Top 25: MLB Trade Candidates - Analysis and Possible Destinations

Analysis of the Most Notable Candidate Changes in Baseball

With the annual winter baseball meetings about to begin in Orlando, Florida, the excitement in the trade market intensifies. Several moves have already ignited the spark of this “hot stove” season, and it’s time to analyze the most promising players, or at least those who could be subject to trade rumors during the winter. The baseball trade market is constantly evolving. To keep you updated, we’ve compiled a ranking of the top 25 candidates most likely to be traded, based on player performance and pointing out the teams that could be involved in potential deals. It’s important to note that, although some of these players may not be transferred, their names are at least being considered in possible negotiations. This list may be updated as the offseason progresses.

Note: Players are ranked according to their value to a new team if traded, and not by the likelihood of being transferred.

Tarik Skubal, Left-handed Pitcher, Detroit Tigers

Rumors: Although several executives believe Skubal will be traded, the Tigers have not shown signs of changing their stance of keeping the two-time American League Cy Young Award winner in Detroit. Despite the fact that he will become a free agent after 2026 and contract extension talks have not advanced, Skubal is the centerpiece of the Tigers, and Detroit intends to compete again next season.Analysis: After winning the American League Cy Young award two consecutive times, Skubal is considered the best pitcher in the game. His changeup was the best in baseball last year by a significant margin. The velocity of his fastball and changeup has increased in the last two years, with the same or better movement on his pitches. Skubal throws his slider at the speed of a cutter, giving him a third outstanding pitch, in addition to his durability and exceptional control. How long can Skubal, who turns 30 after the 2026 season, maintain this level?

Probability of being exchanged: 10%

Possible interested teams: Mets, Dodgers, Orioles, Yankees, Red Sox, Giants.

Ketel Marte, Second baseman, Arizona Diamondbacks

Rumors: Teams expect to have a better idea after the winter meetings about the Diamondbacks’ seriousness regarding trading their star second baseman. Marte has five years and $91 million remaining on his contract (plus an option for a sixth year for $11.5 million), which means Arizona would seek considerable compensation.Analysis: Marte is tied for 13th among baseball’s best players by WAR over the last three seasons (15.3 total WAR). At age 32, he is an average base runner and defender at second base, so his value is primarily based on his hitting. This could last a while, as he is complete at the plate, with above-average walk and strikeout rates, as well as good power numbers, contact, and on-base percentage.

Probability of being traded: 40%

Possible interested teams: Pirates, Giants, Phillies, Mariners, Royals, Athletics, Mets.

Freddy Peralta, Right-handed pitcher, Milwaukee Brewers

Rumors: Although many expected a Peralta trade shortly after Brandon Woodruff accepted the qualifying offer, the Brewers are not focused on trading their star pitcher in the winter. If they receive a tempting offer, they will not hesitate, but for now, the plan is to start the year with Woodruff, Peralta, Jacob Misiorowski, and Quinn Priester leading their rotation.Analysis: Peralta is entering the final year of his extension, earning $8 million this year. He attracts interest despite having only one year remaining on his contract, as he is a number 2 pitcher and has averaged an ERA of 3.30 and just under 150 innings per season since 2021, surpassing 165 innings in each of the last three seasons. He relies on his fastball, but it works due to his combination of control and a low release. His changeup is a standout pitch, and his breaking pitches are good enough to be effective against right-handed hitters.Probability of being exchanged: 25%

Possible interested teams: Mets, Orioles, Rangers, Giants, Astros, Diamondbacks, Padres.

Hunter Greene, Right-handed pitcher, Cincinnati Reds

Rumors: Cincinnati’s excellent pitching staff (Greene, Andrew Abbott, Nick Lodolo, Chase Burns, Brady Singer, Rhett Lowder) has opened the door to the possibility of the best in the group being transferred. However, don’t bet on it. The Reds have Greene for four more years at $60 million, and in a world where Dylan Cease is receiving $210 million in seven years, top-tier pitchers with economical contracts are extremely valuable.Analysis: Greene’s fastball averages 99.4 mph, which was by far the best in baseball among starters. The pitch was also effective: the second-best fastball among starters on a per-pitch basis. Greene only has two other pitches: a slider and a splitter, which sit in the 80 mph range. Somehow, he started throwing his slider 2.9 mph faster in 2025, but with almost exactly the same amount of movement, so it’s now also a standout pitch. He can work on refining the locations of his splitter and/or adding a fourth pitch, along with trying to surpass his personal record of 150⅓ innings in a season.

Probability of being exchanged: 10%

Possible interested teams: Padres, Giants, Orioles, Mets, Athletics, Diamondbacks.

Byron Buxton, Center Fielder, Minnesota Twins

Rumors: Buxton is willing to waive his no-trade clause, and not just for Atlanta (he’s a Georgia native), which puts the Twins in an interesting position. If the shortage of top-tier free agent outfielders leads a team to make an offer for Buxton, how seriously would Minnesota take it? And if Buxton leaves, does that mean the Twins would also be open to trading some of their pitchers?

Analysis: Buxton’s tools have been considered top-tier since he was selected as the number 2 pick out of high school in 2012. He is a top-tier runner, an above-average defender, and has a solid arm. At the plate, he has exceptional bat speed that helps compensate for mediocre pitch selection. Buxton has the third-best isolated power in the league since 2020 (behind only Aaron Judge and Shohei Ohtani), but Buxton has about half the home runs as those two in that span due to several injuries that have limited his playing time. Last season, he had career highs in plate appearances (542) and WAR (5.0). Did Buxton figure something out about his durability at age 31 or did things just go well? The price is right, with three years of control for just over $15 million per year.Probability of being exchanged: 35%

Possible interested teams: Braves, Mets, Tigers, Reds, Phillies, Royals.

Joe Ryan, Right-handed pitcher, Minnesota Twins

Rumors: Despite all the rumors about Ryan at the trade deadline, the Twins were never close to finalizing a deal. If the cost remains high for free agent pitching, teams could turn to trades to fill gaps in their rotation, at which point Minnesota would again be a good candidate for almost any team. Having three of the eight best trade candidates is a good starting point for a rebuild.Analysis: Ryan has an elite fastball, not because of its average velocity or ordinary movement, but because of his very low release height (great extension + low arm slot = flat and therefore misses) and control. Take that key fastball/control combination and add durability (between 135 and 171 innings in each of the last four seasons) along with five other solid pitches to keep hitters honest, and you have a solid number 2 or number 3 starter. He’s still in his 20s and has two years of team control remaining, so the asking price will be high.

Probability of being exchanged: 50%

Possible interested teams: Red Sox, Mets, Orioles, Rangers, Giants, Astros.

Jarren Duran, Outfielder, Boston Red Sox

Rumors: The Red Sox value Duran more as the seven-win player of 2024 than as his 4-win version in 2025. Either way, his addition can instantly improve a team, and Boston can expect great compensation because the Red Sox don’t have to trade him. However, at some point, the Red Sox will have to move Duran or Wilyer Abreu. Keeping quality players full-time for part-time roles rarely works well.

Analysis: Duran has elite bat and foot speed, along with a good arm, so his physical tools can bring him back to something similar to his stellar 2024 performance. His foot speed translates into an elite base running value, ranking third in baseball in the last three years combined with +23 runs. His true talent level seems quite close to his 2025 production, which is still one of the top 35 position players in the sport. Duran has a great trade value because he is still in his 20s and has three years of control.

Probability of being exchanged: 50%

Possible interested teams: Tigers, Royals, Giants, Pirates, Phillies, Mets, Reds, Diamondbacks.

Pablo Lopez, Right-handed Pitcher, Minnesota Twins

Rumors: With potential as a number 2 starter, Lopez would fit into any Major League rotation. He is under contract for two more years at a reasonable price of 43 million dollars. Similar to Ryan, he is eligible for free agency after the 2027 season, and with the upcoming expiration of the collective bargaining agreement, teams are considering the possibility of missing games in ’27 in any trade offer, which makes deals for players with two years of control particularly complicated.Analysis: Lopez’s fastball has long been his most prominent pitch, and his sweeper has emerged as another weapon in recent seasons. Forearm and shoulder issues limited Lopez to 75¼ innings in 2025 after three seasons averaging more than 180 innings per year. Lopez has oscillated between a No. 2 and No. 3 starter in the last five seasons, but he turns 30 in March, so it’s still a bit risky to expect that to continue.

Probability of being exchanged: 50%

Possible interested teams: Mets, Orioles, Giants, Astros, Padres.

MacKenzie Gore, Left-handed Pitcher, Washington Nationals

Rumors: Teams expect Gore to wear a different uniform by the end of 2026. They’re just not sure if the deal will happen now or at the trade deadline in July. Washington’s new president of baseball operations, Paul Toboni, has held conversations with several teams about Gore, but the asking price is understandably high. Gore’s impending free agency after 2027 complicates things a bit.

Analysis: Gore was the number 3 selection in the 2017 draft, but did not find success in the Major Leagues until 2024. He has been solid in the last two years, ranking 23rd in pitcher WAR in that span, but has not made the jump to a front-line starter that some imagined years ago. Gore throws at least 80% fastball/slider to lefties and at least 80% fastball/curveball to righties, so developing a fourth viable pitch could be the key; the best pitching development clubs excel at this.Probability of being traded: 30%

Possible interested teams: Yankees, Orioles, Rangers, Giants, Diamondbacks.

Steven Kwan, Outfielder, Cleveland Guardians

Rumors: Although it seemed that Kwan would be transferred before the July 31st deadline, he remained in Cleveland, and the belief among other executives is that it will continue to be so this winter. The Guardians are not expected to spend a significant amount of money this offseason, and their offense is scarce enough that moving Kwan, when a playoff spot in the American League Central Division is within reach, makes no sense.Analysis: Kwan is an elite defensive left fielder despite his average foot speed and is among the best contact hitters in the sport despite the bat speed at the bottom of the scale. Kwan has a fantastic sense of the strike zone and the ability to hit the ball, and he can make the most of his tools. Even with mediocre physical tools, he is a consistent 3-to-4-win player due to his incredible feel for the game. He has two years of team control remaining.

Probability of being exchanged: 25%

Possible interested teams: Giants, Pirates, Mets, Phillies, Royals, Tigers, Astros.

Brendan Donovan, Infielder/Outfielder, St. Louis Cardinals

Rumors: The Cardinals are not eager to trade Donovan, but the market for him is underway, and several teams see the 28-year-old player as an option at second base, third base, or left field. Due to his excellent ball-hitting skills and his power to hit doubles, Donovan can bat first or occupy a role in the middle of the order on a team with powerful hitters. Almost no one is off-limits, as the new president of baseball operations, Chaim Bloom, rebuilds the Cardinals, and Donovan is the best of the available group.

Analysis: Donovan has two years of team control at very affordable arbitration rates before free agency. He has a great ability to get on base, although the rest of his game is average. He plays primarily at second base, with some versatility, and bats left-handed. Donovan is a consistent 3-win player with more value than most fans realize.

Probability of being exchanged: 75%

Possible interested teams: Dodgers, Mariners, Yankees, Red Sox, Pirates, Giants, Royals, Guardians.

CJ Abrams, Shortstop, Washington Nationals

Rumors: Abrams was selected for his first All-Star team in 2024 and followed it up with a nearly identical 2025. And at just 25 years old, he’s in his prime. So, why isn’t he higher on this list? His shortstop defense isn’t good, and the Nationals, with a shortage of quality players in the Major Leagues, won’t trade one to teams unwilling to pay a premium for his age, position, and control.

Analysis: Abrams has been the worst defensive shortstop in the last three seasons (-31 runs), with the closest player at -15 runs. But he is a solid hitter, with power and on-base numbers close to average, and he is also an elite base runner, ranking sixth in baseball in the last three seasons (+18 runs) due in large part to his 109 stolen bases in that span. If he excelled defensively in center field while improving at the plate, he could still become a star, but those are two big “ifs”.

Probability of being traded: 35%

Possible interested teams: Pirates, Giants, Royals, Guardians.

Wilyer Abreu, Outfielder, Boston Red Sox

Rumors: Duran or Abreu have long been expected to be traded once Roman Anthony arrives, and with Boston looking for big bats in the free agent market, either outfielder could bring in some needed pitching. Abreu is three years younger than Duran, has won consecutive Gold Gloves in right field, and comes with four years of club control, making the high asking price understandable.

Analysis: Abreu is elite in right field, ranking second in runs saved behind Fernando Tatis Jr., and Abreu also has a plus-plus arm despite average foot speed. At the plate, he’s more good than great, with a power and patience approach that produced 22 home runs last season. He’s entering his 27th season this year, which is typically the peak age for most players.

Probability of being exchanged: 50%

Possible interested teams: Tigers, Giants, Pirates, Phillies, Mets, Royals, Astros.

Kris Bubic, Left-handed Pitcher, Kansas City Royals

Rumors: The former first draft pick finally broke out last year, earning an All-Star nomination with an ERA under 3.00 and the peripherals to match. Then, he suffered a shoulder injury and didn’t pitch in August or September. Any deal for Bubic is a gamble on his health, and while Kansas City might have to dip into its rotation to get a bat in the outfield, he’s perhaps the best combination of performance and affordability, despite the doubts.Analysis: Bubic added a slider in 2025 to close the gap between his fastball, changeup, and sweeper, and it helped him look like a front-line starter for 20 starts, even as his fastball velocity dipped a bit due to his longer outings. He’s not the same pitcher as his Royals’ lefty teammate, Cole Ragans, but a fairly similar situation (the transition from reliever to starter with Kansas City in 2023) occurred with him, and Ragans posted 4.9 WAR in his following season, en route to a fourth-place finish in the American League Cy Young Award in 2024.Probability of being traded: 30%

Possible interested teams: Mets, Orioles, Rangers, Giants, Diamondbacks, Padres, Angels.

Yandy Diaz, First Base, Tampa Bay Rays

Rumors: With a $12 million contract (with a club option of $10 million that becomes $13 million with 500 plate appearances next year), Diaz’s contract is very affordable. Whether the Rays are willing to trade him is another question. They have Jonathan Aranda at first base. They have enough at-bats for the designated hitter. And yet, there is skepticism that they will trade Diaz, who has spent the last seven years with the team.Analysis: Diaz, 34, doesn’t offer much defensive ability or base running, but he’s reliable at the plate. If he can get close to last year’s numbers (.300 average and 25 home runs), he’ll be a great bargain, and his option would be easy to pick up. Given his age, his bat speed could decline soon.

Probability of being exchanged: 25%

Possible interested teams: Padres, Marlins, Reds, Diamondbacks, Pirates.

Willson Contreras, First base, St. Louis Cardinals

Rumors: Contreras always bats, and even with $41.5 million owed over the next two years (with a club option for a third), teams could use his skills to get on base. However, he has expressed a desire to remain in St. Louis, and with a full no-trade clause until the end of 2026, finding the right deal could be a waste of time for a team that needs to distribute its bandwidth wisely.Analysis: Contreras moved to first base full-time in 2025 and was a defensive standout, ranking third in baseball in runs saved. His plate discipline is good, but he always does damage at the plate, largely due to his bat speed, which ranks eighth in baseball. He has recorded 2.7 to 3.5 WAR five years in a row, and he’s a safe bet, especially considering he’s a 33-year-old right-handed first baseman.

Probability of being exchanged: 15%

Possible interested teams: Padres, Marlins, Diamondbacks, Pirates.

Brandon Lowe, Second Baseman, Tampa Bay Rays

Rumors: A perpetual trade candidate, Lowe is in the last of a two-year option after a six-year extension. At $11.5 million, his contract is affordable enough that teams with holes at second base could try to persuade the Rays to move him. However, Tampa Bay dislikes moving backward, and considering the activity of the Rays’ fellow American League East teams, only a strong offer would be enough.Analysis: Lowe’s defense at second base was average or slightly below average for most of his career, but regressed to -9 runs last season, while his career base value turned negative for the first time in his career. Lowe, 31, is starting to physically decline, but still has an impact in the batting box, leading to 31 home runs and a .256 average last season.

Probability of being exchanged: 25%

Possible interested teams: Pirates, Marlins, Padres, Giants, Royals, Guardians, Mariners.

Edward Cabrera, Right-handed pitcher, Miami Marlins

Rumors: Cabrera, who throws with force, surpassed 100 innings for the first time in his career in 2025 and showed the ability of a first-line starter. Is that enough for teams to try to acquire him? Due to Cabrera’s injury history, his ceiling, and three years of control, it’s difficult to evaluate a deal like this. The Marlins understandably want premium compensation in return, and teams are understandably wary of the red flags.

Analysis: Although he averages 97 mph with his four-seam and two-seam fastballs, Cabrera’s fastball shape is ordinary, and the results are quite poor as a result. On the positive side, his slider, curveball, and changeup are above-average to plus pitches, and he has solid control, so it’s about playing to his strengths. Cabrera turns 28 in April and comes with three years of arbitration-priced control and a big upside if he can build on his personal best of 137⅔ innings.Probability of being traded: 40%

Possible interested teams: Yankees, Orioles, Giants, Astros, Diamondbacks, Padres, Rays.

Mitch Keller, Right-handed pitcher, Pittsburgh Pirates

Rumors: If Keller, 29, is traded, and the Pirates would like to trade a starter for a bat, the compensation could be an everyday player with a considerable salary in proportion to Keller rather than a collection of prospects. With $55.7 million for the next three seasons, Keller provides more value as an innings eater than as a front-line pitcher.Analysis: Keller is reliable, ranking sixth in baseball in innings pitched over the last three seasons (548⅓). Keller’s raw stuff is more good than great, with average velocity on his fastball and sinker, along with a standout sweeper; he’s a stable number 3 or number 4 starter.Probability of being traded: 60%

Possible interested teams: Rangers, Astros, Angels, Athletics, Mets.

Jake Cronenworth, Infielder, San Diego Padres

Rumors: As the Padres grapple with a rotation that needs to cover three spots behind Nick Pivetta and Joe Musgrove, who is returning from Tommy John surgery, their financial situation comes into play. They need to move money, and trading Cronenworth is the easiest route to do so, with his attractive versatility and five years and 60 million dollars remaining on his deal.Analysis: Cronenworth doesn’t have great tools or a huge advantage, but he’s a consistent player with medium tools and exceptional strike zone control. Being average or slightly above in all areas while playing second base and batting from the left side makes him a solid everyday player with a high floor and a lot of contractual control.Probability of being exchanged: 25%

Possible interested teams: Mariners, Pirates, Marlins, Royals.

Luis Robert Jr., Center Fielder, Chicago White Sox

Rumors: Now it seems like it’s time for Robert to move. The White Sox held onto him after his excellent 2023, hoping to cash in at the 2024 deadline. Then, Robert collapsed and took his trade value with him. Although Chicago wouldn’t be giving him away, the combination of two bad years and a substantial salary would limit the return on any potential deal.

Analysis: The White Sox picked up Robert’s option for $20 million for 2026, and they have another club option for $20 million for 2027. He still has elite tools, in the 90th percentile or better, according to Baseball Savant, for sprint speed, defensive range, and bat speed, but he has been inconsistent, injured, and unlucky on balls in play in the last two seasons. His 4.9 WAR campaign in 2023 (averaging .264, 38 home runs, 20 stolen bases, plus defense) is what Chicago or any team that acquires him hopes to see again, rather than the combined 1.9 WAR since then.

Probability of being exchanged: 60%

Possible interested teams: Giants, Phillies, Mets, Reds.