Four teams remain in contention for the 2026 World Series title, while the other 26 clubs have already turned their attention to next season. The thin free-agent class behind ace Tarik Skubal could push teams toward a busier trade market this winter. However, looming CBA negotiations and an expected lockout make it unclear what the offseason will look like.
Assuming a traditional offseason takes place, we have ranked the top 25 potential trade chips. The list mixes speculative candidates with players whose names have already surfaced in trade rumours. Each player’s likelihood of being traded helped determine his place on the list, while remaining years of control, salary commitments and projected 2027 impact shaped 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.
Rafael Devers, Willy Adames and Jung Hoo Lee are generally viewed as unavailable or immovable, which leaves Chapman as 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. Chapman underwent 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 this season, but he has posted an 88 OPS+ and a .299 on-base percentage over 1,350 plate appearances across the last two years. 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 (projected $5.7M for 2027).
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. The club acquired him in a 2025 deadline deal that sent Taj Bradley the other way. As a starter, he posted a 3.14 ERA, a 1.11 WHIP and 106 strikeouts over 103.2 innings in 23 starts. The Rays have a habit of shopping pitchers whose arbitration salaries are climbing, 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, plus a $14M club option in 2028.
No team met the Royals’ asking price for Wacha at the deadline, but the club 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 (projected $3.5M for 2027).
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. 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. Given Lopez’s very high asking price, Edwards is 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 (projected $8.0M for 2027).
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 moving closers before they become expensive, having traded 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 (projected $6.6M for 2027).
The Rays had only four players earning more than $6 million in 2026 and fielded 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 returned well from a 2025 season lost to Tommy John surgery, posting 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 (projected $9.8M for 2027).
Even after shedding Luis Castillo’s salary at the trade deadline, the Mariners could still shop one of their starters this winter in search of offensive upgrades. With two years of club control remaining and a down 2026 season, Kirby is the least likely of the three Mariners starters on this list to move. 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, plus an $11.5M player option in 2031.
Marte has 10-and-5 rights, so he can veto any trade. Off-the-field turmoil this season suggests he could be looking for a change of scenery. Even in a down year by his standards, he remained one of the league’s best offensive second basemen.
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. He may change his stance if the club starts retooling this offseason. He is entering the final season of his five-year, $185 million deal, and that contract is not the obstacle 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.
Seager’s $31.5 million annual salary over the next five seasons, combined with his lengthy injury history, will make him difficult to move. He remains a star-level performer when healthy, though, and a thin shortstop class in free agency will push teams toward the trade market. A club unwilling to pay the steep price for someone like 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.
The Astros stand at a crossroads. Their starting rotation needs rebuilding, and aging stars Jose Altuve and Carlos Correa are still on the roster, while Paredes and Jeremy Peña approach free agency. A larger rebuild would make sense, but even a simple retool could make 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 (projected $11.3M for 2027).
Kwan was the third-highest paid player on the Guardians roster in 2026, earning $7.725 million, and that figure is projected to climb well above $10 million next season. Cleveland operates with one of the lowest payrolls in baseball, and Kwan has been a speculative trade candidate for years. With his final year of control approaching, 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.
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 (projected at the minimum for 2027).
Seattle viewed Hancock as its No. 6 starter entering the year. He earned a spot in the Opening Day rotation when Bryce Miller went down with an 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 his rotation spot the rest of the way. His four remaining years of control make him far more valuable than his surface-level track record suggests.
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 (projected $7.5M for 2027).
Detmers pitched well out of the Angels bullpen in 2025 after posting a 6.70 ERA over 17 starts the previous year, and 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, and a team coming off a 100-loss season and long overdue for a rebuild could look to capitalise on it.
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 (projected $15.4M for 2027).
Extension talks have made little progress, and free agency arrives quickly 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, with 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 (projected $9.6M for 2027).
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 salary. Ryan could still end up on another team’s books if Minnesota takes a further step toward rebuilding. The Twins held 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 (projected $13.1M for 2027).
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 led the Astros to avoid selling at the deadline. Even if they see themselves as contenders 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.
The Brewers have a habit of trading stars as they approach free agency. Josh Hader, Corbin Burnes, Devin Williams and Freddy Peralta are notable recent examples. That history puts Contreras in the trade conversation, particularly if the club views former top prospect Jeferson Quero as 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 (projected $8.7M for 2027).
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. The Athletics have locked up several members of their young core in recent years, but Langeliers has not been among them. He could be the piece they move 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 (projected $6.2M for 2027).
Only seven players in baseball have hit more home runs over the past two seasons than Goodman, who has 72. His 41 home runs this year tied for third in the National League with Braves slugger Matt Olson.
Goodman posted significantly 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 (projected $9.8M for 2027).
Neto has recorded three straight seasons of 20 home runs, 20 steals and 5.0 WAR, which makes him one of the best all-around shortstops in baseball. He rarely receives the attention he deserves while playing 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. The club’s status as a perennial also-ran, combined with its 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 (projected $8.1M for 2027).
San Diego walked the line between buying and selling before the 2026 trade deadline. Miller was discussed as one of the top players who could be moved, but the Padres committed to buying and added Casey Mize and Robbie Ray instead. With Adrián Morejón and Jason Adam potentially departing in free agency, the Padres may be hesitant to trade their All-Star closer. His value is so high, though, that they would be foolish not to at least listen to offers. The Padres needed an elite prospect in Leo De Vries to pry him away from the Athletics, so a similar offer or a controllable starting pitcher could put him on the 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 (projected $10.2M for 2027).
Washington finished among the league leaders in runs scored (821, third), home runs (210, sixth) and OPS (.744, third), and a breakout 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 this year with the first 30/30 season of his career and 106 RBI, which ranked fourth in the NL.
The Nationals traded starter MacKenzie Gore last winter while still working to build toward contention. They could do the same with Abrams if the right package of talent strengthens 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 options in 2027 and 2028.
Fans booed Acuña loudly after he grounded out to end the seventh inning of Game 4 of the NLDS, leaving a runner stranded on second base. His playoff line settled at 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 but not great 2026 season. He removed the Braves from his Instagram account shortly after their playoff elimination, which fuelled speculation that a split could come 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, unlike some other players on this list. The asking price will be astronomical, but a return to peak-level production could make him one of the 10 best players in the sport.
