Ranking the Top 25 MLB Trade Chips For 2026-27 Offseason

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, we've highlighted the top 25 potential trade chips that could be on the move. It's a mix of speculative trade candidates and players who have previously seen their names pop up on the rumor mill.

The likelihood that a player is traded helped narrow the list to 25 names, while remaining years of control, salary commitment and expected 2027 impact factored into where they fell in the rankings.

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 had 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, tallying 25.7 WAR while earning four All-Star selections and winning two Silver Slugger awards. The surface-level power production was there once again, but he has posted a middling 88 OPS+ and .299 on-base percentage in 1,350 plate appearances the last two years, and the Braves could be ready to move on as part of a larger retooling.

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 after coming over in a 2025 deadline deal for Taj Bradley. He had a 3.14 ERA, 1.11 WHIP and 106 strikeouts in 103.2 innings over his 23 starts, but the Rays have 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 AL with 200.2 innings pitched, and his 4.3 WAR was a career-high mark.

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, had 21 steals in 26 attempts and played a solid defensive second base after shifting over from shortstop midway through the 2025 season. The Marlins were listening to offers for him and shortstop Otto Lopez at the deadline, and given Lopez's extremely high 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 a 2.61 ERA, 1.00 WHIP and 10.4 K/9 with 81 saves in 161 appearances, and the Brewers have a history of flipping closers before they get expensive after dealing Josh Hader and Devin Williams.

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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 only had four players with a salary above $6 million in 2026 and had the fourth-lowest payroll in the majors, so McClanahan is 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 that was lost to Tommy John surgery, and 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, there is still a good chance the Mariners will shop one of their starting pitchers this winter in search of offensive upgrades. With two years of club control remaining and a down year in 2026, Kirby stands as the least likely of the three M's starters featured on this list, but he still carries significant value.

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 earned 10-and-5 rights during the 2026 season, so he can veto any trade, but there was enough off-the-field turmoil to believe he might be looking for a change of scenery. Even in a down year by his standards, he was still 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 approached deGrom about waiving his full no-trade clause at the deadline, but he declined. That doesn't mean he won't change his tune if the club starts retooling this offseason, and entering the final season of his five-year, $185 million deal, his contract is not the hurdle it would have been a year or two ago.

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 for the next five seasons, coupled with his lengthy injury history, won't make it easy for the Rangers to move Seager. That said, 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 not willing to pay the steep price to acquire 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

The Astros are at an interesting crossroads, with a starting rotation that needs to be rebuilt, aging stars like Jose Altuve and Carlos Correa and two key bats closing in on free agency in Paredes and Jeremy Peña. A larger rebuild would make sense, but even if they just retool, Paredes remains a logical trade candidate given the infield logjam and his one remaining year of control.

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 the third-highest paid player on the Guardians roster with a $7.725 million salary in 2026, and that 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 now. Ahead of his final year of control, flipping him would fit organizational philosophy. The emergence of Chase DeLauter and addition of Jo Adell has also improved the outfield picture in Cleveland.

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 the No. 6 starter in Seattle entering the year, Hancock got a shot at the Opening Day rotation when Bryce Miller was sidelined with 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 staked his claim to a rotation spot the rest of the way. His four remaining years of control make him significantly more valuable than his surface-level track record might suggest.

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 put together a strong season out of the Angels bullpen in 2025 following an ugly 6.70 ERA over 17 starts the previous year, and it was enough to earn him another shot at the starting rotation. He ended up finishing in the top 10 in the American League in strikeouts (211, 4th), innings pitched (185.0, 6th) and pitcher WAR (4.2, 8th), and 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 made in extension talks and free agency fast approaching after the 2027 season, Gilbert might be at the top of the list if the Mariners decide to cash in one of their 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.

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)

The Twins avoided arbitration with Ryan last January while also adding a $13 million mutual option for 2027 to the books. The club will almost certainly opt for a $100,000 buyout on that option in favor of a significantly lower arbitration projection, but he could eventually wind up on someone else's books if the Twins take another step toward rebuilding. They 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.

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)

The moment Peña hired Scott Boras as his new agent in June 2025, the likelihood of a long-term extension prior to hitting the open market shrank considerably for the Astros. A wide-open AL West ultimately convinced the Astros to steer away from selling at the deadline, and even if they do view themselves as contenders in 2027, flipping Peña before losing him in free agency could still be on the table.

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

The Brewers have made a habit of trading their star players as they approach free agency, with Josh Hader, Corbin Burnes, Devin Williams and Freddy Peralta among the notable recent examples. That's enough to put Contreras in the trade chip conversation, especially if the club thinks 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, carrying an .807 OPS and 21 home runs into the break. A torn meniscus in his right knee limited him to 20 games during the second half, but he returned for 13 games in September to help show potential suitors he is healthy. The Athletics have locked up several members of their young offensive core in recent years, but Langeliers has not been among them, and he could be the piece they flip to try to upgrade one of baseball's worst rotations.

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 across baseball have hit more home runs the past two seasons than the 72 slugged by Hunter Goodman, and his 41 long balls this year were tied for third on the NL leaderboard with Braves slugger Matt Olson.

He actually posted significantly better numbers on the road (.882 OPS, 25 HR) than he did at home (.791 OPS, 16 HR), so this is not a case of Coors Field inflating the numbers of 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 the Rockies explore ways to improve. The asking price will be high given his remaining control, but he might be the most impactful power bat on the market.

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, Zach Neto has developed into one of the best all-around shortstops in baseball, but he rarely gets the attention he deserves playing for a franchise that has banked 11 consecutive losing seasons.

The Angels took a step toward retooling at the deadline by trading some 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.

The club's status as a perennial also-ran and a newfound willingness to move controllable pieces should make Neto one of the most talked about trade candidates of the winter.

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)

The Padres were toeing the line between buyers and sellers leading up to the 2026 trade deadline, and Mason Miller was talked about as one of the top players who could be on the 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 they would be silly not to at least listen to offers.

It took an elite-level prospect in Leo De Vries for the Padres to pry him loose from the Athletics, and 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.

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)

The Nationals finished among the MLB leaders in runs scored (821, 3rd), home runs (210, 6th) and OPS (.744, 3rd), and a breakout offensive season from CJ Abrams helped pump up those numbers.

After posting a 109 OPS+ with 19 home runs and 31 steals during the 2025 season, he took things to another level with the first 30/30 season of his career and an impressive 106 RBI to rank fourth on the NL leaderboard.

The Nationals flipped starter MacKenzie Gore last winter while still trying to build back toward contention, and 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.

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

A chorus of boos rained down on Ronald Acuña Jr. as he grounded out to end the seventh inning in Game 4 of the NLDS, stranding a runner on second base and bringing his playoff line to 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, and a quick move to scrub the Braves from his Instagram account immediately after they were eliminated from the playoffs fueled speculation a split might 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 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.