Although the free-agent market has been slow to develop, the trade market has already seen some action in the early weeks of the offseason.
With Thanksgiving weekend upon us, things should start to heat up soon, especially with the Winter Meetings set to take place in Orlando, Fla., beginning Dec. 8.
While free-agent names such as Kyle Tucker, Cody Bellinger, Pete Alonso and Alex Bregman will dominate the headlines, the trade market could continue to be interesting. Some clubs could look to shed payroll, while others could turn to the trade market to fill holes on their rosters.
With that in mind, here’s a look at one potential trade candidate from every team:
American League East
Blue Jays: Joey Loperfido, OF
Loperfido spent most of 2025 stuck behind an outfield logjam in Toronto, appearing in only 41 games. He produced when given the opportunity – Loperfido hit four homers with 14 RBIs and an .879 OPS in 104 plate appearances – and with five years of club control remaining, the 26-year-old could be part of a deal to land some pitching in Toronto.
Orioles: Ryan Mountcastle, 1B
Mountcastle is in his final year of club control prior to free agency, and with Coby Mayo and Samuel Basallo set to assume most of the at-bats at first base, the 28-year-old appears to be expendable. The one hitch? Mountcastle is coming off the worst season of his career, hitting seven homers with a .653 OPS in 89 games in 2025.
Rays: Brandon Lowe, 2B
Lowe will earn $11.5 million in his final year before free agency, which will naturally thrust him into trade talk given the Rays’ history. Lowe would be a desirable left-handed bat for teams seeking an offensive upgrade at second base, though the Rays have resisted trading him over the past year or two and don’t have an obvious replacement for him.
Red Sox: Jarren Duran, OF
Boston’s outfield is overcrowded to say the least, with Duran joining Roman Anthony, Ceddanne Rafaela and Wilyer Abreu as starting options. Duran is under club control for three more seasons, and while he took a step backward after his breakout 2024 campaign, Duran still posted a 3.9 fWAR in 2025, hitting 16 home runs with 84 RBIs and a league-high 13 triples.
Yankees: Spencer Jones, OF
Trent Grisham’s return to the Bronx solidifies two of New York’s three outfield spots, while the Yankees are still hopeful to bring Bellinger back on a new deal. That leaves Jones — the Yankees’ No. 4 prospect — and Jasson Domínguez as players without a spot to get regular playing time. Jones belted 35 home runs with a .933 OPS at Double-A and Triple-A last season, giving the Yankees a prime trade chip if they choose to use it.
American League Central
Guardians: Steven Kwan, OF
Kwan is entering the second of his three arbitration years, so while there is no urgency for Cleveland to move him this offseason, his trade value may never be higher. Kwan has posted an fWAR of at least 3.0 in each of his four years in the league, winning four consecutive Gold Gloves in the process.
Royals: Kris Bubic, LHP
Kansas City has rotation depth from which to deal, making Bubic – who is in his final year of arbitration – a potential trade chip. With Cole Ragans set to return in 2026 to join Seth Lugo and Michael Wacha atop the rotation, the Royals could take advantage of Bubic’s strong 2025 season – he had a 2.55 ERA in 20 starts (116 1/3 innings) before a left rotator cuff strain ended his year prematurely – to help fortify the roster elsewhere.
Tigers: Tarik Skubal, LHP
Is Detroit planning on trading the two-time defending American League Cy Young Award winner? Probably not. But there are few players in the game who will receive more trade buzz than Skubal, who is entering his final year before free agency. The Tigers will likely resist the temptation to trade him, but if they decide to dangle him out there, the offers they receive could make them think twice.
Twins: Joe Ryan, RHP
Ryan’s name was oft-mentioned prior to last summer’s Trade Deadline, though he was ultimately one of the few players to remain in Minnesota. The Twins have some decisions to make this winter; do they go into a full rebuild, prompting them to trade Ryan (and Byron Buxton, Pablo López, Ryan Jeffers, etc.)? Or do they try to contend in the AL Central and add pieces around those players? If they choose Option A, Ryan will be a highly sought-after arm.
White Sox: Luis Robert Jr., CF
Another year, another opportunity to talk about Robert’s trade possibilities. The White Sox picked up Robert’s $20 million club option for 2026, and the 28-year-old has one more such option in his contract for 2027, giving potential suitors two years of club control. Since his 2023 All-Star season, Robert’s numbers the past two years have been similarly down, though he had an encouraging stretch last summer during which he hit nine home runs with a .793 OPS in 52 games.
American League West
Angels: Jo Adell, OF
The Angels already shipped out one of their outfielders, trading impending free agent Ward to the Orioles for starter Rodriguez, who has four years of club control remaining. Adell is under control for two more seasons, and after breaking out in 2025 with 37 home runs, 98 RBIs and a .778 OPS, it wouldn’t be shocking to see what type of return Los Angeles can get for the 26-year-old.
Astros: Yainer Diaz, C
Diaz remains one of the better offensive catchers in the league, but his defense continues to be an issue for the Astros. Diaz ranked low in both Blocks Above Average (28th percentile) and Framing (18th percentile), but a club seeking some pop behind the plate could take a chance on the 27-year-old, who has averaged nearly 20 home runs per season over the past three years.
Athletics: Luis Severino, RHP
If it’s possible to be a “change of scenery” candidate after only one year with a club, Severino is that guy. The right-hander signed a three-year, $67 million deal last winter, but Sacramento proved to be a nightmare for Severino, who went 2-9 with a 6.01 ERA in 15 home starts compared to 6-2 with a 3.02 in 14 road outings. Severino is due to earn $20 million in 2026 and has a $22 million player option for 2027.
Mariners: Luis Castillo, RHP
Let’s start by saying Castillo is unlikely to be traded, but if the Mariners look to make a big move, he will surely draw interest around the league. He’s turning 33 next month, his $24.15 million salary is the highest on the roster, his no-trade clause recently expired, and with two years left on his deal (plus a vesting option for 2028), he could be a desirable asset to pitching-needy clubs that don’t want to make a long-term commitment. Castillo has posted an ERA of 3.64 or less in every season since 2019 and remains one of the most consistent starters out there.
Rangers: Josh Jung, 3B
Jung appeared to be on the fast track to stardom in 2023, making the All-Star team, finishing fourth in AL Rookie of the Year voting and having a strong postseason to help the Rangers win the World Series. Injuries limited Jung to 46 games in 2024, and he underperformed in 2025, hitting 14 home runs with 61 RBIs and a .684 OPS in 114 games. Jung turns 28 in February and is only entering his first year of arbitration, so a change of scenery may help rejuvenate his career.
National League East
Braves: Sean Murphy, C
Given the dearth of catching options on the free-agent market, the Braves – who also have reigning NL Rookie of the Year Drake Baldwin – could receive interest in Murphy, who is under club control for three more years at $45 million. Murphy has been dealing with a hip injury for the past two years that has impacted his performance at the plate, but he remains a top defender behind the plate.
Marlins: Edward Cabrera, RHP
Sandy Alcantara has drawn most of the headlines in terms of potential trade targets, but the Marlins appear set on keeping the former NL Cy Young Award winner. Cabrera has also been a popular name on the rumor mill, but after posting the best overall season of his career (3.53 ERA in 137 2/3 innings), Miami might look to move him while his value is high.
Mets: Jeff McNeil, INF/OF
The acquisition of Semien secured the Mets’ second base position, and they’re believed to be pursuing one of the top outfielders on the market, which would relegate McNeil to a super-utility role, one that could be filled by the much more inexpensive Luisangel Acuña. McNeil is in the final year of his four-year, $50 million extension, though his contract also has a $15.75 million club option for 2027 with a $2 million buyout.
Nationals: MacKenzie Gore, LHP
One of the top controllable starters potentially on the trade market, Gore is entering his second of three arbitration years. New president of baseball operations Paul Toboni could use Gore – who made his first All-Star team in 2025 – to help restock a farm system that has recently graduated Dylan Crews, James Wood, Brady House, Daylen Lile and Robert Hassell III to the Majors.
Phillies: Nick Castellanos, OF
Castellanos has become a staple on every trade list, but with one year and $20 million remaining on his contract, it seems more likely than ever that he’ll be playing elsewhere by Opening Day. The Phillies will likely have to pay down his salary to move Castellanos, who still has the ability to hit the ball out of the park.
National League Central
Brewers: Freddy Peralta, RHP
The Brewers have said they have no plans to trade their ace, but with only one year remaining until he becomes a free agent, the possibility of a trade exists. Peralta is earning $8 million in 2026, so while it’s not a necessity for the Brewers to shed his salary, the idea of bringing back a package of prospects could be more appealing than letting him leave next winter for draft-pick compensation.
Cardinals: Brendan Donovan, INF
With Sonny Gray on his way to Boston, the Cardinals’ trade season is already underway. Nolan Arenado is also likely headed out of St. Louis, but Donovan is the trade piece that could bring back the most solid return. Donovan is under club control for two more years and offers the versatility to play all over the field. Donovan made his first All-Star team in 2025, finishing the season with 10 home runs, 50 RBI and a .775 OPS.
Cubs: Nico Hoerner, 2B
Hoerner is in the final year of the three-year, $35 million extension he signed in March 2023, and while he may not be a likely trade candidate, his situation features the kind of ingredients that make him an ideal trade fit. Hoerner’s elite defense, consistency at the plate and leadership make him a valued member of the Cubs, but Matt Shaw could slide over to second base, opening third base for any number of available options this offseason.
Pirates: Mitch Keller, RHP
The Pirates have been receiving interest in Keller for more than a year, and while they haven’t pulled the trigger on a trade to this point, their need for offense may finally force the issue. Keller, an All-Star in 2023, has posted an ERA between 4.19 and 4.25 in each of the past three seasons, but he’s thrown more than 175 innings in each of those years – more than any pitcher in the NL other than Logan Webb and Zac Gallen.
Reds: Hunter Greene, RHP
The Reds have made it clear that they are not actively shopping Greene, a 2024 All-Star who has posted a 2.76 ERA in 258 innings over the past two seasons. Then again, when is the last time a team came out and said it was planning to move one of its top young stars? Cincinnati has plenty of rotation depth, and if the top hitters on the market prove to be too pricy, there’s always a chance the Reds could use Greene to land the big bat they’re seeking.
National League West
D-backs: Jake McCarthy, OF
A Ketel Marte trade seems like a long shot, but the Diamondbacks have a glut of outfielders from which to deal, making such a move more realistic. Corbin Carroll, Lourdes Gurriel Jr. and Alek Thomas played the majority of games in 2025, relegating McCarthy to a reserve role. McCarthy hit four home runs with 20 RBIs with a .591 OPS in 67 games, but he’s one of the fastest players in the game and a plus defender, giving him value as he enters the first of three arbitration-eligible seasons.
Dodgers: Dalton Rushing, C
Rushing was the Dodgers’ No. 1 prospect in 2024, and while he underwhelmed at the plate in a backup role in 2025 (four home runs, 24 RBIs and a .582 OPS in 53 games), he remains one of the top catching prospects in the game. With Will Smith locked up through 2033, Rushing’s long-term fit on the roster remains unknown. The Dodgers don’t have another catcher on their 40-man roster, so while they’re not itching to move Rushing, using him as the centerpiece for a big trade wouldn’t be a shock.
Giants: Josuar Gonzalez, SS
Gonzalez is MLB Pipeline’s No. 82 overall prospect in the Majors and No. 2 on the Giants’ Top 30, and while he’s still only 18 years old, he’s blocked at shortstop by Willy Adames for the next six years. San Francisco’s No. 4 prospect, Jhonny Level, is also an 18-year-old shortstop, so there’s organizational depth from which to trade in their attempt to bolster the pitching staff.
Rockies: Brenton Doyle, CF
Doyle was unable to replicate his breakout 2024 season, hitting 15 home runs with 57 RBIs, 18 stolen bases and a .651 OPS in 2025. But the 27-year-old is a plus defender in center field and possesses elite speed, and given that he’s under control for four more years (he’s arbitration-eligible this winter for the first of four years), Doyle could be one of Colorado’s prime trade chips as new president of baseball operations Paul DePodesta begins the club’s rebuild.
Padres: Jake Cronenworth, INF
Cronenworth regressed a bit after his back-to-back All-Star campaigns in 2021-2022, but he rebounded last season, posting a .744 OPS with a career-high .367 on-base percentage in 135 games. The versatile infielder is signed for $60 million over the next five years, so moving him would give the Padres some much-needed financial flexibility while likely being able to land a solid return.
