be traded, but they cannot play until their suspension is complete.

International Players: Players signed from international markets (e.g., Japan, Cuba) may have unique contract stipulations or posting agreements that affect trade eligibility.