Four teams remain in the hunt for the 2026 World Series title, which means the league’s other 26 clubs have already turned their attention to 2027. The free-agent market is thin behind ace Tarik Skubal, which could drive a busier offseason of trades. The looming CBA negotiations and an expected lockout, however, add significant uncertainty about what the winter will look like.
Assuming something resembling a traditional offseason takes place, here are the top 25 potential trade chips likely to move. The list mixes speculative candidates with players whose names have already surfaced on the rumor mill. 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)
Chapman posted a 97 OPS+ with a .235/.324/.368 slash line, 26 extra-base hits (7 HR) and 2.7 WAR in 84 games. He is owed $100.7 million over four years. 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. 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)
Albies hit 22 home runs in 162 games while posting an 87 OPS+ and a .237/.293/.392 slash line, and he carries a $7 million club option for 2027. He has spent his entire 10-year career with Atlanta, accumulating 25.7 WAR, four All-Star selections and two Silver Slugger awards. The surface-level power was there again, but he has posted a middling 88 OPS+ and a .299 on-base percentage over 1,350 plate appearances the last two years. The Braves could be ready to move on as part of a larger retooling.
Nos. 23-22
23. SP Griffin Jax, Tampa Bay Rays (Age: 31)
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. The Rays 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 over 23 starts, though his overall line in 34 appearances reads 3.53 ERA and 116 strikeouts in 112.1 innings. He is arbitration-eligible through 2027, with a projected salary of $5.7 million, and Tampa Bay has a habit of shopping pitchers with climbing arbitration salaries.
22. SP Michael Wacha, Kansas City Royals (Age: 35)
No team met the Royals’ asking price for Wacha at the deadline, but Kansas City could shop him more aggressively this winter. The 14-year veteran is a reasonably priced starter coming off an All-Star campaign. He led the American League with 200.2 innings pitched, posted a 3.32 ERA and 1.11 WHIP, struck out 158 batters and recorded a career-high 4.3 WAR. He is owed $14 million on a one-year deal, with a $14 million club option for 2028.
Nos. 21-20
21. 2B Xavier Edwards, Miami Marlins (Age: 27)
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, stole 21 bases in 26 attempts and played solid defense at second base after shifting over from shortstop midway through the 2025 season. He hit .280/.360/.371 with a 108 OPS+ and 3.0 WAR across 142 games. Miami listened to offers for him and shortstop Otto Lopez at the deadline. Because Lopez’s asking price was extremely high, Edwards is the more likely chip. He is arbitration-eligible through 2029, with a projected 2027 salary of $3.5 million.
20. RP Trevor Megill, Milwaukee Brewers (Age: 32)
Megill’s fastball touches triple digits, and his knuckle curve generated a 46.5 percent whiff rate. He converted 30 of 33 save chances this season, posting a 2.63 ERA, 0.89 WHIP and 10.1 K/9 with 1.8 WAR across 63 games. Over the past three seasons, he has compiled 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 moved Josh Hader and Devin Williams. Megill is arbitration-eligible through 2027, with a projected salary of $8.0 million.
Nos. 19-18
19. SP Shane McClanahan, Tampa Bay Rays (Age: 29)
The Rays had only four players earning more than $6 million in 2026 and fielded 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 pitched well in his return from a 2025 season lost to Tommy John surgery. He posted a 3.36 ERA, 1.12 WHIP and 106 strikeouts in 118.0 innings across 24 starts, and he has 562 strikeouts in 522.2 career innings with a 3.10 ERA and 1.11 WHIP. His projected 2027 salary is $6.6 million.
18. SP George Kirby, Seattle Mariners (Age: 28)
Even after shedding Luis Castillo’s salary at the trade deadline, Seattle could still shop one of its starters this winter in search of offensive upgrades. Kirby had a down year in 2026, posting a 4.33 ERA and 1.40 WHIP with 148 strikeouts in 174.2 innings over 30 starts, good for 1.4 WAR. With two years of club control remaining, he is the least likely of the three Mariners starters on this list to move, but he still carries significant value. He is arbitration-eligible through 2028, with a projected 2027 salary of $9.8 million.
Nos. 17-16
17. 2B Ketel Marte, Arizona Diamondbacks (Age: 32)
Marte earned 10-and-5 rights during the 2026 season, which means he can veto any trade. Off-the-field turmoil may have left him looking for a change of scenery. Even in a down year by his standards, he hit .249/.316/.432 with 22 home runs, a 107 OPS+ and 2.5 WAR, and he remained one of the best offensive second basemen in the league. He is owed $77.8 million over four years, with an $11.5 million player option in 2031.
16. SP Jacob deGrom, Texas Rangers (Age: 38)
The Rangers reportedly asked deGrom to waive his full no-trade clause at the deadline, and he declined. He may change his tune if Texas starts retooling this offseason. He posted a 4.20 ERA and 1.14 WHIP with 201 strikeouts in 162.2 innings over 31 starts, producing 1.7 WAR. He enters the final season of his five-year, $185 million contract, with $37 million remaining, and that deal is not the obstacle it would have been a year or two ago.
Nos. 15-14
15. SS Corey Seager, Texas Rangers (Age: 32)
Seager is owed $31.5 million annually over the next five seasons, with $157.5 million remaining, and his lengthy injury history will make him difficult to move. He remains a star-level performer when healthy. In 102 games this season he hit .227/.312/.424 with 20 home runs, a 112 OPS+ and 3.2 WAR. With a thin shortstop class in free agency, teams will turn to the trade market. A club unwilling to pay the steep price for players like Zach Neto or Otto Lopez could consider absorbing Seager’s salary at a lower acquisition cost.
14. 3B Isaac Paredes, Houston Astros (Age: 27)
Houston is at a crossroads, with a starting 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 leaves Paredes as a logical trade candidate given the infield logjam and his one remaining year of control. He hit .262/.360/.447 with 25 home runs, a 127 OPS+ and 4.0 WAR in 155 games. His club option for 2027 is $13.4 million.
Nos. 13-12
13. OF Steven Kwan, Cleveland Guardians (Age: 29)
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. Ahead of his final year of control, flipping him would fit the organization’s philosophy. He hit .282/.382/.349 with a 110 OPS+ and 5.3 WAR across 151 games. The emergence of Chase DeLauter and the addition of Jo Adell have also improved Cleveland’s outfield picture, giving the club more flexibility.
12. SP Emerson Hancock, Seattle Mariners (Age: 27)
Seattle viewed Hancock as its No. 6 starter entering the year, but he earned an Opening Day rotation spot when Bryce Miller was sidelined by 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. He finished with a 3.57 ERA, 1.14 WHIP and 126 strikeouts in 138.2 innings over 25 starts, good for 2.7 WAR. With four remaining years of control, he is far more valuable than his surface-level track record suggests.
Nos. 11-10
11. SP Reid Detmers, Los Angeles Angels (Age: 27)
Detmers posted a 6.70 ERA over 17 starts the previous year, but he put together a strong season out of the Angels bullpen in 2025, which earned him another shot in the rotation. This season he finished in the top 10 in the American League in strikeouts (211, fourth), innings pitched (185.0, sixth) and pitcher WAR (4.2, eighth). He posted a 3.36 ERA and 1.04 WHIP over 32 starts. His value may never be higher for a team coming off a 100-loss season and overdue for a rebuild. He is arbitration-eligible through 2028, with a projected 2027 salary of $7.5 million.
10. SP Logan Gilbert, Seattle Mariners (Age: 29)
With little progress in extension talks and free agency approaching after the 2027 season, Gilbert could top Seattle’s list if the Mariners decide to cash in on one of their rotation trade chips. He has been one of baseball’s most consistent starters over the past five seasons, posting a 3.46 ERA and 1.05 WHIP while averaging 192 strikeouts and 180 innings per year. This season he logged a 3.73 ERA, 1.09 WHIP, 205 strikeouts and 186.0 innings over 32 starts, good for 3.3 WAR. His projected 2027 salary is $15.4 million.
Nos. 9-8
9. SP Joe Ryan, Minnesota Twins (Age: 30)
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 in favor of a significantly lower arbitration projection. Ryan could still end up on another team’s books if the Twins take another 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. Ryan posted a 3.79 ERA and 1.16 WHIP with 159 strikeouts in 144.2 innings over 27 starts this season, producing 2.1 WAR.
8. SS Jeremy Peña, Houston Astros (Age: 29)
When Peña hired Scott Boras as his agent in June 2025, the likelihood 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 Houston views itself as a contender in 2027, flipping Peña before losing him in free agency remains on the table. He hit .277/.325/.477 with 22 home runs, a 124 OPS+ and 3.7 WAR in 112 games. He is arbitration-eligible through 2027, with a projected salary of $13.1 million.
Nos. 7-6
7. C William Contreras, Milwaukee Brewers (Age: 28)
Milwaukee has made a habit of trading stars as they approach free agency, including Josh Hader, Corbin Burnes, Devin Williams and Freddy Peralta. That history puts Contreras in the trade conversation, especially if the club believes former top prospect Jeferson Quero is a viable in-house replacement. Contreras hit .270/.341/.417 with 18 home runs, a 108 OPS+ and 2.9 WAR in 147 games. His club option for 2027 is $14.5 million.
6. C Shea Langeliers, Athletics (Age: 28)
Langeliers started the 2026 All-Star Game, carrying 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. He hit .262/.328/.474 with 23 home runs and 3.4 WAR in 106 games. He is arbitration-eligible through 2028, with a projected 2027 salary of $8.7 million.
5. C Hunter Goodman, Colorado Rockies (Age: 27)
Only seven players in baseball have hit more home runs over the past two seasons than Goodman, who has 72. His 41 home runs 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 performer. He hit .245/.310/.529 with a 115 OPS+ and 2.6 WAR in 138 games and has 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 for Colorado. The asking price will be high given his remaining control, but he may be the most impactful power bat on the market. He is arbitration-eligible through 2029, with a projected 2027 salary of $6.2 million.
Nos. 4-3
4. SS Zach Neto, Los Angeles Angels (Age: 25)
Neto has recorded three straight seasons of 20 home runs, 20 steals and 5.0 WAR, and he 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. This year he hit .239/.330/.436 with 27 home runs, a 118 OPS+ and 5.2 WAR in 157 games. The Angels took a step toward retooling at the deadline by trading controllable pieces, including José Soriano, Jo Adell and Ryan Zeferjahn, but they held onto their two most valuable trade chips in Neto and left-hander Reid Detmers. Los Angeles’s status as a perennial also-ran, combined with its newfound willingness to move controllable pieces, should make Neto one of the most discussed trade candidates of the winter. He is arbitration-eligible through 2029, with a projected 2027 salary of $9.8 million.
3. RP Mason Miller, San Diego Padres (Age: 28)
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. Miller posted a 1.67 ERA, 0.90 WHIP and 16.6 K/9 with 38 saves in 66 games, producing 3.1 WAR. 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 San Diego would be unwise not to at least listen to offers. San Diego pried him loose from Athletics last offseason, sending elite prospect Leo De Vries in return, and if a similar offer arrives or a team is willing to part with a controllable starter, Miller could move again. He is arbitration-eligible through 2029, with a projected 2027 salary of $8.1 million.
Nos. 2-1
2. SS CJ Abrams, Washington Nationals (Age: 26)
Washington finished among the MLB leaders in runs scored (821, third), home runs (210, sixth) and OPS (.744, third), 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 RBIs, which ranked fourth in the National League. He finished with a .261/.336/.497 slash line, 33 home runs and 5.1 WAR in 152 games. Washington flipped starter MacKenzie Gore last winter while still trying to build back toward contention, and it could do the same with Abrams if the right package of talent improves its long-term outlook enough to justify moving an increasingly expensive star. He is arbitration-eligible through 2028, with a projected 2027 salary of $10.2 million.
1. OF Ronald Acuña Jr., Atlanta Braves (Age: 28)
A chorus of 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. His playoff line dropped to 3-for-24 with no RBIs. 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, hitting .255/.345/.451 with 20 home runs, a 118 OPS+ and 1.9 WAR in 107 games. Shortly after Atlanta was eliminated from the playoffs, he removed the Braves from his Instagram account, which fueled speculation that a split could come this winter. Acuña’s contract carries a pair of $17 million club options for the next two seasons, which 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 a return to peak production could make him one of the 10 best players in the sport.