Four teams remain in the 2026 MLB postseason, and the other 26 clubs have already turned their attention to next year. A thin free-agent class behind ace Tarik Skubal could push teams toward a busier trade market this winter. However, the 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 potential trade chips likely to move. The list mixes speculative trade candidates with players whose names have already surfaced in rumors. The likelihood that a player is traded narrowed the field to 25, while remaining years of control, salary commitments and expected 2027 impact determined 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. That leaves Chapman as 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, accumulating 25.7 WAR, earning four All-Star selections and winning 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 over 1,350 plate appearances 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 (2027 projected: $5.7M)
Jax spent four seasons as one of baseball’s elite setup relievers before moving 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 the other way. Over his 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 with climbing arbitration salaries, however, 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 team 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 (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. After shifting over from shortstop midway through the 2025 season, he played solid defense at second base. The Marlins listened to offers for him and shortstop Otto Lopez at the deadline. Given Lopez’s extremely high asking price, Edwards appears to be 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, making him one of baseball’s most dominant closers. Over the past three seasons, he has posted a 2.61 ERA, a 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 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 (2027 projected: $6.6M)
Only four Rays players earned salaries above $6 million in 2026, and Tampa Bay had 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)
Seattle dumped Luis Castillo’s salary at the trade deadline, but the Mariners still have a good chance to shop one of their starters this winter in pursuit of offensive upgrades. Kirby has two years of club control remaining, but he endured a down year in 2026. He is the least likely of the three Mariners starters on this list to be traded, though 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 gives him the power to veto any trade. Off-the-field turmoil could make him want a change of scenery, though. 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, and he declined. He could change his stance if Texas starts retooling this offseason. He is entering the final season of his five-year, $185 million deal, and the 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
His $31.5 million annual salary over the next five seasons, combined with a lengthy injury history, will make it difficult for the Rangers to move Seager. Still, he remains a star-level performer when healthy. A thin shortstop class in free agency will push teams toward 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 an 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 stand at a crossroads. Their starting rotation needs to be rebuilt, 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. Houston could pursue a larger rebuild, but even a simple retool would leave Paredes as a logical trade candidate. The infield logjam and his one remaining year of control make him a clear fit for that role.
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 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. With his final year of control approaching, flipping him would fit the organization’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)
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 kept his rotation spot the rest of the way. With four remaining years of control, he holds significantly 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 (2027 projected: $7.5M)
Detmers produced a strong season out of the Angels bullpen in 2025 after posting 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, and Los Angeles, coming off a 100-loss season, is 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 approaches quickly after the 2027 season. If Seattle decides to cash in on one of its rotation trade chips, Gilbert could sit at the top of the list. 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)
Minnesota 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 much lower arbitration projection. Ryan could still land on another team’s books if the Twins take a further step toward rebuilding. Minnesota clung to Byron Buxton and Ryan as building blocks a year ago, but a 29-36 second half and a second straight losing season suggest 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 chances of a long-term extension before he reached the open market dropped considerably. The Astros did not sell at the deadline because of a wide-open AL West. Even if Houston views itself as a 2027 contender, 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. Josh Hader, Corbin Burnes, Devin Williams and Freddy Peralta are among the recent examples. That history puts Contreras into the trade chip conversation, especially if the Brewers believe 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 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 one of them. He could be the piece the Athletics flip 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 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 in the National League with Braves slugger Matt Olson. He actually posted better road numbers (.882 OPS, 25 HR) than home numbers (.791 OPS, 16 HR), so Coors Field is not inflating an otherwise average performance. He has also developed into a serviceable defensive catcher, though his bat will always drive his value.
After a fourth straight 100-loss season, Colorado should leave nothing off the table as it explores ways 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 (2027 projected: $9.8M)
Neto has produced three straight seasons with 20 home runs, 20 steals and 5.0 WAR, and he has developed into one of baseball’s best all-around shortstops. 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 perennial also-rans and their 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 (2027 projected: $8.1M)
San Diego walked the line between buyers and sellers before the 2026 trade deadline. Miller was discussed as one of the top players who could move before the Padres committed to buying, and they then 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. 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 him loose from Athletics last year. 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 (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 season from Abrams helped fuel those totals. 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 RBI, which ranked fourth in the National League. The Nationals traded starter MacKenzie Gore last winter while still working 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
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 dropped his playoff line to 3-for-24 with zero 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. Shortly after Atlanta’s elimination from the playoffs, he removed the Braves from his Instagram account, which fueled 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 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 locks in and returns to peak-level production.
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