The Cubs addressed their need for starting pitching with a trade for Kevin Gausman. Will they go after bullpen help next? Nic Antaya / Getty ImagesAug. 3, 2026 Updated 8:04 am EDTThe Athletic has live coverage of the 2026 MLB Trade Deadline. Journalists and general managers don’t always have a lot in common. But there is this: We both work best up against a deadline.As the calendar flips to Aug. 3, the official day of the MLB trade deadline, we’re still waiting to see which teams operate with the proper urgency level. Since mid-June, we’ve been tracking which teams could most use help in the rotation, the lineup and the bullpen. Now we’ll see whether those front offices see eye-to-eye with us.We’ve already seen some movement in these rankings since the middle of last week when we released version 3.0:
Three of our top five clubs most in need of starting pitching have added to their rotations already in the Chicago Cubs (Kevin Gausman), Chicago White Sox (Luis Castillo) and Atlanta Braves (Tyler Mahle). At the same time, each could probably still use another addition. We’re shuffling the quintet but not knocking any of them off the list just now. In either case, Houston is waiting in the wings.
