​The MLB trade deadline never finishes the way everyone expects. Any given circumstance – one phone, one injury, a win streak (hello Boston), twitchy ownership – can create panic. And when it does, suddenly the untouchables are, in fact, quite touchable. Here are five predictions before Monday’s 6 p.m. ET deadline.MORE: One player every MLB team will trade at the 2026 trade deadlineMets trade at least six playersMay 29, 2026; New York City, New York, USA; New York Mets pitcher Freddy Peralta (51) delivers a pitch against the Miami Marlins during the first inning at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Gregory Fisher-Imagn ImagesFreddy Peralta and Clay Holmes are only the beginning. A 46-63 team with multiple expiring contracts has no reason to move cautiously. New York will spend deadline day turning short-term pieces into whatever future value it can salvage.Boston lands Zach NetoThe Red Sox already traded for Curtis Mead, then watched him fracture his wrist in his debut. Boston still needs a shortstop, and Neto offers the blend it needs – youth, control and five-tool production. The Angels listen, Boston gets ridiculous, and a deal happens.MORE: 5 MLB pitchers who will be traded before the trade deadlineYankees miss on the biggest namesAug 1, 2025; Denver, Colorado, USA; Colorado Rockies catcher Hunter Goodman (15) hits a solo home run in the ninth inning against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Coors Field. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn ImagesMiller is too expensive. Skubal goes west. Hunter Goodman’s price becomes absurd. New York still adds help, but the return feels way more practical rather than explosive.That is the strange part of this deadline. Everyone wants the same scarce things – starting pitching, catching, and late-inning power arms.The winners will not be the teams that dominate the deadline. They will be the ones willing to lose a little sleep over the price.Dodgers land Tarik SkubalLos Angeles keeps telling people it expects Shohei Ohtani, Blake Snell and Tyler Glasnow will pitch again this season. Fine. That does not mean the Dodgers will watch another contender acquire a two-time Cy Young winner. They have the prospect depth, money and nerve to finish the biggest deal.Padres keep Mason MillerOct 1, 2025; Chicago, Illinois, USA; San Diego Padres pitcher Mason Miller (22) delivers during the seventh inning against the Chicago Cubs during game two of the Wildcard round for the 2025 MLB playoffs at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: Matt Marton-Imagn ImagesSan Diego’s asking price reportedly begins with interested teams making everyone available. That sounds less like active shopping and more like A.J. Preller waiting to be overwhelmed. Nobody meets the price, and Miller remains the closer.— Enjoy free coverage of the top news & trending stories on The Big Lead —