Four teams remain in contention for the 2026 World Series title, which means the other 26 clubs have already turned their attention to next season. The upcoming free-agent class is thin behind ace Tarik Skubal, which could push teams toward a more active offseason on the trade market. The looming CBA negotiations and an expected lockout, however, make it unclear what the offseason will look like.
Assuming something resembling a traditional offseason takes place, here are the top 25 potential trade chips. The list mixes speculative candidates with players whose names have already surfaced in trade rumors. The likelihood that each player is traded helped set the list at 25 names, 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, which leaves Chapman as the one high-priced veteran the Giants might be able to flip. Last year’s Nolan Arenado trade could serve 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 (’27 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. Over 23 starts, he posted a 3.14 ERA, 1.11 WHIP and 106 strikeouts in 103.2 innings. Tampa Bay has a habit of shopping pitchers with climbing arbitration salaries.
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 (’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 2025, he played solid defense at second base. Miami listened to offers for him and shortstop Otto Lopez at the deadline. Given Lopez’s steep asking price, Edwards is the more likely 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 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, 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.
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 carried the fourth-lowest payroll in the majors, which makes McClanahan an obvious trade chip before his final year of arbitration. The two-time All-Star returned from a 2025 season lost to Tommy John surgery and pitched well. He owns a 3.10 ERA, 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 shedding Luis Castillo’s salary at the trade deadline, Seattle still has a good chance to shop one of its starting pitchers this winter in search of offensive upgrades. Kirby has two years of club control remaining and had a down year in 2026. He is the least likely of the three M’s 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 has 10-and-5 rights, which means he can veto any trade. Enough off-the-field turmoil occurred during the 2026 season to suggest he may 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
Texas reportedly asked deGrom about waiving his full no-trade clause at the deadline, but he declined. That may change 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 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 for Texas to move. He remains a star-level performer when healthy, though. With a thin shortstop class in free agency, teams will look to the trade market. For a club unwilling to pay the steep price for players like Zach Neto or Otto Lopez, taking on 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
Houston sits at a crossroads, with a rotation that needs rebuilding, aging stars in Jose Altuve and Carlos Correa, and two key bats nearing free agency in Paredes and Jeremy Peña. A larger rebuild would make sense, but even a simple retool could leave Paredes as a logical trade candidate. The infield is crowded, and he has 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 at $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. With his final year of control approaching, trading him would fit the organization’s philosophy. The emergence of Chase DeLauter and the addition of Jo Adell have also improved Cleveland’s 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 was sidelined by 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 years of control remaining, he is significantly 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 (’27 projected: $7.5M)
Detmers posted 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 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 sit at the top of the list if Seattle decides to cash in one of its rotation trade chips. Over the past five seasons, he has been one of baseball’s most consistent starters, posting a 3.46 ERA and 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)
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 favor of a significantly lower arbitration projection. Ryan could still land on another team’s books if the Twins take a further step toward rebuilding. Minnesota 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 (’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 for Houston. 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 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
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 notable recent examples. That history puts Contreras in the trade conversation, especially 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 (’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. Oakland has locked up several members of its young offensive core in recent years, but Langeliers has not been among them. He could be the piece the club 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 homers this year tied him for third in the National League with Braves slugger Matt Olson.
Goodman posted much 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 defender behind the plate, though his bat will always drive his value.
Colorado’s fourth straight 100-loss season means nothing should be off the table as the Rockies look for 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 (’27 projected: $9.8M)
Neto has recorded three straight seasons of 20 home runs, 20 steals and 5.0 WAR, which has made him one of the best all-around shortstops in baseball. He rarely gets the attention he deserves, however, while playing for a franchise that has banked 11 consecutive losing seasons.
The Angels took a step toward retooling at the deadline by trading 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 (’27 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 be moved 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 trade their All-Star closer. His value is so high, however, that they would be unwise not to at least listen to offers. San Diego needed an elite prospect, Leo De Vries, to pry him loose from Athletics. If a similar offer arrives, or a team is willing to part with a controllable starting pitcher, Miller could be 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 (’27 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 drive those totals. After posting a 109 OPS+ with 19 home runs and 31 steals in 2025, he elevated his game to another level. He recorded the first 30/30 season of his career and drove in 106 runs, 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 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 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 left a runner stranded on second base, and his playoff line dropped to 3-for-24 with no RBI. That moment raises the question of whether it was 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 removed the Braves from his Instagram account after Atlanta was eliminated from the playoffs, which fueled speculation that a split could come this winter.
His contract adds to his value rather than subtracting from it, as is the case with some other players on this list. He has a pair of reasonable $17 million club options for the next two seasons. 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.
