Four teams remain in contention for a World Series title in 2026, which leaves the other 26 clubs already looking ahead to next year. A thin free-agent class behind ace Tarik Skubal could fuel a busy trade market this winter. The looming CBA negotiations and an expected lockout, however, make it unclear what the offseason will look like.

Assuming a traditional offseason takes place, here are the top 25 potential trade chips. The list mixes speculative trade candidates with players whose names have already surfaced in trade rumors. We ranked them by the likelihood that each player is traded, then weighed remaining years of control, salary commitments and expected 2027 impact.

Nos. 25-24

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: four years, $100.7M remaining.

The Giants have viewed Rafael Devers, Willy Adames and Jung Hoo Lee as unavailable or immovable, which leaves Chapman as the one high-priced veteran they might be able to flip. Last year’s Nolan Arenado trade offers a possible blueprint. Chapman underwent season-ending core muscle and hernia surgery in August, but he 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 Atlanta, accumulating 25.7 WAR, four All-Star selections and two Silver Slugger awards. He still delivered surface-level power in 2026, but he has posted an 88 OPS+ and a .299 on-base percentage across 1,350 plate appearances over the last two seasons. If the Braves pursue a larger retooling, they could move on from him.

Nos. 23-22

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).

Jax spent four seasons as one of baseball’s elite setup relievers before moving into the Rays rotation in his first full season with the club. Tampa Bay acquired him in a 2025 deadline deal that sent Taj Bradley the other way. He posted a 3.14 ERA, 1.11 WHIP and 106 strikeouts in 103.2 innings across 23 starts. The Rays have a habit of shopping pitchers whose arbitration salaries are climbing, and Jax fits that profile.

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: one year, $14M remaining, plus a $14M club option in 2028.

No team met the Royals’ asking price for Wacha at the deadline, but Kansas City could shop him more aggressively this winter. He is a reasonably priced veteran starter coming off an All-Star campaign. The 14-year veteran led the American League with 200.2 innings pitched, and his 4.3 WAR was a career high.

Nos. 21-20

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 and swiped 21 bases in 26 attempts. After moving over from shortstop midway through the 2025 season, he played solid defense at second base. Miami listened to offers for him and shortstop Otto Lopez at the deadline. Because Lopez’s asking price was extremely high, Edwards looks like 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).

Megill’s fastball touches triple digits, and his knuckle curve generated a 46.5 percent whiff rate. He converted 30 of 33 save chances, establishing himself as one of baseball’s most dominant closers. Over the past three seasons, he has posted a 2.61 ERA, 1.00 WHIP and 10.4 K/9, with 81 saves in 161 appearances. Milwaukee has a history of trading closers before they become expensive, having dealt Josh Hader and Devin Williams.

Nos. 19-18

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).

Tampa Bay had only four players earning more than $6 million in 2026 and carried the fourth-lowest payroll in the majors. That makes McClanahan an obvious trade chip ahead of his final year of arbitration. The two-time All-Star pitched well after returning from a 2025 season lost to Tommy John surgery. He owns 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).

Seattle dumped Luis Castillo’s salary at the trade deadline, but the Mariners will likely still shop one of their starters this winter in search of offensive upgrades. Kirby has two years of club control left and had a down year in 2026, making him the least likely of the three Mariners starters on this list to be moved. He still carries significant value.

Nos. 17-16

17. 2B Ketel Marte, Arizona Diamondbacks (Age: 32)

Stats: 141 G, 107 OPS+, .249/.316/.432, 56 XBH (22 HR), 2.5 WAR. Contract: four years, $77.8M remaining, plus an $11.5M player option in 2031.

Marte has 10-and-5 rights, which means he can veto any trade. Enough off-the-field turmoil occurred this season to suggest he might want a change of scenery. Even in a down year by his standards, he remained one of the league’s best offensive second basemen.

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: one year, $37M remaining.

Texas reportedly asked deGrom to waive his full no-trade clause at the deadline, and he declined. He could change his stance if the Rangers start retooling this offseason. He is entering the final season of his five-year, $185 million deal, and that contract is not the obstacle it would have been a year or two ago.

Nos. 15-14

15. SS Corey Seager, Texas Rangers (Age: 32)

Stats: 102 G, 112 OPS+, .227/.312/.424, 36 XBH (20 HR), 3.2 WAR. Contract: five years, $157.5M remaining.

Seager’s $31.5 million annual salary over the next five seasons, combined with his lengthy injury history, will make him difficult to move. He remains a star-level performer when healthy, though. With a thin shortstop class in free agency, teams will turn to the trade market. A club unwilling to pay the steep price for someone like Zach Neto or Otto Lopez could consider taking on Seager’s salary in exchange for a lower acquisition cost.

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.

Houston sits at an interesting crossroads. Its starting rotation needs to be rebuilt, aging stars Jose Altuve and Carlos Correa are still around, and two key bats, Paredes and Jeremy Peña, are closing in on free agency. A larger rebuild would make sense, but even a modest retool leaves Paredes as a logical trade candidate, given the infield logjam and his one remaining year of control.

Nos. 13-12

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 Cleveland’s third-highest-paid player in 2026 with a $7.725 million salary, and that figure 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. Ahead of his final year of control, moving him would fit the organization’s philosophy. The emergence of Chase DeLauter and the addition of Jo Adell have also improved Cleveland’s outfield picture.

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).

Seattle viewed Hancock as its No. 6 starter entering the year. He earned a chance in the Opening Day rotation when Bryce Miller got hurt, and the former No. 6 overall pick seized it. He posted a 2.59 ERA in 41.2 innings over his first seven starts and kept his rotation spot the rest of the way. With four years of control remaining, he is far more valuable than his surface-level track record suggests.

Nos. 11-10

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 turned in a strong 2025 season out of the Angels bullpen after posting a 6.70 ERA over 17 starts the year before, and that performance earned him another shot in the rotation. 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). His value may never be higher, and the Angels are coming off a 100-loss season and are 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).

Extension talks have made little progress, and free agency is approaching after the 2027 season. If the Mariners decide to cash in one of their rotation trade chips, Gilbert could sit at the top of the list. Over the past five seasons, he has been one of baseball’s most consistent starters, posting a 3.46 ERA and 1.05 WHIP while averaging 192 strikeouts and 180 innings per year.

Nos. 9-8

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).

Minnesota avoided arbitration with Ryan last January and added a $13 million mutual option for 2027 to the books. The club will almost certainly pay the $100,000 buyout on that option in exchange for a much lower arbitration projection. Ryan could still land on another team’s books if the Twins take a further 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.

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).

When Peña hired Scott Boras as his agent in June 2025, the chances of a long-term extension before he reached the open market dropped considerably. A wide-open AL West led the Astros to avoid selling at the deadline. Even if Houston views itself as a contender in 2027, trading Peña before losing him in free agency remains a real option.

Nos. 7-6

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.

Milwaukee has made a habit of trading its 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 Brewers believe 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 and carried 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 that he is healthy. The Athletics have locked up several members of their young offensive core in recent years, but Langeliers has not been one of them. He could be the piece Oakland flips to upgrade one of baseball’s worst rotations.

5. C Hunter Goodman, Colorado Rockies (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 in baseball have hit more home runs over the past two seasons than Goodman, who has 72. His 41 homers this year tied him for third in the National League with Braves slugger Matt Olson.

Coors Field is not inflating an otherwise average performer. Goodman posted a much better road line (.882 OPS, 25 HR) than home line (.791 OPS, 16 HR). 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, Colorado should have nothing off the table as it explores ways to improve. The asking price will be high given his remaining control, but he may be the most impactful power bat on the market.

4. SS Zach Neto, Los Angeles Angels (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).

Neto has posted 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, however, because he plays for a franchise that has banked 11 consecutive losing seasons.

The Angels took a step toward retooling at the deadline by trading controllable pieces, including José Soriano, Jo Adell and Ryan Zeferjahn. They kept their two most valuable trade chips, Neto and left-hander Reid Detmers. Los Angeles’ status as a perennial also-ran, combined with its newfound willingness to move controllable players, should make Neto one of the most discussed trade candidates of the winter.

Nos. 3-1

3. RP Mason Miller, San Diego Padres (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).

San Diego walked a line between buying and selling before the 2026 trade deadline. Miller was discussed as one of the top players who could move, but the Padres committed to buying and added Casey Mize and Robbie Ray instead. With Adrián Morejón and Jason Adam potentially leaving in free agency, the Padres will be hesitant to deal their All-Star closer. His value is so high, however, that they would be foolish not to at least listen to offers. San Diego needed an elite prospect, Leo De Vries, to pry him loose from Athletics, and if a similar offer arrives or a team is willing to part with a controllable starter, Miller could move again.

2. SS CJ Abrams, Washington Nationals (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).

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 totals. 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.

The Nationals traded starter MacKenzie Gore last winter as they worked to build back toward contention. 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.

1. OF Ronald Acuña Jr., Atlanta Braves (Age: 28)

Stats: 107 G, 118 OPS+, .255/.345/.451, 39 XBH (20 HR), 1.9 WAR. Contract: $17M club options in 2027 and 2028.

Fans booed Acuña after he grounded out to end the seventh inning of Game 4 of the NLDS, stranding a runner on second. That made his playoff line 3-for-24 with zero RBIs. That may have been his final at-bat in a Braves uniform. The 2023 NL MVP and face of the franchise had a good-not-great 2026 season. Soon 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.

His contract adds to his value rather than subtracting from it, as is the case with some others on this list, thanks to two reasonable $17 million club options for the next two seasons. The asking price will be astronomical, but a return to peak-level production could make him one of the 10 best players in the sport.