Four teams remain in contention for the 2026 World Series title, while the league’s other 26 clubs have already turned their attention to 2027. The thin free-agent market behind ace Tarik Skubal could push teams toward a busier offseason of trades. However, looming CBA negotiations and an expected lockout make it unclear what the offseason will look like.
Assuming a traditional offseason takes place, here are the top 25 players who could be on the move. The list mixes speculative trade candidates with players whose names have already surfaced in trade rumours. The likelihood that each player is traded determined which 25 names made the list. Remaining years of control, salary commitments and expected 2027 impact determined their 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. Chapman, however, is the one high-priced veteran the Giants might be able to flip, and they 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. He has accumulated 25.7 WAR, earned four All-Star selections and won two Silver Slugger awards. He still produced surface-level power this year, but he has posted an 88 OPS+ and a .299 on-base percentage across 1,350 plate appearances over the last two seasons. 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 (’27 projected: $5.7M)
Jax spent four seasons as one of baseball’s elite setup relievers before he moved into the Rays rotation in his first full season with Tampa Bay. The Rays acquired him in a 2025 deadline deal that sent Taj Bradley to the Brewers. Over 23 starts, he posted a 3.14 ERA, a 1.11 WHIP and 106 strikeouts in 103.2 innings. Tampa Bay has a habit of shopping pitchers whose arbitration salaries are climbing, which makes Jax a likely candidate to move.
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 team met the Royals’ asking price for Wacha at the deadline. The Royals could shop him more aggressively this winter, since 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 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 steep 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 (’27 projected: $8.0M)
Megill’s fastball touches triple digits, and his knuckle curve produced a 46.5 percent 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, a 1.00 WHIP and a 10.4 K/9, with 81 saves in 161 appearances. The Brewers have a history of trading closers before they become expensive, having moved Josh Hader and Devin Williams in previous deals.
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)
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 (’27 projected: $9.8M)
Even after dumping Luis Castillo’s salary at the trade deadline, the Mariners still have a good chance to shop one of their starting pitchers this winter in pursuit of offensive upgrades. With two years of club control remaining and a down year in 2026, 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, $11.5M player option in 2031
Marte earned 10-and-5 rights during the 2026 season, which means he can veto any trade. Enough off-field turmoil occurred, however, to suggest he might 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 is entering the final season of his five-year, $185 million deal, and his 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 it difficult for the Rangers to move him. He remains a star-level performer when healthy, though. A thin shortstop class in free agency will push teams toward the trade market. A club unwilling to pay the steep price for players 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 an interesting crossroads. Their starting rotation needs rebuilding, aging stars Jose Altuve and Carlos Correa remain, 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 (’27 projected: $11.3M)
Kwan was Cleveland’s third-highest-paid player in 2026, earning $7.725 million, 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 chance 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 in 41.2 innings over his first seven starts, and he secured a rotation spot for the rest of the season. With four years of control remaining, he holds far more value 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 (’27 projected: $7.5M)
Detmers pitched well out of the Angels bullpen in 2025 after posting an ugly 6.70 ERA over 17 starts the previous year. That performance earned him another shot in the rotation. He finished in the American League’s top 10 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 (’27 projected: $15.4M)
Extension talks have made little progress, and free agency approaches quickly after the 2027 season. Gilbert could top the list if the Mariners decide to cash in one of their rotation trade chips. Over the past five seasons, he has been one of baseball’s most consistent starters, posting 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 (’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 exchange for a significantly lower arbitration projection. Ryan could still land on another team’s books if Minnesota takes another 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 led 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 remains a real option.
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 all count among the notable recent examples. That history puts Contreras in the trade conversation, especially if Milwaukee 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. 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 (’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 home runs this year tied him for third on the National League leaderboard with Braves slugger Matt Olson.
Goodman actually posted significantly better numbers on the road (.882 OPS, 25 HR) than at home (.791 OPS, 16 HR). Coors Field is not inflating the numbers of an otherwise average hitter. 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, the Rockies should consider every option as they look to improve. The asking price will be high given his remaining control, but Goodman 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. He has developed into one of the best all-around shortstops in baseball, yet 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, however, in Neto and left-hander Reid Detmers. Their status as a perennial also-ran, combined with a newfound willingness to move controllable players, should make Neto one of the most talked-about 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 buyers and sellers before the 2026 trade deadline. Miller was discussed as one of the top players who could move, 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 will be hesitant to deal their All-Star closer. Still, his value is so high that they would be foolish not to at least listen to offers.
San Diego needed an elite prospect, Leo De Vries, to pry Miller loose from 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 (’27 projected: $10.2M)
Washington finished among the MLB leaders in runs scored (821, 3rd), home runs (210, 6th) and OPS (.744, 3rd). 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. He recorded the first 30/30 season of his career and drove in 106 runs to rank fourth on the National League leaderboard.
The Nationals traded starter MacKenzie Gore last winter while still trying to build back toward 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
Fans booed Acuña loudly as he grounded out to end the seventh inning of Game 4 of the NLDS. He stranded a runner on second base, and his playoff line dropped to 3-for-24 with zero RBIs. Will that be his final at-bat in a Braves uniform?
The 2023 NL MVP and face of the franchise enjoyed a good-not-great 2026 season. He quickly removed the Braves from his Instagram account after Atlanta was eliminated from the playoffs, 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, as is the case with some other players on this list. The asking price will be astronomical, but the return could be one of the 10 best players in the sport if he returns to peak-level production.