The MLB postseason has been trimmed to four teams still chasing a World Series title in 2026, while the league’s other 26 clubs have already turned their attention to next year. The thin free-agent market behind ace Tarik Skubal could make this a busy offseason on the trade market. However, the looming CBA negotiations and an expected lockout cloud what the winter will look like.
Assuming something resembling a traditional offseason takes place, here are the top 25 potential trade chips likely to move. The list mixes speculative trade candidates with players whose names have already surfaced in trade rumours. The likelihood of a trade narrowed the field to 25 names, while remaining years of control, salary commitments and expected 2027 impact determined where each player landed.
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 Rafael Devers, Willy Adames and Jung Hoo Lee are generally viewed as unavailable or immovable, Chapman is the one high-priced veteran the Giants might be able to flip. The club 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 produced surface-level power once again. However, he has posted a middling 88 OPS+ and a .299 on-base percentage over 1,350 plate appearances across the last two seasons, and the Braves 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 (2027 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. He arrived in a 2025 deadline deal that sent Taj Bradley the other way. As a starter, he posted a 3.14 ERA, 1.11 WHIP and 106 strikeouts in 103.2 innings over 23 starts. The Rays have a habit of shopping pitchers whose arbitration salaries are climbing, which puts Jax on the radar.
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 one met the Royals’ asking price for Wacha at the deadline. He could be shopped more aggressively this winter as 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 mark.
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 (2027 projected: $3.5M)
Edwards was one of only 11 qualified hitters with a walk rate above 10 percent and a strikeout rate below 15 percent. He batted .321 with runners in scoring position and stole 21 bases in 26 attempts. He also played solid defence at second base after shifting over from shortstop midway through the 2025 season. The Marlins listened to offers for him and shortstop Otto Lopez at the deadline. Given Lopez’s extremely high asking price, Edwards looks like the more likely trade 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 (2027 projected: $8.0M)
Megill’s fastball touches triple digits, and his knuckle curve generated a 46.5 percent whiff rate. He converted 30 of 33 save chances, establishing himself as one of baseball’s most dominant closers. Over the past three seasons, he has posted a 2.61 ERA, a 1.00 WHIP and a 10.4 K/9, with 81 saves in 161 appearances. The Brewers have a history of flipping closers before they become expensive, having dealt Josh Hader and Devin Williams in the past.
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 (2027 projected: $6.6M)
The Rays had only four players earning more than $6 million in 2026, and they 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, a 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 (2027 projected: $9.8M)
Even after shedding Luis Castillo’s salary at the trade deadline, the Mariners still have a good chance of shopping one of their starting pitchers this winter in search of offensive upgrades. Kirby has two years of club control remaining and endured a down year in 2026. That makes him the least likely of the three Mariners starters on this list to move, but 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 was enough to suggest he might be looking for 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 approached deGrom about waiving his full no-trade clause at the deadline, but he declined. That does not mean he will refuse if the club begins retooling this offseason. He is entering 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 a lengthy injury history, will not make it easy for the Rangers to move Seager. Even so, he remains a star-level performer when healthy. A thin shortstop class in free agency should push teams towards the trade market. For a club unwilling to pay the steep price for someone like Zach Neto or Otto Lopez, absorbing Seager’s salary at a lower acquisition cost could be a viable alternative.
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
The Astros are at a crossroads. Their starting rotation needs rebuilding, aging stars Jose Altuve and Carlos Correa are still on the roster, and two key bats, Paredes and Jeremy Peña, are closing in on free agency. A larger rebuild would make sense, but even if Houston only retools, Paredes remains 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 (2027 projected: $11.3M)
Kwan was the third-highest paid player on the Guardians roster in 2026, with a $7.725 million salary, and that figure is projected to climb well north of $10 million next season. Cleveland operates 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, flipping him would fit the organisation’s philosophy. The emergence of Chase DeLauter and the addition of Jo Adell have also improved the outfield picture in Cleveland.
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 (2027 projected: minimum)
Viewed as Seattle’s No. 6 starter entering the year, Hancock earned a shot at the Opening Day rotation when Bryce Miller was sidelined by injury. The former No. 6 overall pick seized the opportunity, posting a 2.59 ERA over 41.2 innings in his first seven starts, and he held onto a rotation spot for the rest of the season. His four remaining years of control make him considerably more valuable than his surface-level track 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 (2027 projected: $7.5M)
Detmers put together 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, 4th), innings pitched (185.0, 6th) and pitcher WAR (4.2, 8th). His value may never be higher, particularly for a team 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 (2027 projected: $15.4M)
Extension talks have made little progress, and free agency is fast approaching after the 2027 season. Gilbert could sit at the top of the list if Seattle decides to cash in on one of its rotation trade chips. Over the past five seasons, he has been one of baseball’s most consistent starters, logging a 3.46 ERA and a 1.05 WHIP while averaging 192 strikeouts and 180 innings per 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 (2027 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 significantly lower arbitration projection. Ryan could still end up on someone else’s books if Minnesota takes another step towards rebuilding. The Twins clung tightly 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 (2027 projected: $13.1M)
When Peña hired Scott Boras as his agent in June 2025, the likelihood of a long-term extension before he reached the open market shrank considerably. A wide-open AL West convinced the Astros to avoid selling at the deadline. Even if Houston views itself as a contender in 2027, trading Peña before losing him in free agency could still be on the table.
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
The Brewers have made a habit of trading star players as they approach free agency. Josh Hader, Corbin Burnes, Devin Williams and Freddy Peralta are all notable recent examples. That is enough to put Contreras into 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 (2027 projected: $8.7M)
Langeliers started the 2026 All-Star Game, carrying a .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. The Athletics have locked up several members of their young offensive core in recent years, but Langeliers has not been among them. He could be the piece Oakland 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 (2027 projected: $6.2M)
Only seven players across baseball have hit more home runs over the past two seasons than the 72 hit by Goodman. His 41 long balls this year were tied for third on the National League leaderboard with Braves slugger Matt Olson. He actually posted better numbers on the road (.882 OPS, 25 HR) than at home (.791 OPS, 16 HR), so Coors Field is not inflating an otherwise average performer. 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 his 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 (2027 projected: $9.8M)
Neto has produced three straight seasons of 20 home runs, 20 steals and 5.0 WAR, and he has developed into one of the best all-around shortstops in baseball. 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 towards retooling at the deadline by trading controllable pieces, including José Soriano, Jo Adell and Ryan Zeferjahn. They held onto their two most valuable trade chips, though, in Neto and left-hander Reid Detmers. The club’s status as a perennial also-ran, combined with a newfound willingness to move controllable pieces, 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 (2027 projected: $8.1M)
San Diego was toeing the line between buyers and sellers before the 2026 trade deadline. Miller was discussed as one of the top players who could be on the 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 deal their All-Star closer. However, his value is so high that they would be foolish not to at least listen to offers. It took an elite prospect, Leo De Vries, for the Padres to pry him loose from the Athletics. If a similar offer arrives, or if 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 (2027 projected: $10.2M)
Washington finished among the MLB leaders in runs scored (821, 3rd), home runs (210, 6th) and OPS (.744, 3rd), 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 took his game to another level with the first 30/30 season of his career and 106 RBI, ranking fourth on the National League leaderboard. The Nationals flipped starter MacKenzie Gore last winter while still building towards contention. They could do the same with Abrams if the right 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
A chorus of boos rained down on Acuña as he grounded out to end the seventh inning in Game 4 of the NLDS. He stranded a runner on second base and took his playoff line to 3-for-24 with no RBI. Will that be his final at-bat in a Braves uniform? The 2023 NL MVP and face of the franchise had a good-not-great 2026 season. He quickly scrubbed the Braves from his Instagram account after Atlanta was eliminated from the playoffs, which fuelled speculation that a split could be on the horizon this winter.
With a pair of reasonable $17 million club options for the next two seasons, his contract adds to his value rather than subtracting from it, as is the case with some other players on this list. The asking price will be astronomical. However, the return could be one of the 10 best players in the sport if he locks in and returns to peak-level production.