25 MLB players that could be traded during the 2026 season

Let's start with the proverbial elephant in the room. In many ways, the future of Tarik Skubal has dominated this offseason. The Tigers' 29-year-old left-hander is easily the best pitcher in the game today. He's coming off back-to-back AL Cy Young awards, he's posted an ERA under 2.80 in three straight years, and has become the face of a resurgent Tigers team in Detroit. The rub, however, is that Skubal is headed for free agency following the 2026 season, and it's viewed as unlikely that Detroit will be able to retain him. There was certainly a plethora of rumors this winter about a potential Skubal trade that never materialized. The Tigers at this point seem determined to keep him and make another run at a World Series in '26. But if they were to fall out of the race by the summer, the Skubal speculation will only intensify. 

What a tale of two seasons it's been for the Mets' Mark Vientos. In '24, the right-handed slugger looked like a rising star in the National League. He grabbed the Mets' third base job by the horns, crushed 27 home runs in only 111 games, enjoyed a tremendous postseason, and entered '25 looking to continue asserting himself as one of the premier players at his position. That did not exactly go to plan. Vientos struggled from the get-go a season ago, both offensively and defensively. He ultimately lost the third base job to Brett Baty, and coming down the stretch with New York fighting for a playoff spot, he was relegated to being a part-time player. This winter, the Mets added infielders Bo Bichette, Marcus Semien, and Jorge Polanco, while still intending to give Baty copious opportunities. Vientos suddenly feels very much like the odd man out, and it would not be surprising at all if New York executed a trade involving him, potentially even well ahead of the deadline.

More than any other position group, relief help is always in high demand at the trade deadline. Contending teams are constantly trying to bolster their bullpens coming down the stretch, and there's no reason to believe 2026 will be any different. Mark Leiter Jr. had a so-so year in the Bronx last season, working to a 4.84 ERA across 59 appearances. He was substantially better than that in each of the three years prior, however. Leiter signed a free-agent deal with the Athletics this winter, and in the A's bullpen, he'll have an opportunity to pitch in high-leverage late-inning situations. If he can put together a strong first half, this is an underrated name to keep an eye on as we get close to the end of July. 

Baltimore's Ryan Mountcastle has been the subject of numerous trade rumors over the last several seasons, and as we enter 2026, it feels like things will ultimately have to come to a head. After crushing 33 homers and driving in 89 runs in 2021, Mountcastle's power numbers have decreased in each of the last four seasons. Last year, he also missed nearly half of the campaign due to injury. Mountcastle's future got even cloudier when Baltimore went out and signed superstar first baseman Pete Alonso this winter. He's now projected to be a right-handed bench bat for the O's, and it feels inevitable that the team will aggressively try to give him a fresh start somewhere else. 

Chicago's Nico Hoerner is one of the most interesting names on this list because he has the ability to be a real difference maker on any team's roster. Hoerner debuted for the Cubs in 2019 and has essentially been their regular at second base since then. He's coming off arguably his best season, as he just slashed .297/.345/.394 with seven homers, 61 RBI, 29 doubles, and 29 stolen bases. He also won his second Gold Glove award, so we're clearly talking about one of the National League's most well-rounded infielders. So what's the catch? Well, Hoerner is set to be a free agent at year's end, and the Cubs' addition of Alex Bregman kind of throws a wrench in their future infield plans. Bregman is now firmly implanted at third base, and last year's third baseman, Matt Shaw, is more than capable of playing second. Chicago could conceivably move Hoerner for help somewhere else and still have the infield covered, but trading a player of this caliber is always risky. 

There's no denying the fact that veteran right-handed slugger Jorge Soler possesses difference-making power, but consistency and health have always been the opposite side of the coin here. In his first season with the Angels in '25, Soler played in only half of the Halos games, slashing .215/.293/.387 with 12 home runs. Those numbers clearly don't exactly jump off the page, but there are a couple of reasons why Soler could become a prime trade candidate this summer. The Angels are not projected to seriously compete in their division for starters, his contract expires at the end of the year, and Soler has shown a knack for rising to the occasion when it matters most. If he's able to stay on the field and display his signature power during the first half of the 2026 season, you'd better believe teams will be inquiring about him. 

Last winter, righty Luis Severino signed a three-year free-agent agreement with the Athletics, and it's fair to wonder if the A's would like to have that one back. His first season with the club did not go well on paper, and a 4.54 ERA across 29 starts was certainly not what the team had in mind. But a look under the hood tells a different story. Severino was vocal about his distaste for playing home games in the minor league stadium in Sacramento, and his numbers back it up. On the road, Severino was a different pitcher, working to a 3.02 ERA in 14 outings. In his 15 home starts, his ERA was 6.01. That's an eye-opening difference, and a contending team may see value in acquiring him at the deadline. 

If a contending team is looking to take a big swing in July, Tampa Bay's Drew Rasmussen would fit the bill. The right-hander is coming off an absolutely brilliant 2025 season in which he delivered a 2.76 ERA with a 1.02 WHIP across 31 starts. Rasmussen doesn't strike out as many hitters as most upper-echelon starters and instead relies on weak contact to keep hitters off balance. He's under contract for a modest $5.75M in '26, and Tampa holds an $8M club option on him for 2027. In layman's terms, that means the prospect cost to acquire him would be substantial, but not out of the question. 

Luis Arraez is one of the most enigmatic players in recent Major League history. All the 28-year-old does is hit, but for some reason, he's perpetually underrated and underappreciated. Arraez won three straight batting titles--with three different teams---from '22-'24, and while he didn't win the batting crown a year ago, he still hit .292. The issue is that the teams don't really know how to view him. Arraez is almost solely a singles hitter with a lifetime SLG% of just .413. He never strikes out, so his bat-to-ball skills and high average and OBP would be ideal for a leadoff hitter, only he does not run well. He's also not a great defender, and the Padres chose to move him from second base to first base to try to hide his lack of range. Add all of that up, and that's the reason Arraez was able to land only a one-year free-agent deal with the Giants this winter. But, there's no doubt that he'll become a lot more attractive to teams desperate for offense this summer. 

When infielder Nolan Gorman was coming up through the Cardinals system, he was viewed as one of the premier prospects in all of baseball. That hype has not exactly translated to the sport's highest level. In four Major League seasons, Gorman has slashed just .218/.300/.419 with 134 extra-base hits in 1,405 at-bats. St. Louis is clearly in retool mode right now, and with the recent trade of Nolan Arenado, Gorman will be able to go back to playing his natural position of third base. But his career does feel like it's reaching a breaking point, and if he doesn't show considerable improvement earlyin 2026, the Cardinals may decide a change of scenery is best for all parties involved. 

Washington's Jacob Young is one of the premier defensive center fielders in the sport. The former Florida Gator has played every day for the Nationals for the last two seasons, and while he hasn't hit much---he owns a career slash line of just .247/.310/.316 with virtually no power---his presence in the outfield is a real luxury for his team's pitching staff. That said, the Nats do have other young outfielders---namely Robert Hassell III---waiting in the wings, and if they choose to give the job to a player with more offensive upside, Young is somebody they could explore dealing. 

Pittsburgh's Mitch Keller is certainly no stranger to trade rumors. The righty has been a mainstay in the Pirates' starting rotation since 2019, and it feels like every July his name is bantered about as an option for contending teams in search of added starting pitching depth. Last season, Keller pitched to a 4.19 ERA with a 1.26 WHIP in 32 starts, covering 176.1 innings. He's not necessarily a top-of-the-rotation hurler, but he's consistent, durable, and has a ton of value in the middle of a team's starting five. Keller is under contract through 2028 at an affordable salary, so if the Pirates fall out of the race early once again, look for his name to again be a popular one. 

Speaking of starting pitchers who are no stranger to trade speculation, let's talk about Miami's Sandy Alcantara. Alcantara was the National League's most dominant pitcher in 2022 when he worked to a 2.28 ERA across 32 starts en route to winning the Cy Young award. The subsequent years have not been kind to him however. Alcantara's ERA jumped all the way to 4.14 in '23, he missed all of 2024 due to Tommy John surgery, and last season struggled to a 5.36 ERA in his return. Teams have tried to buy low on him, but Miami has resisted the urge and instead is banking on his ability to turn it around. Alcantara is under contract through next year, so the situation will soon come to a head. If he's able to reassert himself as a premier starting pitcher, look for the Marlins to be opportunistic and try to trade him for a king's ransom at the deadline. 

The Nationals' C.J. Abrams has quietly developed into one of the sport's better all-around shortstops, and it's somewhat surprising how consistently his name has been involved in trade rumors this winter. In 144 games in 2025, the 25-year-old Abrams slashed .257/.315/.433 with 19 home runs, 60 RBI, 35 doubles, five triples, and 31 stolen bases. Washington already dealt their top starting pitcher, Mackenzie Gore, this winter, and it's clear the new front office in D.C. is at least exploring the idea of developing its own new core. But with three years left of team control, an Abrams trade would be a head scratcher to me. 

High upside relief pitchers, especially those that come with significant experience pitching in the late innings, are always in high demand every summer. And not many hurlers fit that bill better than right-hander Pete Fairbanks. The veteran has been a key member of Tampa Bay's staff since 2019 and has served as the Rays' closer for the last four years. Just last season he delivered a stellar .2.83 ERA with a 1.04 WHIP in 61 outings, while converting 27 of his 32 save chances. He joined the Marlins as a free agent this winter, but it's only a one-year deal, and if Miami is not contending this summer, it almost certainly will look to move a valuable asset like Fairbanks. 

The Rockies need help pretty much everywhere, so it makes sense for them to explore trading their most valuable assets in an effort to acquire multiple young building blocks for the future. Which is why an eventual trade involving their excellent center fielder Brenton Doyle feels inevitable. In three Major League seasons, the 27-year-old has slashed .235/.284/.394 with 122 extra-base hits in 413 games. He's a two-time Gold Glove award winner, and his ability to play plus defense, hit for power, and use his speed will always have value. So many teams could use a player like Doyle, and I would expect he'll be wearing a new uniform sooner rather than later. 

Sticking with Colorado, the Rockies' electric closer Victor Vodnik stands out to me as a prime trade candidate. The 26-year-old is coming off easily the best season of his career, and appears poised to take another leap in 2026. Last year, Vodnik registered a 3.02 ERA and a .239 batting average against across 52 appearances. He struck out almost exactly a hitter/inning, converted 10 saves for a Rockies team that didn't win very much, and even induced eight double-play groundballs. As mentioned in reference to Doyle, Colorado needs help everywhere, and trading their best assets for multiple high upside prospects is the fastest way to accelerate a rebuild. 

Next up is one of the most intriguing names on this list. Minnesota's ace starting pitcher, Joe Ryan. The veteran righty's name was floated as a possible trade candidate at last summer's trade deadline, and while things have been quiet on that front this winter, that may only be temporary. Ryan is an established commodity and one of the most consistent starters in the American League. Last season, he won 13 games with a 3.42 ERA in 31 outings, while holding opponents to a .218 batting average, delivering a 1.04 WHIP, and pitching a career high 171 innings. He'll turn 30 this June and is under team control through next season. What that all means is that if he's enjoying another successful campaign early in 2026, and the Twins are struggling, the club could choose to shop him for a king's ransom. 

It feels like third baseman Alec Bohm's long-term future in Philadelphia has always been a question mark, and at some point, something is going to have to give. The Wichita State product has been a productive regular for the Phillies for six seasons now, but has always been overshadowed by some of the team's more established stars. Last year he slashed .287/.331/.409, but his power numbers fell off substantially, and he missed time on the injured list on two separate occasions. Bohm is set to be a free agent at the end of the upcoming campaign, and while it would be unorthodox for the Phillies to trade away one of the core members of their position player group, if they don't intend to retain him next winter, it wouldn't be out of the question. 

Seemingly every contending team could use a reliable southpaw to get left-handed hitters out in big spots, and for the majority of his career, Sam Moll has been exactly that. The veteran owns a lifetime 3.73 ERA in 213 Major League appearances, but is admittedly coming off his worst season. A shoulder impingement landed him on the injured list during spring training, and when he came back, he was just not the same guy. Entering 2026, Moll is in search of a dramatic rebound, and if he can do that, and the Reds are not in a race, it is almost certain he'll be moved in late July. 

The idea of the Diamondbacks dealing right-handed starting pitcher Merrill Kelly doesn't feel very far-fetched when you consider they did trade him last summer. Kelly was sent to Texas in a deadline deal only to return to Phoenix as a free agent this winter. He does now have a new two-year contract with a vesting option for 2028, but the salary is modest when it comes to high upside starting pitchers. In 32 total starts a year ago, the 37-year-old pitched to a 3.52 ERA with a 1.11 WHIP in 184 innings. If Arizona were to fall out of the race this summer, I'd expect other teams to inquire about Kelly's availability, at which point the Diamondbacks would have a decision to make. 

For so much of the offseason, the potential availability of the Diamondbacks superstar second baseman Ketel Marte was a constant talking point. Personally, the idea of Arizona moving its best player, who they have locked up through 2030, never made sense, but where there is smoke, there is generally some fire. Last season, the switch-hitting Marte slashed .283/.376/.517 with 28 homers, 72 RBI, and 28 doubles. He made his 3rd all-star team, won his 2nd Silver Slugger award, and was named to the All-MLB First Team for the second straight year. Teams understandably inquired with Arizona about trading for him, and it surprisingly took the Diamondbacks until very late in the offseason to state publicly that Marte is not going anywhere. That said, this is a situation worth monitoring, especially if Arizona struggles. 

No team went through a greater winter makeover than the Mets, who may need nametags when they report to spring training. So many popular mainstays are no longer in Queens, but one guy who is still here--for now--is righty Kodai Senga. Senga's numbers in 2025 look impressive. He pitched to a 3.02 ERA in 22 starts, while holding opponents to just a .224 batting average and striking out almost exactly a hitter/inning. But his season clearly has a line of demarcation. On June 13th, Senga was competing for the NL ERA title when he strained his hamstring covering first base. Upon his return, he was not nearly the same pitcher, which led to continued speculation about a potential trade all winter. The 33-year-old does have an ace-level ceiling, and a Renaissance campaign would not be out of the question. The Mets do, however, have a horde of talented young pitchers bubbling to the surface, and if Senga is struggling, it would not be a shock for the organization to look to move him to open a Major League pathway for somebody like Jonah Tong. 

Samuel Basallo rapidly made his way through the Orioles minor league system and when he arrived in the Majors last August it was met with immense excitement. Basallo was one of the best prospects in baseball, and while he's a catcher, Baltimore was intent on making it work with both he and Adley Rutschmann on the roster. Basallo ended up taking a lot of the DH responsibility for the O's--a tough gig for a 21-year-old. Entering camp this month, Baltimore undeniably has a little bit of a log jam. Rutschmann is firmly entrenched as the team's starting catcher. The club just signed superstar first baseman Pete Alonso. And incumbent first baseman Ryan Mountcastle is still here--conceivably vying for the same DH responsibility as Basallo assuming he isn't traded. At some point a trade needs to be swung, and while Baltimore loves Basallo, he clearly has more external value than Mountcastle if they wanted to go in that direction. 

Let's appropriately finish this list with a reliever. Righty Robert Stephenson has had an up-and-down career as a big league set-up man, but in limited time last season, he really seemed to turn the corner. After missing most of the '25 campaign, Stephenson came back down the stretch and put up a 2.70 ERA in 12 appearances for the Angels. With Kenley Jansen now in Detroit, Stephenson will have an opportunity to compete for the closer's role in camp, and regardless of whether he wins that job or is pitching the 8th inning, this will be a good chance for him to take the ball in high-leverage innings. If he thrives in the role and the Halos are not good, Stephenson could position himself nicely as a target for competing teams.