The 2022 MLB trade deadline is quickly approaching as clubs scramble to improve their rosters for a playoff run or look toward the future by dealing some of their veterans.
This year, the trade deadline is set for Aug. 2 at 3 p.m. PT, which is an untraditional time for the league. The deadline historically has been set for July 31 each season, generally ending around 1 p.m.
There have been exceptions made in the past, usually to avoid having the deadline on the weekend when more afternoon games are played. For example, last year the deadline was moved up a day to Friday, July 30, and in 2016, the league pushed the trade deadline back to Aug. 1 in order to avoid business facing the buzzer on a Sunday afternoon.
With the 2020 campaign delayed because of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, the trade deadline wasn’t until Aug. 31.
Why is MLB trade deadline on Aug. 2?
As part of the negotiations for the 2022-26 collective bargaining agreement (CBA) during the lockout this past offseason, the Players Association (MLBPA) agreed to give MLB commissioner Rob Manfred the power to set the trade deadline for any day between July 28-Aug. 2.
On Tuesday, only one game starts prior to the end of the trade deadline as the Colorado Rockies face the San Diego Padres, beginning at 1:10 p.m. as part of a doubleheader. The next game begins 40 minutes following the end of the deadline.
The Aug. 2 deadline also remains a hard date for trades. While teams used to be able to trade for another month by passing players through waivers, that was eliminated beginning in the 2019 season.
That prompted some general managers to begin supporting a non-waiver deadline being pushed back to Aug. 15. However, it didn’t appear to gain much support and there have not been indications MLB is considering such change.
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