Matt Higgins
Many big names moved ahead of the MLB trade deadline — Mason Miller, Carlos Correa, Ryan O’Hearn, Cedric Mullins, Jhoan Duran, Eugenio Suarez, Ryan Helsley and David Bednar, among others. However, there are a number of players who surprisingly weren’t moved before Thursday’s 6 p.m. ET cutoff.
Here are six players that shockingly stayed with their current teams.
Luis Robert Jr.
It’s utterly baffling why the Chicago White Sox held onto Luis Robert Jr. Several contending teams wanted Robert despite his severe offensive regression since his 2023 All-Star campaign. The White Sox reportedly set such a high asking price that teams balked and went elsewhere. Now Chicago is stuck with Robert, who carries a $20 million club option for 2026. Will they pick it up despite his lack of offensive production?
Sandy Alcantara
It seemed like a fait accompli that the Miami Marlins would move Sandy Alcantara this season after he missed all of 2024 recovering from Tommy John surgery. But the former National League Cy Young winner has struggled mightily, posting a 6.36 ERA in 21 starts. The Marlins still received interest from pitching-needy clubs but opted to keep Alcantara, who is owed $17.3 million in 2026 with a $21 million club option for 2027. Don’t be surprised if Miami tries moving him this offseason if he rebounds over the final two months.
Zac Gallen
The Arizona Diamondbacks parted with soon-to-be free agents Eugenio Suarez, Josh Naylor and Merrill Kelly, but kept Zac Gallen. He’s having a down year, posting a 5.60 ERA in 22 starts while allowing an MLB-high 79 earned runs and NL-leading 23 home runs. But he still would’ve brought back a decent prospect haul from teams desperate for pitching. Arizona can offer him a qualifying offer this offseason, and if he declines and signs elsewhere, they’ll recoup a draft pick. However, it might be hard to turn down a qualifying offer worth over $21 million after the season he’s endured.
Steven Kwan
It almost seemed inevitable the Cleveland Guardians would trade All-Star outfielder Steven Kwan after closer Emmanuel Clase was placed on paid leave as part of an MLB sports betting investigation. The Guardians would have received a substantial return for the left fielder, but they kept him despite being a .500 team with minimal playoff chances this year. Perhaps Cleveland believes they can rebound in 2026 or could secure a better return this offseason, but Kwan remaining in Cleveland was surprising.
Dylan Cease
Dylan Cease’s name has been mentioned in trade rumors since the offseason, and it appeared the San Diego Padres were primed to move the soon-to-be free agent. However, general manager A.J. Preller kept Cease as the Padres went all-in at the deadline, acquiring closer Mason Miller and All-Star slugger Ryan O’Hearn among seven total additions. With Cease becoming a free agent after this season, the Padres are taking a calculated risk that he can help deliver their first World Series championship.
Mitch Keller
Playoff contenders were lining up to acquire starter Mitch Keller, who signed a team-friendly five-year, $77 million extension with the Pittsburgh Pirates in February 2024 that runs through 2028. Even though the Pirates traded third baseman Ke’Bryan Hayes to NL Central rival Cincinnati and closer David Bednar to the New York Yankees, they retained Keller, who would’ve commanded a massive return. They can explore moving him this offseason, but if he suffers an injury over the final two months, Pittsburgh will have missed another opportunity.
