Four teams remain in the hunt for the 2026 World Series title, which means the other 26 clubs have already turned their attention to next year. The thin free-agent class behind ace Tarik Skubal could push teams toward a busier trade market this winter. The looming CBA negotiations and an expected lockout, however, leave considerable uncertainty about what the offseason will look like.
Assuming a traditional offseason takes place, here are the top 25 potential trade chips likely to move. The list mixes speculative candidates with players whose names have already surfaced in trade rumours. Each player’s likelihood of being traded shaped his place on the list, while remaining years of control, salary commitments and expected 2027 impact also influenced the rankings.
Nos. 25-24
25. 3B Matt Chapman, San Francisco Giants (Age: 33)
Stats: 84 G, 97 OPS+, .235/.324/.368, 26 XBH (7 HR), 2.7 WAR
Contract: 4 years, $100.7M remaining
While the Giants generally view Rafael Devers, Willy Adames and Jung Hoo Lee as unavailable or immovable, Chapman stands out as the one high-priced veteran they might be able to flip. San Francisco could use last year’s Nolan Arenado trade as a blueprint of sorts. Chapman required season-ending core muscle and hernia surgery in August, but he is expected to be ready for the start of next season.
24. 2B Ozzie Albies, Atlanta Braves (Age: 29)
Stats: 162 G, 87 OPS+, .237/.293/.392, 50 XBH (22 HR), 1.4 WAR
Contract: $7M club option for 2027
Albies has spent his entire 10-year career with the Braves, accumulating 25.7 WAR, earning four All-Star selections and winning two Silver Slugger awards. He still delivered surface-level power once again, but he has posted a middling 88 OPS+ and .299 on-base percentage over 1,350 plate appearances across the last two seasons. Atlanta could be ready to move on as part of a larger retooling.
Nos. 23-22
23. SP Griffin Jax, Tampa Bay Rays (Age: 31)
Stats: 34/23 G/GS, 3.53 ERA, 1.18 WHIP, 116 K, 112.1 IP, 0.7 WAR
Contract: Arbitration through 2027 (’27 projected: $5.7M)
After four seasons as one of baseball’s elite setup relievers, Jax moved into the Rays rotation in his first full season with Tampa Bay, which he joined in a 2025 deadline deal that sent Taj Bradley the other way. He posted a 3.14 ERA, 1.11 WHIP and 106 strikeouts in 103.2 innings across 23 starts. Tampa Bay has a habit of shopping pitchers with climbing arbitration salaries, and Jax fits that profile.
22. SP Michael Wacha, Kansas City Royals (Age: 35)
Stats: 32 GS, 3.32 ERA, 1.11 WHIP, 158 K, 200.2 IP, 4.3 WAR
Contract: 1 year, $14M remaining, $14M club option in 2028
No club met the Royals’ asking price for Wacha at the deadline, but Kansas City could shop him more aggressively this winter. He is a reasonably priced veteran starter coming off an All-Star campaign. The 14-year veteran led the American League with 200.2 innings pitched, and his 4.3 WAR was a career high.
Nos. 21-20
21. 2B Xavier Edwards, Miami Marlins (Age: 27)
Stats: 142 G, 108 OPS+, .280/.360/.371, 29 XBH (6 HR), 3.0 WAR
Contract: Arbitration through 2029 (’27 projected: $3.5M)
Edwards ranked among only 11 qualified hitters with a walk rate above 10 per cent and a strikeout rate below 15 per cent. He batted .321 with runners in scoring position and stole 21 bases in 26 attempts. After shifting over from shortstop midway through the 2025 season, he played solid defence at second base. The Marlins listened to offers for him and shortstop Otto Lopez at the deadline, and given Lopez’s extremely high asking price, Edwards looks like the more likely chip.
20. RP Trevor Megill, Milwaukee Brewers (Age: 32)
Stats: 63 G, 30 SV, 2.63 ERA, 0.89 WHIP, 10.1 K/9, 1.8 WAR
Contract: Arbitration through 2027 (’27 projected: $8.0M)
Megill’s fastball touches triple digits, and his knuckle curve generated a 46.5 per cent whiff rate. He converted 30 of 33 save chances and ranked among baseball’s most dominant closers. Over the past three seasons, he has posted a 2.61 ERA, 1.00 WHIP and 10.4 K/9, with 81 saves in 161 appearances. Milwaukee has a history of trading closers before they become expensive, having moved Josh Hader and Devin Williams.
Nos. 19-18
19. SP Shane McClanahan, Tampa Bay Rays (Age: 29)
Stats: 24 GS, 3.36 ERA, 1.12 WHIP, 106 K, 118.0 IP, 1.4 WAR
Contract: Arbitration through 2027 (’27 projected: $6.6M)
Tampa Bay had only four players earning more than $6 million in 2026 and carried the fourth-lowest payroll in the majors. That makes McClanahan an obvious trade chip ahead of his final year of arbitration. The two-time All-Star pitched well in his return from a 2025 season lost to Tommy John surgery. He owns a 3.10 ERA, 1.11 WHIP and 562 strikeouts in 522.2 career innings.
18. SP George Kirby, Seattle Mariners (Age: 28)
Stats: 30 GS, 4.33 ERA, 1.40 WHIP, 148 K, 174.2 IP, 1.4 WAR
Contract: Arbitration through 2028 (’27 projected: $9.8M)
Even after dumping Luis Castillo’s salary at the trade deadline, Seattle still has a good chance to shop one of its starting pitchers this winter in search of offensive upgrades. Kirby has two years of club control remaining but endured a down year in 2026. He is the least likely of the three Mariners starters on this list to move, yet he still carries significant value.
Nos. 17-16
17. 2B Ketel Marte, Arizona Diamondbacks (Age: 32)
Stats: 141 G, 107 OPS+, .249/.316/.432, 56 XBH (22 HR), 2.5 WAR
Contract: 4 years, $77.8M remaining, $11.5M player option in 2031
Marte earned 10-and-5 rights during the 2026 season, which means he can veto any trade. Off-the-field turmoil, however, suggests he may want a change of scenery. Even in a down year by his standards, he remained one of the best offensive second basemen in the league.
16. SP Jacob deGrom, Texas Rangers (Age: 38)
Stats: 31 GS, 4.20 ERA, 1.14 WHIP, 201 K, 162.2 IP, 1.7 WAR
Contract: 1 year, $37M remaining
The Rangers reportedly asked deGrom to waive his full no-trade clause at the deadline, but he declined. That does not mean he will refuse if the club starts retooling this offseason. He enters the final season of his five-year, $185 million deal, and his contract is not the hurdle it would have been a year or two ago.
Nos. 15-14
15. SS Corey Seager, Texas Rangers (Age: 32)
Stats: 102 G, 112 OPS+, .227/.312/.424, 36 XBH (20 HR), 3.2 WAR
Contract: 5 years, $157.5M remaining
A $31.5 million annual salary over the next five seasons, combined with his lengthy injury history, will not make Seager easy to move. He remains a star-level performer when healthy, though. A thin shortstop class in free agency will push teams toward the trade market, and a club unwilling to pay the steep price for Zach Neto or Otto Lopez could consider absorbing Seager’s salary at a lower acquisition cost.
14. 3B Isaac Paredes, Houston Astros (Age: 27)
Stats: 155 G, 127 OPS+, .262/.360/.447, 53 XBH (25 HR), 4.0 WAR
Contract: $13.4M club option in 2027
Houston stands at an interesting crossroads. Its starting rotation needs rebuilding, aging stars Jose Altuve and Carlos Correa are still around, and two key bats, Paredes and Jeremy Peña, are closing in on free agency. A larger rebuild would make sense, but even a simple retool leaves Paredes a logical trade candidate, given the infield logjam and his one remaining year of control.
Nos. 13-12
13. OF Steven Kwan, Cleveland Guardians (Age: 29)
Stats: 151 G, 110 OPS+, .282/.382/.349, 27 XBH (3 HR), 5.3 WAR
Contract: Arbitration through 2027 (’27 projected: $11.3M)
Kwan was Cleveland’s third-highest paid player in 2026 with a $7.725 million salary, and that figure is projected to climb well above $10 million next season. The Guardians operate with one of the lowest payrolls in baseball, and Kwan has been a speculative trade candidate for years. Ahead of his final year of control, moving him would fit the organisation’s philosophy. The emergence of Chase DeLauter and the addition of Jo Adell have also strengthened the outfield.
12. SP Emerson Hancock, Seattle Mariners (Age: 27)
Stats: 25 GS, 3.57 ERA, 1.14 WHIP, 126 K, 138.2 IP, 2.7 WAR
Contract: Arbitration through 2030 (’27 projected: minimum)
Seattle viewed Hancock as its No. 6 starter entering the year. He earned a spot in the Opening Day rotation when Bryce Miller was sidelined by injury. The former sixth overall pick seized the opportunity, posting a 2.59 ERA in 41.2 innings over his first seven starts, and he kept his rotation spot the rest of the way. His four remaining years of control make him far more valuable than his surface-level record might suggest.
Nos. 11-10
11. SP Reid Detmers, Los Angeles Angels (Age: 27)
Stats: 32 GS, 3.36 ERA, 1.04 WHIP, 211 K, 185.0 IP, 4.2 WAR
Contract: Arbitration through 2028 (’27 projected: $7.5M)
Detmers delivered a strong season out of the Angels bullpen in 2025, following a 6.70 ERA over 17 starts the year before. That performance earned him another shot in the rotation. He finished in the top 10 in the American League in strikeouts (211, fourth), innings pitched (185.0, sixth) and pitcher WAR (4.2, eighth). His value may never be higher for a club coming off a 100-loss season and long overdue for a rebuild.
10. SP Logan Gilbert, Seattle Mariners (Age: 29)
Stats: 32 GS, 3.73 ERA, 1.09 WHIP, 205 K, 186.0 IP, 3.3 WAR
Contract: Arbitration through 2027 (’27 projected: $15.4M)
Extension talks have made little progress, and free agency approaches quickly after the 2027 season. Gilbert could sit at the top of the list if Seattle decides to cash in one of its rotation trade chips. Over the past five seasons, he has been one of baseball’s most consistent starters, posting a 3.46 ERA and 1.05 WHIP while averaging 192 strikeouts and 180 innings a year.
Nos. 9-8
9. SP Joe Ryan, Minnesota Twins (Age: 30)
Stats: 27 GS, 3.79 ERA, 1.16 WHIP, 159 K, 144.2 IP, 2.1 WAR
Contract: Arbitration through 2027 (’27 projected: $9.6M)
The Twins avoided arbitration with Ryan last January and added a $13 million mutual option for 2027 to the books. The club will almost certainly pay the $100,000 buyout on that option in favour of a much lower arbitration projection. Ryan could still land on another team’s books if Minnesota takes a step toward rebuilding. The Twins clung to Byron Buxton and Ryan as building blocks a year ago, but after a 29-36 second half and a second straight losing season, bigger changes could be coming.
8. SS Jeremy Peña, Houston Astros (Age: 29)
Stats: 112 G, 124 OPS+, .277/.325/.477, 43 XBH (22 HR), 3.7 WAR
Contract: Arbitration through 2027 (’27 projected: $13.1M)
When Peña hired Scott Boras as his agent in June 2025, the chances of a long-term extension before he reached the open market dropped considerably. A wide-open AL West ultimately persuaded the Astros not to sell at the deadline. Even if Houston views itself as a contender in 2027, trading Peña before losing him in free agency remains a possibility.
Nos. 7-6
7. C William Contreras, Milwaukee Brewers (Age: 28)
Stats: 147 G, 108 OPS+, .270/.341/.417, 46 XBH (18 HR), 2.9 WAR
Contract: $14.5M club option in 2027
Milwaukee has made a habit of trading star players as they approach free agency, with Josh Hader, Corbin Burnes, Devin Williams and Freddy Peralta among the recent examples. That history puts Contreras in the trade conversation, particularly if the club believes former top prospect Jeferson Quero is a viable in-house replacement.
6. C Shea Langeliers, Athletics (Age: 28)
Stats: 106 G, 118 OPS+, .262/.328/.474, 44 XBH (23 HR), 3.4 WAR
Contract: Arbitration through 2028 (’27 projected: $8.7M)
Langeliers started the 2026 All-Star Game and carried an .807 OPS and 21 home runs into the break. A torn meniscus in his right knee limited him to 20 games in the second half, but he returned for 13 games in September to show potential suitors he is healthy. Oakland has locked up several members of its young offensive core in recent years, but Langeliers has not been among them. He could be the piece the club flips to upgrade one of baseball’s worst rotations.
Nos. 5-4
5. C Hunter Goodman, Colorado Rockies (Age: 27)
Stats: 138 G, 115 OPS+, .245/.310/.529, 63 XBH (41 HR), 2.6 WAR
Contract: Arbitration through 2029 (’27 projected: $6.2M)
Only seven players in baseball have hit more home runs over the past two seasons than Goodman, who has 72. His 41 long balls this year tied him for third on the National League leaderboard with Braves slugger Matt Olson. He actually performed better on the road (.882 OPS, 25 HR) than at home (.791 OPS, 16 HR), so Coors Field is not inflating an otherwise average hitter’s numbers. He has also developed into a serviceable defender behind the plate, though his bat will always drive his value.
After a fourth straight 100-loss season, nothing should be off the table as the Rockies explore ways to improve. The asking price will be high given Goodman’s remaining control, but he may be the most impactful power bat on the market.
4. SS Zach Neto, Los Angeles Angels (Age: 25)
Stats: 157 G, 118 OPS+, .239/.330/.436, 63 XBH (27 HR), 5.2 WAR
Contract: Arbitration through 2029 (’27 projected: $9.8M)
Neto has recorded three straight seasons of 20 home runs, 20 steals and 5.0 WAR, developing into one of baseball’s best all-around shortstops. He rarely receives the attention he deserves, however, because he plays for a franchise that has banked 11 consecutive losing seasons. The Angels took a step toward retooling at the deadline by trading several controllable pieces, including José Soriano, Jo Adell and Ryan Zeferjahn. They kept their two most valuable trade chips, Neto and left-hander Reid Detmers. Their status as perennial also-rans and newfound willingness to move controllable players should make Neto one of the most discussed trade candidates of the winter.
Nos. 3-2
3. RP Mason Miller, San Diego Padres (Age: 28)
Stats: 66 G, 38 SV, 1.67 ERA, 0.90 WHIP, 16.6 K/9, 3.1 WAR
Contract: Arbitration through 2029 (’27 projected: $8.1M)
San Diego toed the line between buying and selling leading up to the 2026 trade deadline. Miller was discussed as one of the top players who could move before the Padres committed to buying and added Casey Mize and Robbie Ray. With Adrián Morejón and Jason Adam potentially departing in free agency, the Padres will be hesitant to trade their All-Star closer. His value is so high, however, that they would be unwise not to at least listen to offers. San Diego pried him loose from Athletics last year with an elite prospect, Leo De Vries. If a similar offer arrives, or a team is willing to part with a controllable starting pitcher, Miller could move again.
2. SS CJ Abrams, Washington Nationals (Age: 26)
Stats: 152 G, 127 OPS+, .261/.336/.497, 67 XBH (33 HR), 5.1 WAR
Contract: Arbitration through 2028 (’27 projected: $10.2M)
Washington ranked among the MLB leaders in runs scored (821, third), home runs (210, sixth) and OPS (.744, third), and a breakout offensive season from Abrams helped drive those numbers. After posting a 109 OPS+ with 19 home runs and 31 steals in 2025, he reached another level with the first 30/30 season of his career and 106 RBIs, fourth on the National League leaderboard. The Nationals flipped starter MacKenzie Gore last winter while still trying to build back toward contention. They could do the same with Abrams if a package of talent improves their long-term outlook enough to justify moving an increasingly expensive star.
No. 1
1. OF Ronald Acuña Jr., Atlanta Braves (Age: 28)
Stats: 107 G, 118 OPS+, .255/.345/.451, 39 XBH (20 HR), 1.9 WAR
Contract: $17M club option in 2027 and 2028
Boos rained down on Acuña as he grounded out to end the seventh inning of Game 4 of the NLDS. He stranded a runner on second base, leaving his playoff line at 3-for-24 with zero RBIs. Could that be his final at-bat in a Braves uniform? The 2023 NL MVP and face of the franchise had a good-but-not-great 2026 season. Shortly after Atlanta was eliminated from the playoffs, he removed the Braves from his Instagram account, which fuelled speculation that a split could come this winter.
His contract adds to his value rather than subtracting from it, as is the case with some others on this list. Two reasonable $17 million club options cover the next two seasons. The asking price will be astronomical, but the return could be one of the 10 best players in the sport if he locks in and regains peak-level production.
