As the MLB season pushes through the dog days of summer, the Division races are heating up in all but two. Both the Los Angeles Dodgers of the NL West and Detroit Tigers of the AL Central have locked up their respective divisions. It would take a miracle for anyone to upset them.

In the race to win the MLB Pennants, the Tigers have actually moved into the favorite spot to capture the American League Pennant, while the Dodgers have strengthened their NL Pennant favorite status. In fact, the Dodgers are still large favorites to win the 2025 World Series.

With that said, let’s take a look at the latest MLB Division odds from the top sports betting sites, and break down the Division races especially the tight ones where there remains intrigue and excitement over which MLB teams will win their divisional crowns.

2025 MLB Divisions Odds

Check out the latest MLB odds for all six Baseball Divisions:

There’s been a great deal of movement in the MLB odds for each Division. Most notably, the Detroit Tigers went from a small underdog to a massive favorite in the AL Central by the midway mark of the season.

Although there are a few divisions already locked up, most of the Divisions remain a heated race between at least two teams. So, this should be fun to watch and bet on, all the way through the final regular season games.

With that said, if you would like more assistance with your MLB bets for the remainder of the season and the Playoffs, then check out the industry’s premiere membership. You will get access to thousands of picks from the best handicappers. And, you can do it all with a free trial! That sounds like a home run to us!

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AL West Odds

• Houston Astros (+165)
• Texas Rangers (+185)
• Seattle Mariners (+225)
• Los Angeles Angels (+2000)
• Oakland Athletics (+2200)

Houston Astros (-180)

The Houston Astros came out of the deadline looking like a team with October on their mind. Reuniting with Carlos Correa might not make them unbeatable, but it certainly boosts the lineup, especially with Isaac Paredes sidelined. Correa brings postseason pedigree, defensive reliability, and enough offensive upside to justify the move, even after an injury-riddled 2024. Throw in depth additions like Ramon Urias and Jesus Sanchez, and Houston clearly aimed to patch holes without breaking the bank.

From a vibes standpoint, this was an all-timer of a deadline. Correa returning to the team that drafted him felt like the kind of theatrical twist only the Astros could pull off. The roster is aging, but still dangerous, and Houston’s front office knows how to make savvy deadline moves without selling the farm. With a veteran core and solid pitching staff, the Astros are built to navigate the ups and downs of a pennant race, especially in a division they’ve dominated in recent years.

That said, holding off Seattle won’t be easy. The Mariners are younger, hungrier, and only a few games back with a rotation that’s deeper than Houston’s top to bottom. Houston can’t afford another sluggish August like they had last season, and the new arrivals will need to contribute immediately. But if Correa stays healthy and the bullpen holds together, the Astros are still the team to beat in the AL West, just maybe not by as wide a margin as they’re used to.

Seattle Mariners (+180)

The Seattle Mariners had a fantastic deadline and may have quietly become the best value bet on the board at +240 to win the AL West. Their front office finally pulled the trigger on meaningful upgrades, acquiring Eugenio Suarez and Josh Naylor to beef up a lineup that now features a top six as deep and dangerous as any in the league. When you combine that with their already elite rotation, Seattle suddenly looks like a team that can not only chase Houston, but pass them.

Offensively, this might be the best Mariners lineup since the 116-win juggernaut of 2001. Julio Rodriguez, JP Crawford, Randy Arozarena, Cal Raleigh, Naylor, and Suarez form a balanced, powerful group that can score with anyone. Seattle also brought in Caleb Ferguson to deepen the bullpen, which gives them even more late-inning flexibility. Jerry Dipoto has often been accused of playing it safe, but this time he pushed the chips in. The Mariners are clearly going for it.

With the Astros aging and less consistent than in years past, Seattle has the firepower and the pitching depth to make a serious run at the division. They trail Houston by only a few games and have more than enough games left to make up ground. At +240, you’re getting great value on a complete team that’s trending up at the perfect time. This bet might be the best one in the AL West.

Texas Rangers (+750)

The Texas Rangers had a middling deadline. They added veteran starter Merrill Kelly, who brings a 3.22 ERA and postseason experience from Arizona, to strengthen depth behind Nathan Eovaldi and Jacob deGrom. On the relief front, they also acquired Phil Maton and Danny Coulombe – both solid bullpen upgrades – but neither is significant enough to flip a season.

Despite these moves, the outlook still leans gloomy. FanGraphs projects only a 17% chance of the Rangers making the postseason, as their offense has been inconsistent. The road ahead doesn’t offer much respite. Texas needs more than incremental bullpen fixes to close ground on Houston or Seattle, both of whom are trending upward post-deadline.

Unless their hitters suddenly find it or a third frontline starter emerges, this feels more like a season worth salvaging than a race worth winning.

Los Angeles Angels (+12500)

The Los Angeles Angels exist in their own whimsical baseball bubble. It’s a place where logic takes a back seat to vibes and unwarranted optimism. They’re not good enough to contend, not bad enough to tear it down, and seemingly incapable of reading the standings with both eyes open.

Rather than embrace a well-earned rebuild, they went out and added Andrew Chafin, Luis Garcia, and Oswald Peraza like they’re one magical run away from redemption. Peraza’s a decent flier, sure, but adding middle relievers in a crowded wild-card race when you’re four games back and deeply flawed? Classic Angels.

This team is like a sitcom character that refuses to acknowledge the roof is leaking. There’s a charm to it, almost. The Angels haven’t fully committed to winning since Mike Trout had knees made of rubber and dreams made of Rookie of the Year plaques. But year after year, they squint at the standings, see a glimmer of hope, and decide to buy. The result? A slightly different version of the same 78–84 finish, now with more bullpen depth. If nothing else, the Angels are consistent…consistently funny, consistently confusing, and consistently allergic to long-term planning.

Athletics (+30000)

The A’s did something smart, which feels like a glitch in the baseball matrix. They flipped Mason Miller – one of the filthiest relievers in baseball and arguably their only must-watch player – for a massive haul of prospects, headlined by shortstop Leo De Vries, who scouts say could be Francisco Lindor 2.0 or, at worst, Ketel Marte with similar cleats.

For a franchise that hasn’t sniffed relevance since Billy Beane stopped answering his phone, this was a rare win rooted in logic: sell high on a reliever when you’re terrible and not moving the Las Vegas needle until 2028.

Even better, they added more arms and some intriguing depth while finally acknowledging that the “scrappy underdog” era is long gone. This isn’t a full reboot, as there’s already talent here. It’s bleak in the short term, but the A’s are finally building something that resembles a future. They just won’t do any winning this year.

Bet: Seattle Mariners (+180)

AL Central Odds

• Detroit Tigers (-4000)
• Cleveland Guardians (+2200)
• Kansas City Royals (+2500)
• Minnesota Twins (+7500)
• Chicago White Sox (+10000)

Detroit Tigers (-4000)

The Detroit Tigers may have wobbled a bit coming out of the All-Star break, but let’s not overthink it. They still have a nine-game cushion in the AL Central, and they sure don’t look like a team about to cough it up. Detroit approached the deadline with the calculated confidence of a club that knows it’s headed for October. Instead of mortgaging the future for big names, they worked the margins, loading up their bullpen with smart, low-risk acquisitions and adding veteran starter Charlie Morton to reinforce a rotation that’s been their backbone all year.

Scott Harris and company leaned into what’s worked: creativity and depth. While other teams were throwing prospects around, the Tigers avoided the high-priced relief arms and instead brought in multiple bounce-back candidates and veterans with postseason experience. That includes Paul Sewald and Rafael Montero, both of whom have pitched in World Series pressure cookers. Meanwhile, they’re giving their No. 6 prospect Troy Melton a shot in the bullpen, a move that adds swing-and-miss upside without needing to raid the farm system.

If this all feels like a team prepping for October rather than panicking in July, that’s because it is. Detroit’s front office has stuck to its build-from-within approach while plugging gaps with smart rentals, and their playoff ticket is all but punched. The AL Central isn’t going to catch them, and the focus now turns to playoff matchups. The Tigers have earned the right to start thinking beyond the division, and if these bullpen moves hit, they’ll be a tough out when the postseason begins.

Cleveland Guardians (+2200)

The Cleveland Guardians are out of the AL Central race – the Tigers have all but locked that up – but a Wild Card berth is still very much on the table. At 54–54, they’re hovering just three games back in a crowded race, and they’ve got enough talent to make things interesting over the final two months. Trading Shane Bieber was the headline move, but the front office stopped short of a full teardown. Keeping players like Steven Kwan and Jose Ramirez signals that Cleveland isn’t giving up, it’s just trying to straddle the line between competing now and planning for later.

There’s also a clear emotional element to the Guardians’ deadline approach. Ramirez wants to be a Guardian for life, and management seems committed to keeping him in Cleveland through the rest of his prime. That likely influenced the decision to keep Kwan, whose profile – elite contact, light power, below-average outfield defense – makes him a tough player to value in the trade market. Still, he’s a clubhouse and fan favorite, and his presence gives the Guardians a higher floor as they try to stay afloat in the postseason race.

They’ll need to outperform expectations to sneak into the playoffs, but they’ve got the pieces. The pitching staff remains deep even without Bieber, and the lineup, while inconsistent, can grind out enough offense to stay competitive. If Ramírez catches fire and the bullpen stabilizes, this team could sneak into the dance.

Kansas City Royals (+2500)

The Kansas City Royals may sit well behind the Tigers in the AL Central, but they’re just a half-game behind Cleveland and within striking distance of a wild-card spot, which makes them a sneaky candidate for a second-half surge. After clawing back from a miserable June, Kansas City righted the ship with a 15–9 July and added rotation help at the deadline without mortgaging their future. They brought in four pitchers with starting potential and upgraded their outfield with Mike Yastrzemski, a righty masher who fills a need. That kind of aggression is exactly what you want to see from a fringe contender looking to punch above its weight.

What makes the Royals especially interesting is how they threaded the needle: improving the big-league club while keeping all of their top prospects, including future franchise cornerstone Bobby Witt Jr. and a wave of young arms. With a friendly stretch of games coming up and a roster that’s finally starting to score runs, Kansas City has the upside and the momentum to make a wild-card push. If you’re looking for a long-shot flier with plausible upside, the Royals might just be your team. Just don’t bet on those +4500 AL Central odds.

Minnesota Twins (+7500)

The Minnesota Twins didn’t just wave the white flag at the trade deadline; they lit it on fire and launched it into the sky. In a massive teardown, the front office dealt ten major league players, including key arms like Jhoan Duran, Griffin Jax, Chris Paddack, and Willi Castro, as well as cornerstone, Carlos Correa. It wasn’t just a sell-off; it was a complete evacuation of competitive intent. Whatever hope the Twins had of staying in the AL Central race – or even chasing a wild card – was officially doused in gasoline and torched before August.

It’s hard to spin this as anything other than a franchise reset. Dealing Correa, who was supposed to be the anchor of this era, was the loudest alarm bell, but the sheer volume of outgoing players confirms Minnesota is punting the rest of 2025 and likely positioning for a longer-term rebuild. Yes, they acquired some intriguing prospects, but the return doesn’t soften the blow for fans watching a once-promising season collapse in real time. After multiple years of postseason frustration, the Twins have chosen a scorched-earth approach, and now face a very long, very uncertain winter.

Chicago White Sox (+10000)

The Chicago White Sox didn’t do much at the deadline – mainly because there wasn’t much left to move after last year’s fire sale – but they made a couple of respectable trades and chose to hang onto Luis Robert Jr. rather than sell low.

That could pay off if Robert rebounds and justifies his $20 million team option for 2026, but it doesn’t change the fact that this team is still deep in the mud. At +10000 to win the division, even the most optimistic Sox fan would struggle to find a path forward in 2025. This is a team in transition, not contention.

Bet: Detroit Tigers (-4000)

AL East Odds

• Toronto Blue Jays (-165)
• New York Yankees (+180)
• Boston Red Sox (+650)
• Tampa Bay Rays (+8000)
• Baltimore Orioles (+30000)

Toronto Blue Jays (-165)

The Toronto Blue Jays have a strong case to close out the AL East despite lots of preseason doubts. Even with major contributors like Anthony Santander missing extended time and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. playing below his peak, the Blue Jays have surged to the top of the division. What sets them apart is the consistency they’ve shown in getting production from up and down the roster. They aren’t overly reliant on star power – though it helps – but they win games by pressing the right buttons and maximizing value from role players.

The key now is unlocking Guerrero’s ceiling. He hasn’t looked like the MVP-level hitter from previous seasons, but if he can return to that form during the stretch run, it completely changes Toronto’s trajectory. Guerrero is the franchise cornerstone and the one bat in the lineup capable of taking over an entire series. If he heats up down the stretch, the Jays not only have the edge in the division, but also become a legitimate World Series threat.

Meanwhile, Anthony Santander’s eventual return could add even more thunder to the lineup. Daulton Varsho was just activated after a lengthy injured list stint, too. The Jays have found ways to win without him, but if he’s healthy and productive in August and September, it gives Toronto another layer of depth and pop in the middle of the order. Combine that with a rotation that’s held its own, and the Jays look like a team built not just to survive the regular season, but to win the East and go deep in October.

New York Yankees (+180)

The New York Yankees aren’t waving the white flag just yet, but they’ve basically turned their bullpen into The Avengers in hopes of catching Toronto. Brian Cashman went on a trading spree before the deadline, adding David Bednar, Jake Bird, and Camilo Doval in a matter of hours. It’s a major upgrade for a unit that had the second-worst ERA in baseball in July. If the AL East turns into a late-season bullpen war, New York’s got the ammo now to win some low-scoring grinders.

But while the bullpen looks playoff-ready, the rotation feels like a pile of question marks duct-taped together. Max Fried and Carlos Rodon are a stellar one-two punch when healthy, but behind them? We’re talking Will Warren, possibly Luis Gil, and a lot of question marks. And although they kicked the tires on starter Sandy Alcantara, they came up empty. Maybe they left their starting pitching budget in their other pants.

There’s still hope, though, mostly in the form of Gil, who’s making his way back from injury and could act as a late-season boost. But with Gerrit Cole and Clarke Schmidt both shelved until 2026, the Yankees are betting big that patched-up arms and a flamethrower bullpen can help them close the 3.5-game gap on Toronto. It’s not impossible, but they’ll need everything to break right. I’m not a huge fan of the Yanks’ odds to win the East.

Boston Red Sox (+650)

The Boston Red Sox came out of the All-Star break riding a 10-game heater and in the wild-card mix, but their moves at the deadline landed with more of a thud than a bang. Instead of bringing in a frontline starter or a marquee bat, Boston settled for Dustin May and Steven Matz, a pair of depth arms that might stabilize the ship, but aren’t exactly inspiring visions of October dominance. May, in particular, comes with red flags: two Tommy John surgeries and a 4.85 ERA this season.

Craig Breslow did what he could to spin the deadline into a net positive, citing belief in the team’s young core and emphasizing how hard they worked the phones. But Red Sox fans were promised steak and got dollar-menu burgers. Meanwhile, the Yankees and Blue Jays loaded up: Toronto added Shane Bieber, and the Yankees grabbed three relievers and several bats. Boston might still have enough to hang in the race, but in a division arms race, they brought a butter knife.

That said, this group believes in itself. Breslow’s message was one of internal optimism: the kids are good, the vibes are better, and maybe that’s enough to crash the playoff party. But while Boston’s current surge is impressive, they’re banking on it continuing without adding the kind of difference-makers that their rivals chased aggressively. If the good vibes fizzle and the pitching wobbles, those missed opportunities at the deadline could loom large.

Tampa Bay Rays (+8000)

It’s hard to justify a long-shot bet on the Tampa Bay Rays to win the AL East, even at tempting +10000 odds. While Tampa Bay’s front office made a flurry of trade deadline moves, most of them resembled a neighborhood garage sale more than a playoff push. Swapping out guys like Danny Jansen, Taj Bradley, and Zack Littell for catchers with light bats and pitchers like Adrian Houser and Griffin Jax doesn’t exactly scream “the comeback is on.” If you squint, you could argue the bullpen is better. But when you’re below .500 and need to leapfrog four teams just to sniff the wild card, that’s not enough.

The Rays are playing the long game, as usual. They didn’t blow it all up, but they also didn’t go for it. Instead, they held on to their mid-priced veterans like Pete Fairbanks, Yandy Díaz, and Brandon Lowe in hopes of rebooting for 2026. Considering they were expected to tear it down like they did in 2024, this year’s “tinker and tread water” strategy might actually be a win by their standards. It’s smart, calculated, and frugal, but it’s not helping their AL East chances right now.

Realistically, the Rays are planning to be competitive again once they’re fully healthy and their young talent levels up. That might pay off in 2026. But this year? It’s hard to see a path where they storm past Toronto, New York, and Boston unless a dozen miracles line up in a row. If you’re looking for a sleeper to shock the division, look elsewhere. Tampa Bay’s playing chess… just not the speed version.

Baltimore Orioles (+30000)

The Baltimore Orioles’ 2025 season has gone from bad to bizarre, and the trade deadline only confirmed that this team has hit full reset. In a flurry of moves, Baltimore shipped off Cedric Mullins, Ramon Urias, and several bullpen arms – including Andrew Kittredge, Seranthony Domínguez, and Gregory Soto – in exchange for minor leaguers and low-cost pieces. The most notable return? A 17-year-old shortstop who immediately became their No. 21 prospect. That’s the kind of move that says, “See you in 2030.” Meanwhile, the bullpen has been blown up.

The rotation? Could be better, I’d say. Kyle Bradish is out for the year, Tomoyuki Sugano just hit the IL again, and they lost Charlie Morton in the trade shuffle. Brandon Young and Trevor Rogers are now being asked to patchwork innings together like it’s Spring Training. And the bullpen carousel is spinning fast enough to make you dizzy. Felix Bautista still hasn’t thrown, and they’re down to guys like Corbin Martin and Cionel Perez to soak up innings. It’s the kind of situation where every night feels like a bullpen game, even when it isn’t.

And let’s not forget the outfield. Mullins is gone, Laureano is gone, and the plan seems to be… hope? Colton Cowser has been decent, but the team is now relying on Dylan Carlson and the Norfolk-to-Baltimore shuttle to fill innings and outfield spots. In the span of two seasons, the Orioles went from a 101-win upstart to a disassembled shell of that promise. Yikes!

Bet: Toronto Blue Jays (-155)

NL West Odds

• Los Angeles Dodgers (-900)
• San Diego Padres (+550)
• San Francisco Giants (+6600)
• Arizona Diamondbacks (+30000)
• Colorado Rockies (+25000)

Los Angeles Dodgers (-900)

This was not your typical Los Angeles Dodgers deadline. For a team that usually treats July like an arms race, Los Angeles barely made a peep. They were linked to Steven Kwan at one point, but nothing came of it, and instead they settled for Alex Call and Brock Stewart. Those are solid depth pieces, but hardly the kind of names that shake up the NL West race. It was almost jarring to see them so passive.

The front office seems content to ride out the storm and hope their injured arms come back in time to stabilize the pitching staff. That’s a lot of faith to put in elbows and shoulders. With the division still winnable but the Padres looming, it’s a little surprising they didn’t go harder after reinforcements. Even a rental arm or depth outfielder might’ve helped ease the burden.

To be fair, this team is still loaded. But at the moment, the Dodgers feel a little more “get healthy and hope” than “inevitable death machine.” They can still win the pennant – this front office has earned the benefit of the doubt – but it does feel like they missed an opportunity to make the path there a little easier.

San Diego Padres (+550)

AJ Preller doesn’t care about your prospect or your risk-adjusted trade value metrics. He just wants to win, and he operates accordingly. This year’s haul was classic Preller: high-volume, high-upside, and deeply unconcerned with how it looks on paper. Getting Mason Miller and JP Sears from the A’s cost a small fortune, and giving up Leo De Vries might haunt them one day. But Miller gives them a bullpen bazooka to spearhead the bullpen right now, and the San Diego Padres live for the now.

There’s also sneaky value in adding Ryan O’Hearn and Ramon Laureano, two professional hitters who lengthen a lineup that was too top-heavy. San Diego didn’t exactly fix all their issues. They’re still thin in the rotation, and their defense can be erratic, but they went out and got better. And in a division where the Dodgers barely moved, that might be all it takes.

If this team gets into the postseason, it’s easy to imagine them giving someone fits. Between Miller closing games and O’Hearn/Laureano plugging the holes in the lineup, the Padres might’ve just built a team no one wants to play in October. Once again, Preller took big swings. And if a few of them land, watch out.

San Francisco Giants (+6600)

Just a few weeks removed from trading for Rafael Devers, the San Francisco Giants found themselves in a much different position come deadline day. Rather than doubling down on contention, San Francisco pivoted to a sell-off, moving bullpen pieces Camilo Doval and Tyler Rogers, as well as longtime outfielder Mike Yastrzemski. These trades were fine in a vacuum and netted some interesting prospects, but it was a surprising turn from a team that made such a bold move just a month earlier.

That said, the sudden pivot may have been warranted. The Giants have tumbled out of the NL playoff picture, and Buster Posey was realistic enough to recognize it. If the season was slipping away, getting value for players like Doval made sense. Still, it’s hard not to view this as a team stuck between two timelines. The Devers acquisition said “win now.” This deadline said, “Maybe later.”

Arizona Diamondbacks (+30000)

Once it became clear the Arizona Diamondbacks weren’t going anywhere in 2025, GM Mike Hazen acted swiftly and decisively. Arizona offloaded nearly every notable rental on the roster – Merrill Kelly, Josh Naylor, Randal Grichuk, even Eugenio Suarez. What’s most encouraging is that these weren’t just trades for the sake of it; they netted a wide array of young arms and position players that could help in the next window.

What wasn’t on the table was Zac Gallen, either because Hazen didn’t get the offer he wanted or because the D-backs still hope to extend or qualify him. Regardless, this was a clean and well-thought-out deadline for Arizona. They didn’t overplay their hand and focused on setting themselves up for a 2026 bounce-back, which is exactly what you want to see from a team in this position.

Colorado Rockies (+500000)

The Colorado Rockies…made trades? Real ones? This might be the most shocking outcome of deadline week. Normally one of the league’s most inert organizations, Colorado actually shipped out multiple veterans -Jake Bird, Ryan McMahon, and Tyler Kinley – and picked up some solid prospect capital in return. For a franchise historically allergic to selling, this was refreshing.

Whether these moves pay off is almost secondary. The Rockies are on pace for another brutal season and desperately need to show they’re capable of self-assessment. Trading McMahon especially signals some kind of shift in mindset, as he’s been a face of the franchise through many forgettable years. If nothing else, the Rockies are finally operating on the same planet as everyone else.

Bet: Los Angeles Dodgers (-900)

NL Central Odds

• Chicago Cubs (-140)
• Milwaukee Brewers (+115)
• Cincinnati Reds (+4500)
• St. Louis Cardinals (+20000)
• Pittsburgh Pirates (+30000)

Chicago Cubs (-140)

The Chicago Cubs entered the deadline with the third-highest playoff odds in baseball and responded by… extending Jed Hoyer and picking up a few relievers and a utility bat. That’s not exactly a call to arms.

Willi Castro is a nice piece – versatile, switch-hitting, useful in a lot of ways – but this was a team with World Series upside that treated the trade deadline like a Tuesday in May. They didn’t blow it, but they sure didn’t act like a team that believes it’s one piece away either.

This roster is built to mash, and they’ll need Kyle Tucker, Pete Crow-Armstrong, and Seiya Suzuki to carry the offense through October. The problem is the starting rotation, which already felt a bit duct-taped together before the deadline and now looks even more fragile in comparison to other contenders. Mike Soroka helps a little, but the Cubs needed a bigger swing, and they whiffed.

Milwaukee Brewers (+115)

The Milwaukee Brewers might be heading back to October, but they’re not exactly charging in with momentum. With playoff odds north of 96%, Milwaukee had a golden opportunity to reinforce a solid roster, and they kinda just shrugged. Danny Jansen is fine, Shelby Miller might give them a few decent innings out of the pen, but there’s nothing here that screams “difference-maker.” When you’re that close, why not take a real swing?

This team could’ve used a jolt – someone to lengthen the lineup, maybe someone to lock down the back end of the bullpen.

Instead, they’re hoping the roulette wheel spins their way again. Maybe it will. But in a league full of aggressive contenders, the Brewers’ passive approach feels like a missed opportunity to be more than just another early playoff exit.

Cincinnati Reds (+4500)

The Cincinnati Reds didn’t do anything jaw-dropping at the deadline, but they quietly got better, and that might be enough to nudge them into the postseason.

Ke’Bryan Hayes doesn’t hit much, but he picks it better than anybody at third base. If there’s even a little more offense in that bat, $7 million a year for a Gold Glove-level third baseman is a steal. Add in Zack Littell for a soft cost, and it’s a tidy bit of business for a team that’s still hanging around in the playoff race.

This isn’t a blockbuster haul, but the Reds didn’t need one. They needed functional upgrades, and they got them. In a division full of teams either treading water or refusing to swim altogether, Cincinnati might’ve just done enough to keep their head above the fray, and maybe sneak into October if a few things break right.

St. Louis Cardinals (+15000)

The St. Louis Cardinals’ deadline was about as exciting as a room-temperature cup of coffee. They sold off a few rentals, held on to their core, and called it a day. There’s a case to be made for playing it safe here, especially with Brendan Donovan, Lars Nootbaar, and Alec Burleson still under team control. But when the most interesting thing you did was cash in on Ryan Helsley’s trade value, that says a lot.

It wasn’t a disaster. It wasn’t a masterstroke. It was a spreadsheet deadline. The kind of deadline you stare at and think, “Yeah, that sure was a deadline.” If the goal was to clean up the back of the roster while keeping the big names for another run in 2026, mission accomplished. But if you wanted fireworks or a clear direction, this wasn’t it.

Pittsburgh Pirates (+30000)

You’d think a team this far out of contention might use the trade deadline to, I don’t know, actually build for the future. But the Pittsburgh Pirates looked at the pile of useful veterans they could’ve flipped – Andrew Heaney, Isiah Kiner-Falefa, Tommy Pham, Mitch Keller – and mostly passed. Trading David Bednar and Ke’Bryan Hayes was something, sure, but for a last-place team, they left way too much meat on the bone.

This front office seems caught between pretending to compete and being too sentimental to sell. That’s a dangerous place to be. There were real opportunities here to reshape the roster and boost a thin farm system. Instead, Ben Cherington moved a few pieces and gave up like a guy halfheartedly cleaning out his garage.

Bet: Chicago Cubs (-130)

NL East Odds

• Philadelphia Phillies (-135)
• New York Mets (+105)
• Miami Marlins (+20000)
• Atlanta Braves (+100000)
• Washington Nationals (+100000)

Philadelphia Phillies (-135)

The Philadelphia Phillies didn’t blow the doors off the deadline, but they didn’t sit on their hands either. Jhoan Duran is the headliner, and he’s a big one: an elite closer who gives Philly a flamethrowing answer at the back of the bullpen for the next three seasons. That’s great! The problem is, it also shines a spotlight on how little they did to help the league’s 26th-ranked outfield offense. Harrison Bader is fast, sure, but he’s not exactly Barry Bonds with the bat.

This team is still heavily reliant on Kyle Schwarber, Bryce Harper, and Trea Turner offensively. That’s not a terrible thing – they’re superstars – but I’m not sure the lineup has enough depth to make a deep October run.

This feels like a team that upgraded on the margins, which isn’t bad, unless you’re chasing a team like the Mets. Philly’s ceiling remains high thanks to its frontline starters and playoff-tested core, but in a division race, they’re still playing catch-up. At -105, the price isn’t awful if you’re banking on a Mets collapse or an October surge. Just know this team didn’t really go all-in, they kind of half-in’d.

New York Mets (+105)

The New York Mets might’ve just pulled off the most adult trade deadline in the entire league. No reckless prospect dumping, no all-in chaos, no five-team blockbuster that makes you dizzy just reading the headline. Just four rock-solid moves that shored up their biggest need – relief help – without touching their top-tier farm system. They basically went shopping with coupons and still came home with a cart full of brand names.

On the field, these moves matter. The Mets bullpen has been an ER waiting room for most of the season, so injecting Ryan Helsley, Tyler Rogers, and Gregory Soto into the mix gives them a real shot to slam the door in October. Combine that with the return to form of Edwin Diaz and the emergence of Reed Garrett, and this is suddenly a deep, dangerous group. Oh, and Cedric Mullins gives them actual life in center field, which is kind of important when Tyrone Taylor is hitting like he forgot what sport he’s playing.

They’re the division favorites for a reason, and at short odds, it still feels like a bet worth placing. With a healthy rotation, a stacked bullpen, and a lineup that’s done just enough to not implode, the Mets look like a team that could actually live up to their hype. Which, yes, is a terrifying sentence to type in any year post-2006. But sometimes the most Mets thing you can do… is not be the Mets.

Miami Marlins (+20000)

The Miami Marlins opted out of the chaos this year, and honestly? Good for them. No forced trades, no panic-selling their best arms, and no renting half a lineup from someone else. They moved Jesus Sanchez and Nick Fortes – two guys who clearly weren’t part of the long-term plan – and got back some interesting pieces, including a potentially useful arm in Ryan Gusto.

The biggest story, though, is what they didn’t do: they held onto Sandy Alcantara and Edward Cabrera. That’s a sign of actual direction from a franchise that’s often felt like it was throwing darts in the dark. At +9600, they’re not exactly contenders, but they’re also not as hopeless as those odds suggest. This year’s deadline didn’t fix everything in Miami, but it didn’t make things worse, and that’s progress.

They’re obviously not winning the NL East, but perhaps they can punch an NL Wild Card ticket. Not a bad place to be for a franchise that hasn’t tasted postseason baseball since 2020.

Atlanta Braves (+100000)

There’s mailing in the deadline, and then there’s whatever the Atlanta Braves just did. Atlanta’s moves read like someone doing their fantasy baseball homework five minutes before the draft. Erick Fedde and Carlos Carrasco for cash? Tyler Kinley? Rafael Montero? You almost want to check if this was auto-generated by ChatGPT. They’re 13.5 games out of a Wild Card and with a roster riddled with injuries, so they probably weren’t going to be buyers. But wow, they couldn’t even be decent sellers. No takers for Pierce Johnson or Marcell Ozuna? Really?

This team’s front office is in full denial. They don’t even seem to have a plan anymore. At +100000, they’re a long shot for a reason, and unless they discover time travel before October, that price might not be long enough.

Washington Nationals (+100000)

Now this is how you run a deadline when your odds are toast. The Washington Nationals offloaded five veterans, brought back a handful of intriguing prospects – including Eriq Swan, who throws a bowling ball – and didn’t set the building on fire in the process. Interim GM Mike DeBartolo might be new to the gig, but he made it look like he’s been clearing house with a purpose for years.

Is this a playoff team? Absolutely not. But unlike some clubs in their situation (uh, Atlanta?), the Nats actually acknowledged their reality and acted accordingly. It’s weird they couldn’t flip Josh Bell, but if this is the start of a proper rebuild, it’s not a bad one. At +100000, Washington’s not making the playoffs, but they made some solid moves.

Bet: New York Mets (-125)

Recent MLB Division Winners 

The following is a list of the most recent MLB Division Winners.