Six MLB teams that have dominated July trades in the 2000s

When it comes to Major League Baseball's trade deadline, some teams are certainly more active than others.

With the 2026 MLB trade deadline falling on Aug. 3, there will once again be trades made in August that will impact not only the final weeks of this season, but likely seasons to come as well.

However, even with trades stretching into August this year, the vast majority of MLB trades in the past have come in July. Since the start of this century, here are the six MLB teams that have dominated trades in July from the 2000 season through any deals made through July 29, 2026.

5 (tie). San Diego Padres

Maybe it's no surprise with A.J. Preller calling the shots in San Diego that the Padres show up on this list. San Diego has made 86 trades in July since the start of the century, including a July 31, 2010 three-team deal where the Padres sent an unheralded pitcher (Corey Kluber) to Cleveland and received Ryan Ludwick from the St. Louis Cardinals in return. 

Padres fans would like to have that one back.

5 (tie). Boston Red Sox 

The Red Sox have also made 86 July trades in the 2000s, including the deal that sent fan favorite Nomar Garciaparra to the Chicago Cubs on July 31, 2004. On that same day, the Red Sox received shortstop Orlando Cabrera and first baseman Doug Mientkiewicz in separate deals, helping shore up a defense and eventually push the Red Sox to winning the 2004 World Series.

4. New York Yankees

You knew the Yankees had to be on this list somewhere, right? In the 2000s, 89 July trades have happened in the Bronx. On July 30, 2006, the Yankees acquired outfielder Bobby Abreu from the Philadelphia Phillies for four prospects. The deal helped the Bronx Bombers have one of the most masher-filled lineups in MLB history. 

3. Tampa Bay Rays 

The Rays have had a mixed history with their 91 July trades this century, sometimes selling and sometimes buying. On July 31, 2018, the Rays sent pitcher Chris Archer to the Pittsburgh Pirates in exchange for outfielder Austin Meadows and pitchers Tyler Glasnow and Shane Baz. The deal would be a windfall for the Rays.

2. Los Angeles Dodgers

Glasnow would eventually be traded to Los Angeles, but that would be a December deal. In July, the Dodgers have made 92 trades this century, including a July 30, 2021, blockbuster that brought pitcher Max Scherzer and shortstop Trea Turner to Chavez Ravine from Washington in exchange for four prospects.

1. Pittsburgh Pirates

With an even 100 July trades this century, Pittsburgh is officially the busiest of all MLB teams in the month. Those swaps include a July 23, 2003, exchange with the Cubs that sent Aramis Ramirez and Kenny Lofton to the Windy City in exchange for three players who fizzled in Pittsburgh.