The MLB postseason field has been trimmed to four teams still vying for a World Series title in 2026, while the league’s other 26 clubs have already shifted their attention to next year.
The upcoming free-agent market is thin behind ace Tarik Skubal, and that could mean a more active offseason of wheeling and dealing on the trade market. On the flip side, the looming CBA negotiations and expected lockout create significant uncertainty about what the offseason will even look like.
Assuming there is something resembling a traditional offseason, here are the top 25 potential trade chips that could be on the move. The list mixes speculative trade candidates with players whose names have already surfaced in trade rumors. The likelihood that a player is traded helped narrow the list, while remaining years of control, salary commitments and expected 2027 impact determined where each player landed in 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
While Rafael Devers, Willy Adames and Jung Hoo Lee are generally viewed as unavailable or immovable, Chapman is the one high-priced veteran the Giants might be able to flip, using last year’s Nolan Arenado trade as a blueprint of sorts. He underwent season-ending core muscle and hernia surgery in August but 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 once again showed surface-level power, but he has posted a middling 88 OPS+ and a .299 on-base percentage over 1,350 plate appearances the last two years. 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, which acquired him in a 2025 deadline deal for Taj Bradley. He posted a 3.14 ERA, 1.11 WHIP and 106 strikeouts in 103.2 innings across 23 starts. 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 one met the Royals’ asking price on Wacha at the deadline, but he could be shopped more aggressively this winter as 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. He also played solid defense at second base after shifting over from shortstop midway through the 2025 season. Miami listened to offers for him and shortstop Otto Lopez at the deadline, and 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)
With a fastball that touches triple digits and a knuckle curve that generated a 46.5 percent whiff rate, Megill was one of baseball’s most dominant closers, converting 30 of 33 save chances. 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 flipping closers before they get 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 (’27 projected: $6.6M)
The Rays had only four players with a salary above $6 million in 2026 and carried the fourth-lowest payroll in the majors, which 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 has 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 dumping 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. 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, 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, so he can veto any trade. Still, enough off-the-field turmoil occurred that he might be looking for 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 doesn’t mean he won’t change his stance if Texas starts retooling this offseason. He is entering the final season of his five-year, $185 million deal, so 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
A $31.5 million annual salary over the next five seasons, combined with his lengthy injury history, won’t make it easy for Texas to move Seager. Still, he remains a star-level performer when healthy, and a thin shortstop class in free agency will shift focus to the trade market. For a team unwilling to pay the steep price for someone like Zach Neto or Otto Lopez, absorbing Seager’s salary at a lower acquisition cost is a potential 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 is at a crossroads, with a starting rotation that needs rebuilding, aging stars like 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 leaves 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 (’27 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 north of $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. Flipping him ahead of his final year of control would fit the organization’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 (’27 projected: minimum)
Viewed as Seattle’s No. 6 starter entering the year, Hancock earned a shot 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 in 41.2 innings over his first seven starts, and he kept his rotation spot the rest of the way. His four remaining years of control make him 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 pitched well out of the Angels bullpen in 2025 after posting an ugly 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, 4th), innings pitched (185.0, 6th) and pitcher WAR (4.2, 8th). His value may never be higher 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)
With little progress in extension talks and free agency approaching 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, logging 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. The club will almost certainly opt for a $100,000 buyout on that option in favor of a significantly lower arbitration projection. He could still end up on another team’s books if the Twins take a further step toward rebuilding. They 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 likelihood of a long-term extension before he reached the open market shrank considerably. A wide-open AL West led the Astros to steer clear of selling at the deadline. Even if Houston views itself as a contender 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, with Hader, Corbin Burnes, Williams and Freddy Peralta among the notable recent examples. That puts Contreras in the trade chip conversation, especially if the club 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 a .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 Athletics flip to upgrade one of baseball’s worst rotations.
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 long balls this year tied him for third in the National League with Braves slugger Matt Olson.
He actually 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 Colorado explores 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.
Nos. 4-3
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)
With three straight seasons of 20 home runs, 20 steals and 5.0 WAR, Neto has developed into one of the best all-around shortstops in baseball. He rarely gets 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 controllable pieces, including José Soriano, Jo Adell and Ryan Zeferjahn. They held onto their two most valuable trade chips, however, in Neto and left-hander Reid Detmers. The club’s status as a perennial also-ran, combined with its newfound willingness to move controllable pieces, should make Neto one of the most talked-about trade candidates of the winter.
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 buying and selling leading up to the 2026 trade deadline. Miller was discussed as one of the top players who could move 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 deal their All-Star closer, but his value is so high that they would be foolish not to at least listen to offers.
It took an elite prospect in Leo De Vries for San Diego to pry Miller loose from Oakland. If a similar offer hits the table, or a team is willing to part with a controllable starting pitcher, he could be on the move again.
Nos. 2-1
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 numbers. 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 flipped 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.
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
Boos rained down on Acuña as he grounded out to end the seventh inning of Game 4 of the NLDS, stranding a runner on second base and leaving his playoff line at 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. He quickly removed the Braves from his Instagram account after Atlanta was eliminated from the playoffs, fueling speculation that a split could be on the horizon 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 locks in and returns to peak-level production.
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