As a new offseason begins, the immediate focus for the baseball world centers on MLB free agency. While there’s some high-end talent available on the real open market, there are even better players available on the trade block. As another winter begins, a new wave of premier talent is popping up in MLB trade rumors.
Let’s dive into our list of the nine best offseason MLB trade candidates and examine a few potential landing spots for each of them this winter.
1. Tarik Skubal, SP, Detroit Tigers
Tarik Skubal is the best pitcher in baseball and will be a two-time AL Cy Young Award winner at just 28 years old. Unfortunately for the Detroit Tigers, he’s also entering a contract year and the two sides are hundreds of millions of dollars apart on the total value of a contract extension. Skubal is also represented by agent Scott Boras, who gets his top talent to the open market. So, Detroit can either keep him for the 2026 MLB season and then see him walk in free agency or trade him now at a premium. Given some of the needs on the Tigers’ roster and the potential historic return the Tigers front office could get in a trade, there’s a real chance Skubal is dealt this winter.
- Tarik Skubal Landing Spots: New York Mets, San Diego Padres, Chicago Cubs, Los Angeles Dodgers
Read More: Most Overrated MLB Free Agents 2025-26
2. MacKenzie Gore, SP, Washington Nationals
One theme with the top MLB trade candidates this offseason is starting pitchers with multiple years of contractual control on clubs that don’t necessarily want to pay them. That’s the boat the Washington Nationals are in with ace MacKenzie Gore. The 26-year-old hurler is coming off a breakout season, recording 185 strikeouts in 159.2 innings pitched, but it came with a 4.17 ERA and 1.35 WHIP. He also has never eclipsed 170 innings in a season. However, Gore’s trade value is at an all-time high, and Washington might believe that it’s not close enough to contention to keep Gore before he reaches MLB free agency. A front-line southpaw under team control for two years is a premium trade asset, and Washington could both strengthen its farm system and land major-league-ready talent if it decides to trade Gore this winter.
- MacKenzie Gore Landing Spots: Boston Red Sox, Toronto Blue Jays, New York Yankees, Baltimore Orioles, San Diego Padres
3. Joe Ryan, SP, Minnesota Twins
The Minnesota Twins had themselves a fire sale at the MLB trade deadline, and there’s every reason to believe that will continue this winter. Joe Ryan is under contract for the next two seasons through arbitration, and with a 3.50 ERA and a 1.01 WHIP across 306 innings in the last two seasons, that’s a fantastic boost for a playoff contender. Minnesota will likely continue its rebuild in the months to come, moving Ryan and potentially catcher Ryan Jeffers while they can get a premium in return.
- Joe Ryan Landing Spots: New York Mets, New York Yankees, Los Angeles Dodgers, Boston Red Sox
Related: 2025 MLB Free Agency Rankings
4. Steven Kwan, OF, Cleveland Guardians
While the Cleveland Guardians ultimately made the playoffs, All-Star outfielder Steven Kwan was featured prominently in MLB trade rumors during the summer. He’s under contract for two more seasons but Cleveland has a long history of moving top talent more than a year out from MLB free agency. With a .341 OBP, 100 RBI, 45 doubles, 33 steals, and 25 home runs in the last two seasons and four consecutive Gold Glove Awards, Kwan might be the most coveted outfielder in baseball this offseason, and that includes Kyle Tucker.
- Steven Kwan Landing Spots: Philadelphia Phillies, Los Angeles Dodgers, San Diego Padres, San Francisco Giants, Cincinnati Reds
5. Freddy Peralta, SP, Milwaukee Brewers
It feels like there’s a strong likelihood of the Milwaukee Brewers trading Freddy Peralta this winter. He’s headed into a contract year, and the organization has demonstrated that it moves contract-year players for prospects and secondary contributors, then develops them into high-talent players and flips them years later. It’s Peralta’s time to go now. Sporting a 3.40 ERA, 614-188 K-BB line, and a 1.14 WHIP over the last three seasons, the 29-year-old righty is the perfect No. 2 starter for a contender who doesn’t feel like overpaying for Framber Valdez in free agency.
- Freddy Peralta Landing Spots: New York Mets, San Francisco Giants, Chicago Cubs, San Diego Padres, Baltimore Orioles
6. Jarren Duran, OF, Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox have a surplus of quality outfielders and only so many spots to deploy them in the lineup. Given that Jarren Duran generated the most interest at the MLB trade deadline this past season, he seems the likeliest to leave. The 29-year-old is under contract through 2028, having recently agreed to a one-year, $7.7 million deal for the 2026 season that includes $75,000 in potential bonuses. While he didn’t replicate his breakout 2024 success, Duran still delivered a .774 OPS and remains dangerous on the base paths. Boston can take advantage of its outfield depth by flipping Duran for a cost-controlled starting pitcher or corner infielder.
- Jarren Duran Landing Spots: San Diego Padres, San Francisco Giants, Philadelphia Phillies, Detroit Tigers, Los Angeles Dodgers
7. Adley Rutschman, C, Baltimore Orioles
Toward the end of the 2025 season, All-Star catcher Adley Rutschman’s name started to pop up more in MLB trade rumors. The debut of Samuel Basallo, who signed an eight-year extension, led some executives to wonder if Rutschman might be traded. Publicly, the Baltimore Orioles have expressed zero willingness to move him. While Rutschman hasn’t been particularly productive at the plate over the last two seasons–.240/.314/.382–he’s just two years removed from an All-MLB First Team selection and catchers of this caliber rarely become available. If Baltimore decides to move forward with Basallo, it can flip Rutschmann to address its rotation.
- Adley Rutschman Landing Spots: San Francisco Giants, San Diego Padres, Texas Rangers, Los Angeles Angels, Philadelphia Phillies
8. Sandy Alcantara, SP, Miami Marlins
The Miami Marlins likely wanted to trade Sandy Alcantara this past season, but his numbers in the first season back from Tommy John surgery complicated that. He finished the year with a 5.36 ERA and 1.27 WHIP, though, that did come with a 2.68 ERA in his final eight starts of the season (53.2 innings pitched). Heading into his age-30 season, he’s under contract for $17.3 million in 2026 with a $21 million club option for 2027.
- Sandy Alcantara Landing Spots: New York Mets, Toronto Blue Jays, Chicago Cubs, Boston Red Sox
9. Brendan Donovan, IF/OF, St. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals are expected to trade both Sonny Gray and Brendan Donovan this winter, with particular focus on Donovan. At 28 years old, Donovan is a versatile player who can cover second base, left field, and corner infield positions. He boasts a .772 OPS over the last four seasons, making him highly coveted by many playoff hopefuls. His arbitration eligibility extends through 2027, adding to his value as a trade asset. St. Louis is reportedly open to taking on prospects who are a few years away from the majors, signaling a strong likelihood that a trade involving Donovan will happen by January.
- Brenden Donovan Landing Spots: Los Angeles Dodgers, Houston Astros, New York Yankees, Philadelphia Phillies, San Francisco Giants, Los Angeles Angels, Kansas City Royals
