MLB 2026 trade deadline: What NL contenders need to beat Dodgers
As the 2026 MLB trade deadline looms, the question facing the National League is clear: who can stop the Los Angeles Dodgers? Four teams are currently positioning themselves for a deep October run, each with specific holes to fill before the August 3 deadline. The Milwaukee Brewers and Atlanta Braves lead their divisions, while the Chicago Cubs and Philadelphia Phillies hold steady in wild-card spots. While the Dodgers remain the team to beat, the road to the pennant goes through these contenders.
The Philadelphia Phillies are hunting for rotation depth to support Zack Wheeler, Cristopher Sanchez, and Jesus Luzardo. With Aaron Nola struggling, they need a reliable fourth starter to ensure they survive a rigorous postseason schedule. Over in Chicago, the Cubs are looking to bolster a rotation thinned by injuries. They hope to acquire a controllable pitcher who can bridge the gap for a team that relies heavily on its position player core to carry the offensive load.
Atlanta continues to search for ways to upgrade its roster across the board. The return of Ronald Acuña Jr. is a boost, but GM Alex Anthopoulos is rarely satisfied with the status quo. Whether through bullpen reinforcements or adding a playoff-tested starter, the Braves are clearly looking to mirror their 2022 strategy of aggressive acquisition to match up against the league's top talent.
Finally, the Milwaukee Brewers hold the keys to the most intriguing situation. With the league’s top farm system, the front office faces a choice: hold onto prospects or package them to land a frontline arm like Tarik Skubal. Milwaukee’s success depends on pairing Jacob Misiorowski with another durable veteran to prevent their core pitchers from running out of steam. As the clock ticks toward the deadline, these four organizations are weighing the cost of prospects against the singular goal of dethroning the Dodgers.