Star Players Who Could Be Moved Ahead of the Trade Deadline

Every MLB season, blockbuster trades are made throughout the year. But there’s no time quite like the Trade Deadline. Few days on the baseball calendar generate more intrigue than the Deadline. It’s a joyful holiday for teams who are buying and a grim one for selling clubs.

But, every year, there are teams who enter sell mode far quicker than others. Those clubs have begun to separate themselves from the rest as potential sellers, though some could certainly turn things around. But, if they don’t, these are some star players who could be moved at the Trade Deadline — one for each division.

American League

East: Aroldis Chapman (BOS)

Chapman has continued to prove himself to be one of the greatest relievers in history. Many wondered whether age would finally catch up to him, but he’s only gotten better. With an otherworldly 0.51 ERA in 17 2/3 innings, Chapman has proved himself to remain the elite pitcher he’s always been.

Yet it hasn’t helped the Boston Red Sox, who despite looking like contenders before the season began have been anything but. The Sox are fifth in the AL East with a 22-31 record entering play on Wednesday. With reports that General Manager A.J. Preller of the San Diego Padres is eyeing Chapman, he could be on the move sooner rather than later.

Central: Tarik Skubal (DET)

Even with his recent elbow surgery, Skubal remains the biggest name on this list (as well as the one with the most speculation). He’s had an unprecedented recovery from that surgery, pitching 2 2/3 simulated innings against hitters on Tuesday. Skubal threw 39 pitches, giving up a home run but striking out three.

After winning back-to-back Cy Young awards in 2024 and 2025, Skubal was the favorite to win it again in 2026. While his injury may have derailed those aspirations, he will still likely receive the largest free agent contract in history for a starting pitcher this offseason. If the Detroit Tigers remain out of contention, they could move Skubal rather than risk losing him to free agency.

West: Yordan Alvarez (HOU)

Though Alvarez’s incredibly hot start to the season has cooled off a bit, he remains one of the most elite hitters in all of baseball. He’s slashing .303/.414/.631 with 18 homers. That’s good for an absurd 1.045 OPS. Alvarez is the Houston Astros best hitter, so why would they trade him?

Well, the Astros remain at a dismal fourth place in the middling AL West division. They’re eight games under .500 due in large part to their struggling pitching staff. They could certainly turn things around, but after missing the postseason in 2025 for the first time in eight years, they may want to trade the young slugger if they receive an offer they can’t refuse.

National League

East: Freddy Peralta (NYM)

Despite an uneven start with the New York Mets, Peralta has since pitched incredibly well for New York, posting a 3.52 ERA. The Mets have had a historically wretched start to 2026 and are 11 games under .500 entering Wednesday. It’s been an all-around effort (or lack thereof) in doing so.

But Peralta was traded from the Milwaukee Brewers before the season began. He’s a rental who will become a free agent once the season ends but could be traded to contenders looking to bolster their rotation ahead of the playoffs.

Central: Brandon Lowe (PIT)

Another offseason trade, Lowe was sent over from the Tampa Bay Rays to the Pittsburgh Pirates in a three-team trade. He’s been a huge part of Pittsburgh’s fantastic start to the season, slashing .270/.356/.550 as one of the best Pirates hitters so far.

Pittsburgh is the lone club on this list with a winning record. The team is three games over .500 in the surprisingly competitive NL Central division. Despite performing far above their expectations, there’s still time for the Pirates to do what they’ve always done in recent memory: let their fans down and sell at the Trade Deadline.

West: Luis Arraez (SFG)

After a down year in 2025, Arraez is back to hitting above .300, with a .317 batting average entering play on Wednesday. He’s been the lone offensive spark in an otherwise quiet San Francisco Giants lineup. The club is 10 games under .500 and is largely expected to sell at the Deadline unless something changes soon.

Arraez signed a one-year deal with San Francisco primarily for his bat. He expressed a desire to play second base and has flourished under the tutelage of infield coach Ron Washington. Arraez has been one of the best defenders in 2026 after being considered a defensive liability for most of his career. One possibility is a reunion with the Padres — a club in desperate need of quality bats.