The MLB Trade Deadline is fast approaching, and the playoff bubble teams are in a state of flux. With nearly three-quarters of the teams within three games of a playoff spot, it's anyone's guess who will be buyers and who will be sellers. However, there are some intriguing trade candidates on these bubble teams who could be on the move if things don't go according to plan. Let's take a closer look at 10 of these players and explore the possibilities. Personally, I think the Tigers' Tarik Skubal is the most interesting case. As a pending free agent, Skubal has generated a lot of buzz at the Deadline, and the chatter will only get louder as the deadline approaches. However, the Tigers haven't yet committed to selling, and their current position in the AL Wild Card race is uncertain. What makes this particularly fascinating is the potential for Skubal to be a game-changer for a team in need of a starting pitcher. If the Tigers decide to sell, Skubal could be a valuable asset for a team looking to bolster its rotation. In my opinion, the Astros' Isaac Paredes is another player to watch. With a 20-12 record after a 20-31 start, the Astros are back in the mix for the AL West title and an AL Wild Card berth. Paredes, who is controllable through 2027, could be a key piece for a team looking to add depth to its infield. What many people don't realize is that Paredes has the potential to be a long-term solution for a team in need of a third baseman. From my perspective, the Blue Jays' Kevin Gausman is a player who could be on the move if the team decides to punt on 2026. With a 35-year-old Gausman in the final season of a five-year, $110 million contract, the team could look to capitalize on his track record and trade him for young talent. One thing that immediately stands out is the potential for Gausman to be a valuable addition to a team in need of a starting pitcher. The Cardinals' Dustin May is another player who could be on the move if the team starts to fade before the Trade Deadline. With a 2.54 ERA and a 2.69 FIP, May has been a solid contributor to the Cardinals' rotation. What this really suggests is that May could be a valuable asset for a team looking to add depth to its rotation. If you take a step back and think about it, the D-backs' Eduardo Rodriguez is a player who could be on the move if the team decides to capitalize on his rebound season. With a 2.27 ERA and a 4.06 FIP, Rodriguez has been a solid contributor to the D-backs' rotation. A detail that I find especially interesting is the potential for Rodriguez to be a valuable addition to a team in need of a starting pitcher. The Marlins' Sandy Alcantara is a player who could be on the move if the team hits the skids again. With a $21 million team option for 2027, Alcantara has the potential to be a valuable asset for a team looking to add depth to its rotation. What makes this particularly fascinating is the potential for Alcantara to be a game-changer for a team in need of a starting pitcher. The Orioles' Trevor Rogers is a player who could be on the move if the team decides to stay the course with its current core rather than tearing it all down again. With a 5.30 ERA, Rogers has had a rough start to the season, but he has pitched well in June. What this really suggests is that Rogers could be a valuable asset for a team looking to add depth to its rotation. If the Orioles start building some positive momentum, Rogers could be a key piece for a team looking to add depth to its rotation. The Tigers' Casey Mize is another player who could be on the move if the team decides to capitalize on his potential. With a 2.95 ERA and a 2.78 FIP, Mize has been a solid contributor to the Tigers' rotation. What makes this particularly fascinating is the potential for Mize to be a game-changer for a team in need of a starting pitcher. The Twins' Joe Ryan is a player who could be on the move if the team decides to capitalize on his health and pitching prowess. With a 3.18 ERA and a 2.81 FIP, Ryan has been a solid contributor to the Twins' rotation. What this really suggests is that Ryan could be a valuable asset for a team looking to add depth to its rotation. The Twins' Ryan Jeffers is a player who could be on the move if the team decides to add to its stockpile of young talent. With a .949 OPS before his injury, Jeffers has the potential to be a valuable asset for a team looking to add depth to its infield. What this really suggests is that Jeffers could be a key piece for a team looking to add depth to its infield.
