Top 15 Best Players That Could Get Traded This Offseason
Some of the game's biggest stars find themselves in trade rumors at the early stages of the offseason. Here are the top 15 best on the block.
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The Major League Baseball offseason is long and drawn out, but often littered with intrigue.
Like other sports, however, it’s wildly unpredictable in where players end up. Not just in free agency, where we can at least look around the league and determine what players make sense to address certain needs, the trade market is wildly unpredictable.
That’s what makes the offseason so exciting, even if the process of making moves takes a little longer. We as consumers can latch on to every little report and, until tangible evidence suggests otherwise, believe it full bore.
The trade market this winter, however, is shaping up to be a fascinating one. Several star players find their names in the rumor mill no matter the winter.
That said, the impending Collective Bargaining negotiations will jeopardize the start time of the 2027 season. As a result, teams may have to preemptively get creative this winter to set themselves up for success beyond 2026.
With that in mind, lets dive into top 15 trade candidates around the league who are sure to have their names in trade rumors all winter.
15. Luis Robert Jr., OF, Chicago White Sox
Another offseason of Robert Jr. trade speculation, it appears.
While he had another disappointing year, both with performance and injuries, he took off in the second half. In his final 125 plate appearances, he slashed .298/.352/.456 with a 126 wRC+ and five home runs.
The main problem, however, is that he didn’t play another game after Aug. 26.
It remains one of the great tragedies of the White Sox rebuild that the organization kept the 28-year-old after his torrid 2023 campaign. It makes sense why they did; they’ve got to build around somebody, but he’s provided just 1.9 fWAR in 210 games since.
Slated to make $20 million this year and next if his club option is picked up, he should be fairly well sought after.
After Kyle Tucker and Cody Bellinger, the drop-off in outfield production is pretty steep. Would a team be more willing to trade prospect capital for two years and $40 million on Luis Robert or give a similar contract to Trent Grisham?
Even if the answer is the latter, there are more outfield-needy teams than there are Grishams.
14. Brandon Lowe, 2B/DH, Tampa Bay Rays
Similar to Robert Jr., Brandon Lowe and teammate Yandy Diaz (more on that later) seem to live on the trade rumor mill. However, with Carson Williams ticketed for more MLB playing time, and the picking up of Taylor Walls’ club option, it makes sense to at least entertain offers on Lowe.
He’s not the same hitter he was from 2019 to 2021, but he’s still a tremendous source of power. He’s coming off a disastrous year defensively, so perhaps it’s time to talk position change for the 31-year-old, but the man can still hit for sure.
Having hit 31 home runs in 2025 and at least 21 homers in each of the past three seasons, Lowe has enough juice in his bat to be a team’s DH or first baseman. They can also keep him at second base, where he will be one of the best power hitters at his position, just not so great at fielding it.
13. Sandy Alcantara, RHP, Miami Marlins
In his first year back from elbow surgery, Alcantara had mini flashes of his old Cy Young self.
Overall, he posted a 5.36 ERA with a 4.28 FIP and 1.7 fWAR. He also posted a ground ball rate of 46.5 percent. That number is fine, but considerably lower than what we were used to seeing out of him when he was among the game’s best.
It shouldn’t go unnoticed, however, that Alcantara was really good in 13 starts after the All-Star Break. Across 83.2 innings, he had a 3.33 ERA and 71 strikeouts while the Marlins soared into fringe Wild Card contention in the second half.
The reason for Miami to trade the right-hander is the same as it was last winter; we’ve just got a full season of seeing him post-surgery to work with. Additionally, he’s down to a maximum of two years of team control, pending a club option decision for $21 million in 2027.
With the rotation options being fairly top-heavy in free agency, Alcantara becomes an intriguing tweener between “flier guy” and “legitimate No. 2 starter.”
12. Willson Contreras, 1B, St. Louis Cardinals
Though injuries have impacted the raw output for Contreras since signing with St. Louis three years ago, his rate numbers are fantastic.
No longer a catcher, the 33-year-old slashed .257/.344/.447 with 20 home runs, 80 runs batted in, and a 124 wRC+ in 135 games. After opening the year in a 4-for-39 slump, he was much more up to snuff with a 132 wRC+ in his final 126 games.
For teams needing right-handed slug, Contreras makes a lot of sense. He’s controlled through at least 2027, with a club option for 2028.
As he turns 34 in May, there’s a chance that relieving St. Louis of his remaining salary alone significantly reduces outgoing player capital. Especially since Contreras has a full no-trade clause and can dictate his landing spot.
This is also a somewhat unfortunate offseason to move him if you’re Chaim Bloom, as the first base market in free agency is pretty fruitful: Pete Alonso, Ryan O’Hearn, Josh Naylor, and even Eugenio Suarez could factor into that mix for the right team.
However, the Cardinals have several veterans, and salary, they can look to shed. Contreras is just the tip of the iceberg.
11. Yandy Diaz, 1B/DH, Tampa Bay Rays
As for Yandy Diaz, he’s as steady as they come as well. While the 163 wRC+ in 2023 seems more like an aberration, he’s still tough at-bat and has tapped into the power a bit more in recent seasons.
With $12 million owed to him in 2026, plus a vesting conditional club option for $10 million, which will vest to $13 million if he hits 500 plate appearances, Diaz is under team control for two years at a very fair price tag.
Similar to Contreras, this is a tough offseason to move him, as the free agent pool for first basemen is pretty strong. That said, he’s been a top 10 hitter in baseball since 2022 by wRC+ (140).
10. Brendan Donovan, UTIL, St. Louis Cardinals
Perhaps calling him utility is a little strong nowadays, but he’s played 100+ games at second base and in left field since 2024. In that span, he’s a 7 OAA defender at second and a -2 OAA player in left.
Annually, Donovan is a pest for opposing pitching. Though not coupled with elite baserunning prowess, he’s still become a lock to ballpark a .280/.350/.420 slash line with 3.0 fWAR per 150 games played.
What makes Donovan so frustrating to face is that he doesn’t strike out a whole lot. Taking a look at his blood red Baseball Savant page, you can see his 95th percentile for whiff and 92nd percentile for strikeout.
He’s not an exceptional defender, but he gets the job done, and his offense has more than made up for it in his career. He’s truly one of the steadiest hitters in the game.
9. Pablo Lopez, RHP, Minnesota Twins
The Minnesota Twins started a rebuild with a fire sale at the deadline, but a few holdovers remained on the roster. Pablo Lopez was one of them, as the Twins were unable to move him in a season that was plagued by injuries for the right-hander.
When on the mound, Lopez was very effective, pitching to a 2.74 ERA in 14 starts and 75 2/3 innings pitched. Sporting a career 3.81 ERA, few pitchers in MLB have been more dependable than Lopez over the past seven seasons.
In Minnesota, Lopez has showed the ability to lead a rotation, making him an option to be a de facto ace for a team without a frontline arm, or a really good No. 2 or No. 3 for team that has an established ace.
Set to make $21.75 million in each of the next two seasons, Lopez is not cheap, but gets paid fair market price for his starting pitcher of his caliber.
Still only 29 years old, Lopez is a lot closer to teammate Joe Ryan in impact, but will conceivably cost much less on the trade market due to the difference in salary and the perception that there is still more untapped potential with Ryan.
8. MacKenzie Gore, LHP, Washington Nationals
The second half wasn’t kind to Gore, but there’s no denying his talent.
Before the All-Star Break, the 26-year-old southpaw had a 3.02 ERA, a 30.5% strikeout rate, and was top 10 among qualified pitchers with 3.1 fWAR. Additionally, he ranked sixth in baseball — minimum of 150 innings pitched — in strikeouts per nine innings overall.
Gore hit the 30-start threshold for the second consecutive year, with this year featuring a career-high 14 quality starts.
The starting pitching market in free agency is pretty top-heavy, with more teams looking for frontline starters than there are readily available options.
The Nationals, run by rookie president Paul Toboni, can get opportunistic by floating Gore as a fiscally cheaper alternative. It also helps that Gore isn’t a rental; albeit with two years left of team control, the left-hander would be an immediate extension candidate once traded.
7. Jarren Duran / Wilyer Abreu, OF, Boston Red Sox
Of these two, it seems like the logical and likeliest trade chip is Jarren Duran, who’s spent his entire professional life in the Red Sox organization.
He’s older, has less power, is a worse defender than Abreu, and has less team control. He also regressed from what was a near seven-win season in 2024 with a 3.9 fWAR in 2025. Very productive, but not good enough to stay in the good graces of the Red Sox fan base.
Yet, that also could be why the Red Sox opt to trade Abreu. He’s younger, has more team control, more power, and is a two-time Gold Glove winner — he may return more in a trade. There is platoon, and health, concerns surrounding the 26-year-old, but the Red Sox need to consolidate talent.
While he has more upside, he’s yet to be better than Duran as a big leaguer.
Either way, Boston is likely searching for a premier starting pitcher for one, or both, of these corner outfielders. The only certainty regarding the stacked Red Sox outfield is that Roman Anthony will be in it next season, barring injury.
It will also be hard for the Red Sox to keep defensive wizard Ceddane Rafaela out of center field.
6. Byron Buxton, CF, Minnesota Twins
A late addition to this list, Byron Buxton finds his name on the trade block after previously stating that he was a “Twin for life” and unwilling to waive his no-trade clause.
After watching the Twins trade 10 of his teammates at the deadline, Buxton is not eager to stick around for a further teardown. Earlier this week, Dan Hayes of The Athletic reported that Buxton would consider waiving his no-trade clause if the Twins continued to sell off pieces, namely Joe Ryan and/or Pablo Lopez.
If the Twins do decide to further lean into a rebuild, they would be selling high on Buxton, who is coming off a career year. Having started over 100 games in center field for the second time in his career, and the first time since 2017, Buxton posted a career-best 5.0 fWAR.
The soon-to-be 32-year-old hit .264/.327/.551, with 35 home runs in 126 games, with a 136 wRC+.
No longer an elite defense center fielder, Buxton still showcased enough ability to remain up the middle, posting 3 OAA in center field (albeit with -5 DRS).
Only making a little more than $15 million per season over the next years, Buxton’s team-friendly contract mitigates the obvious injury risk that he carries moving forward. In a market that is barren of impact center fielders, Buxton would shoot to the top of the list if truly put on the trade block.
5. Joe Ryan, RHP, Minnesota Twins
For about 30 seconds, Ryan was traded to the Red Sox this past deadline. Alas, it was a fugazi.
That doesn’t change the increasing sense that his days in Minnesota are numbered. The 29-year-old is coming off his best year as a big leaguer and would be an ideal pitcher to secure long-term.
However, the Twins appear headed for another rebuild, so keeping Ryan, and paying him a lot of money, may not fit their timeline.
If he’s truly available, it’s hard to fathom there not being even more teams coveting his services this winter. It’s hard to tell what kind of trade package the Twins may get after waiting an extra few months, but it should still be significant.
Even after a slow second half, Ryan finished the year with a 3.42 ERA. With that came career-highs in starts and innings, with his second-most strikeouts. His four-seam and sweeper were both plus offerings in 2025, with the latter generating a 34% whiff rate.
The red flag is his chase numbers, which nosedived to the 14th percentile in 2025, but he’s historically much better than that.
4. Freddy Peralta, RHP, Milwaukee Brewers
Peralta believers have waited long for the season he put together in 2025. After dominating in 2021, the 29-year-old struggled to return to that level consistently.
This year, he was awesome. In a career-high 33 starts, he had career-bests in ERA (2.70) and innings (176.2). While homers hurt him mightily in October overall, he took a giant step in the right direction preventing them in the regular season.
Everything Peralta threw in 2025 was plus. His worst offering was his four-seam, which was mostly because of the types of hits he gave up on it. Opponents hit just .208 against it, but 16 of his 21 homers allowed came off it. That said, it was a 24.8% whiff-generator, with his changeup, curveball, and slider all soaring over 30 percent.
He’s entering the final season of his team control in Milwaukee, making only $8 million in 2026. Even as a rental, he should garner a hefty ask for the Brewers.
3. Hunter Greene, RHP, Cincinnati Reds
This one that admittedly makes little sense to us, but Hunter Greene’s name has been out in trade rumors, nevertheless. At just 26 years old, Greene is one of the most valuable pitchers in baseball, locked into one of the best contract extensions.
Greene will earn $8.33 million in 2026, before taking home $15.33 million in 2027, and $16.33 million in 2028. The Reds then carry a club option for 2029, which is worth $21 million with a $2 million buyout. Holding four years of control, there is no rush for the Reds to trade Greene.
In 19 starts this past season, Greene pitched to a 2.76 ERA across 107 2/3 innings pitched. This was nearly an identical ERA to the 2.75 mark he posted in 26 starts and 150 1/3 IP in an All-Star campaign in 2024.
The only way the Reds would move Greene is if they got an absolute haul, one that could give them multiple pieces to try to win now. Unlikely for sure, but there’s been enough speculation about a trade to warrant mentioning Greene on this list.
2. Ketel Marte, 2B, Arizona Diamondbacks
The best second baseman in baseball could be on the move. Ketel Marte is routinely amongst the game’s elite hitters, and 2025 was no different. In 126 games, he posted a 145 wRC+ with 28 home runs and 72 runs batted in. He also played at a 5.5 fWAR per 150 games pace.
Outside of 2024, Marte is generally a passable second baseman at best. With the injuries he’s battled over the years, one must wonder when it’s time for him to split time between the field and designated hitter.
He turned 32 on Oct. 12 and is in Year 2 of a six-year, $116.5 million extension. This contract, in all likelihood, takes him to the finish line of what’s been a fantastic career to this point. But the value of the contract alone will fetch the D-backs a ton if they decide to part ways with Marte.
Any team looking for a second baseman should be in his market if he’s truly available. Heck, even teams that aren’t should be in his market. Marte is the kind of player you find a way to make work if you have the chance to acquire him.
The D-Backs have until mid-April to trade Marte before his 10-5 rights kick in and he has a full no-trade clause.
So if there is any thought of wanting to move on from Marte, now is the time for Arizona to shop him when they still most their options on the table (Marte has a 5-team no-trade list).
1. Tarik Skubal, LHP, Detroit Tigers
Rounding out this top 10, we have the best pitcher in baseball. Two-time reigning AL Cy Young Tarik Skubal.
Over the past two seasons, the Detroit Tigers have been 42-20 in games started by Tarik Skubal. With anyone else on the mound, they are 131-131, showing that without their ace, this team that has been to the playoffs twice in a row is nothing more than a .500 team.
Trading Skubal would be a step back, regardless of what comes back in return. Yet, Skubal’s name has been one of the most prominent in offseason trade rumors, as he is in line to become the highest-paid pitcher in MLB history and is just a year away from free agency.
Represented by Scott Boras, the chances of Skubal signing a contract extension are slim. Trading him now would be the best way to recoup value for the ace, but the Tigers reportedly seem more inclined to go into the season with Skubal.
If Detroit falls out of the race mid-season, they will always have a chance to move Skubal at the deadline, where they could get just as much as they would get if they traded him now.
Still, if a team makes a compelling enough offer this offseason, you never know if Tigers President of Baseball Operations Scott Harris may decide to pull the trigger early.
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