Jarren Duran, Mitch Keller, Top 25 Non-Rental Targets at 2025 MLB Trade Deadline
One of the biggest factors when assessing a MLB player's trade value is whether he is just a two-month rental for the stretch run or if he is under club control beyond the current season.
Rental players are always the most obvious trade chips, but it's the controllable non-rentals who net blockbuster returns for rebuilding teams in need of an infusion of young prospect talent.
Those non-rental trade chips will be the focus here, with rentals on deck for Thursday.
Ahead, we've ranked the top 25 non-rental players on the 2025 MLB trade market, with rankings based on their current performance, expected impact, remaining club control and likelihood of being traded.
Let's start with a few players who have heard their name on the rumor mill but are unlikely to be going anywhere.
Unlikely to Be Traded, But Never Say Never
1 of 10
The following players have all been at least speculatively mentioned in trade talks this year, but we expect them all to be staying put, though that doesn't rule out a potential offseason deal:
Pitcher
RP Félix Bautista, BAL
RP Emmanuel Clase, CLE
RP Carlos Estévez, KC
SP Kyle Freeland, COL
SP MacKenzie Gore, WAS
RP Mason Miller, ATH
SP Luis Severino, ATH
RP Cade Smith, CLE
Hitter
2B Ozzie Albies, ATL
3B Nolan Arenado, STL
1B Yandy Díaz, TB
3B Maikel García, KC
3B Ke'Bryan Hayes, PIT
OF Steven Kwan, CLE
1B Nathaniel Lowe, WAS
OF Bryan Reynolds, PIT
OF Jesus Sanchez, MIA
OF Kyle Stowers, MIA
Nos. 25-21
2 of 10
25. OF Andrew Benintendi, Chicago White Sox
Contract: $17.1 million in 2026, $15.1 million in 2027
The White Sox are reportedly willing to pay down Benintendi's salary to facilitate a trade, and they will likely need to eat almost all of the $32.2 million he is owed in 2026 and 2027 to get a deal done. That said, he is an experienced veteran with a 103 OPS+ and 11 home runs in a market that is extremely thin on bats, so there could be a few suitors.
24. RP Pierce Johnson, Atlanta Braves
Contract: $7 million club option in 2026
With a modest $250,000 buyout on his $7 million club option for next year, Johnson can be utilized as a rental or as a mid-range bullpen option for 2026. The 34-year-old was a late-bloomer, breaking through during his age-29 campaign following a stint in Japan. In parts of three seasons with the Braves, he has a 2.80 ERA, 1.16 WHIP and 10.7 K/9 in 120 appearances.
23. SP JP Sears, Athletics
Contract: Arbitration-eligible through 2028
Since the start of the 2023 season, Sears ranks 17th among all pitchers with 454.2 innings pitched, posting a 4.61 ERA and 1.25 WHIP during that span. The 29-year-old is not going to start Game 1 of the playoff series, but he is a useful innings eater with three years of club control remaining. He fits a similar mold to Marco Gonzales when he was an innings-eating, league-average starter who filled a valuable role on a rebuilding Mariners club.
22. RP Jake Bird, Colorado Rockies
Contract: Arbitration-eligible through 2028
Bird has been one of the few effective pitchers on the Rockies staff this season, logging a 4.01 ERA (118 ERA+) and 10.6 K/9 in 51.2 innings over 42 appearances out of the bullpen. He has a 27.1 percent strikeout rate, but he has also been more hittable than is ideal for a late-inning arm with opponents posting a .263 average and .727 OPS against him. The fact that he's left-handed and controllable through 2028 will drive his market.
21. OF Lars Nootbaar, St. Louis Cardinals
Contract: Arbitration-eligible through 2027
Nootbaar is having a down year relative to the 116 OPS+ he has put up over the last three seasons, hitting .227/.332/.381 for a 100 OPS+ in 386 plate appearances here in 2025. He is also currently sidelined with a costochondral sprain, but the Cardinals sold low on Tommy Edman last summer while he was on the injured list and could take a similar approach with Nootbaar.
Nos. 20-16
3 of 10
20. RP Ronny Henriquez, Miami Marlins
Contract: Arbitration-eligible through 2030
If you're looking for a dark-horse trade candidate capable of making a significant impact, Henriquez is a name worth monitoring. The 25-year-old has a 2.68 ERA, 1.17 WHIP and 12.4 K/9 with five saves and 13 holds in 44 appearances in his first full season in the big leagues, and he has prototypical late-inning stuff with a fastball that averages 96.4 mph and a sweeper that is generating a 45.1 percent whiff rate.
19. Jeffrey Springs, Athletics
Contract: $10.5 million in 2026, $15 million club option in 2027
In his first year with the Athletics and playing out the third season of a four-year, $31 million extension he signed with the Rays, Springs could be on the move again this summer, with Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reporting the A's are entertaining offers on the 32-year-old and teammate JP Sears. Springs has a 4.18 ERA, 1.22 WHIP and 90 strikeouts in 114 innings.
18. RP Dennis Santana, Pittsburgh Pirates
Contract: Arbitration-eligible through 2026
The Pirates claimed Santana off waivers from the Yankees last June, and he logged a 2.44 ERA and 10.2 K/9 in 39 appearances after joining the Pirates. That success has carried over to the 2025 season as he sports a 1.49 ERA and 0.80 WHIP, albeit with a less impressive 7.2 K/9 in 42 games. The 29-year-old is making just $1.4 million this year, and he comes with one more year of arbitration control.
17. OF Taylor Ward, Los Angeles Angels
Contract: Arbitration-eligible through 2026
Ward has some holes in his game, including a lackluster .305 on-base percentage, a 26.8 percent strikeout rate and poor defensive metrics (-3 DRS), but he is also one of the few power bats expected to be available this summer. The 31-year-old has a 116 OPS+ with 25 doubles, 23 home runs and 76 RBI, leaving him just two homers shy of matching his career-high mark.
16. RP Reid Detmers, Los Angeles Angels
Contract: Arbitration-eligible through 2028
Detmers has a 4.17 ERA over 42 appearances in his first season as a full-time reliever, but those numbers don't tell the entire story. Over his last 30 appearances dating back to May 9, he has a 1.45 ERA, 1.13 WHIP and 11.9 K/9, and that strong run of success has made him an intriguing trade candidate. The No. 10 overall pick in the 2020 draft, he showed promise as a starter in 2022 and 2023 before struggling to a 6.70 ERA in 87.1 innings last year. A change of scenery could also mean another chance to start.
Nos. 15-11
4 of 10
15. OF Luis Robert Jr., Chicago White Sox
Contract: $20 million club option in 2026, 2027
With a .206 average, 78 OPS+ and a strikeout rate hovering near 30 percent, it's difficult to slot Robert any higher in these rankings, but there is no question he has as much upside as anyone on this list. Still only 27 years old, he essentially functions as a rental since it's unlikely his $20 million club option for next year will be exercised. He is still a power/speed threat with 10 home runs and 25 steals, and he plays a solid center field defensively, so as long as the White Sox are willing to chip in some cash he should find his way to a contender.
14. RP Pete Fairbanks, Tampa Bay Rays
Contract: $7 million club option in 2026
Fairbanks has nailed down 64 saves in 75 chances since the start of the 2023 season, logging a 3.03 ERA, 1.11 WHIP and 10.2 K/9 in 133 appearances during that span. His modest $7 million club option for next year adds to his trade value and also makes him a likely candidate to be moved by the cost-conscious Rays since that would make him one of the highest-paid players on the roster.
13. 3B Ryan McMahon, Colorado Rockies
Contract: $16 million in 2026, $16 million in 2027
McMahon is in the fourth season of a six-year, $70 million extension, and while he has been off-limits in trade talks in the past, he appears to be squarely on the block this year. His 91 OPS+ and NL-leading 124 strikeouts don't look great at first glance, but he has quietly posted fantastic batted-ball metrics, including a 93.8 mph average exit velocity that puts him in the 97th percentile among qualified hitters. A change of scenery might be exactly what he needs.
12. RP David Bednar, Pittsburgh Pirates
Contract: Arbitration-eligible through 2026
The Pirates have deemed Bednar untouchable in the past, but with just one year of club control remaining, there's a good chance they will change their tune this summer. The two-time All-Star has bounced back nicely from a down year in 2024, posting a 2.38 ERA, 1.09 WHIP and 12.2 K/9 in 38 games, and he should bring back a solid prospect haul.
11. SP Trevor Rogers, Baltimore Orioles
Contract: Arbitration-eligible through 2026
Rogers finished second in 2021 NL Rookie of the Year balloting and earned an All-Star nod while posting a 2.64 ERA with 157 strikeouts in 133 innings, but he struggled to a 5.09 ERA in 249.1 innings in the three years that followed. He was traded to the O's at the deadline last summer, and after opening the season in the minors, he has a 1.74 ERA (2.97 FIP) and 0.87 WHIP in 41.1 innings over seven starts. Will the Orioles sell high?
Nos. 10-6
5 of 10
10. 2B Brandon Lowe, Tampa Bay Rays
Contract: $11.5 million club option
Lowe is the second-highest paid player on the Rays roster this year with a $10.5 million salary, which accounts for roughly 11.7 percent of the organization's 2025 adjusted payroll. The 31-year-old was an All-Star for the second time in his career this season, and he has a 121 OPS+ with 19 home runs and 50 RBI. His $11.5 million club option for next year could be viewed as a bargain for contenders, but it's reason enough to put him on the trade block for the small-market Rays.
9. SP Edward Cabrera, Miami Marlins
Contract: Arbitration-eligible through 2028
Cabrera has always had electric stuff dating back to his time as a prospect in the Marlins system, and the pieces finally seem to be falling into place this year in his age-27 season. Armed with a mid-90s fastball, two distinct breaking pitches and a terrific changeup, he has posted a 3.61 ERA, 1.26 WHIP and 86 strikeouts in 82.1 innings. Most important of all, he has trimmed his walk rate to a career-best 8.6 percent, down from 12.0 percent a year ago. There is a very real chance Sandy Alcántara will stay put and Cabrera will be the big piece the Marlins move.
8. SP Taj Bradley, Tampa Bay Rays
Contract: Arbitration-eligible through 2029
With Ryan Pepiot, Shane Baz and Drew Rasmussen anchoring the rotation and Shane McClanahan on the recovery trail, the Rays are expected to deal from their wealth of pitching talent. Zack Littell is an obvious trade candidate as an upcoming free agent, but they are also "listening to offers" for Bradley, according to Bob Nightengale of USA Today. The 24-year-old has a 4.35 ERA, 1.24 WHIP and 95 strikeouts in 109.2 innings, and his club control through 2029 gives him considerable trade value.
7. RP Griffin Jax, Minnesota Twins
Contract: Arbitration-eligible through 2027
Jax was arguably the best setup reliever in baseball during the 2024 season, finishing with a 2.03 ERA, 0.87 WHIP and 12.0 K/9 in 72 appearances while tallying 10 saves and 20 holds along the way. The 30-year-old got off to a rocky start this season, but since the beginning of May, he has a 2.37 ERA, 0.99 WHIP and 13.6 K/9 with 13 holds in 32 games. Multiple teams are interested in the Twins' late-inning bullpen duo, and it feels like there is a decent chance at least one will be moved.
6. RP Jhoan Durán, Minnesota Twins
Contract: Arbitration-eligible through 2027
With a fastball that averages 100.3 mph, an upper-90s splitter and a lethal knuckle curveball that is generating a 43.3 percent whiff rate, Durán is squarely in the running for the title of most overpowering reliever in baseball. He has a 1.62 ERA, 1.13 WHIP and 10.2 K/9 with 15 saves in 45 games, and his $4.13 million salary is an absolute steal and will continue to be next year even with a sizable raise in arbitration. It's going to take a lot to convince the Twins to move him, but he moves the needle for a contender in need of a late-inning upgrade.
5. SP Sandy Alcántara, Miami Marlins
6 of 10
Contract: $17.3 million in 2026, $21 million club option in 2027
It's been a rocky return from Tommy John surgery this year for Sandy Alcántara, who has more outings where he has allowed six or more earned runs (5) than he does quality starts (4).
However, the 2022 NL Cy Young winner has also been the victim of some tough luck, with his 7.14 ERA backed by a far more palatable 4.66 FIP over 97 innings of work.
In terms of pure upside, Alcántara is capable of making as big of an impact as any player available on this year's trade market, but the Marlins' asking price might end up exceeding his perceived value.
4. C Sean Murphy, Atlanta Braves
7 of 10
Contract: $15 million in 2026, 2027 and 2028, $15 million club option in 2029
A cracked left rib sidelined Sean Murphy for the start of the 2025 season, and top prospect Drake Baldwin found his way onto the Opening Day roster as the team's starting catcher in his absence.
Fast forward to July, and Baldwin is hitting .290/.358/.488 for a 135 OPS+ with 11 home runs, 39 RBI and 2.2 WAR in 69 games, which has opened the door for the Braves to seriously consider moving Murphy this summer.
The former All-Star and Gold Glove winner signed a six-year, $73 million extension shortly after joining Atlanta ahead of the 2023 season, and he is enjoying another productive season with a 133 OPS+ and 2.6 WAR in 64 games.
The Braves won't trade him for the sake of trading him, and Buster Olney of ESPN recently reported he will not be available. However, if the Braves can bring back a young, controllable starter who can be plugged right into the MLB rotation (Taj Bradley?), it's a move worth considering.
3. SP Kris Bubic, Kansas City Royals
8 of 10
Contract: Arbitration-eligible through 2026
Kris Bubic has turned in one of the most unexpected breakouts of the 2025 season, posting a 2.38 ERA, 1.14 WHIP and 115 strikeouts in 113.2 innings to earn his first All-Star selection.
That came on the heels of a 2024 season spent pitching effectively out of the bullpen, though he had a 4.85 ERA in 325 innings over his first four years in the majors pitching primarily as a starter.
With free agency looming after the 2026 season, the Royals could opt to sell high and flip him for help in the outfield as they look to improve a disappointing offensive attack around Bobby Witt Jr.
The deal that sent Brady Singer to the Reds for Jonathan India during the offseason can serve as a blueprint of sorts for the type of deal that will make sense on the Royals' end of things.
2. OF Jarren Duran, Boston Red Sox
9 of 10
Contract: $8 million club option in 2026, arbitration-eligible through 2028
Unlike the other players on this list, Jarren Duran plays for a Red Sox team that is not expected to sell at the deadline, but flipping him could be the ticket to upgrading the pitching staff with a controllable starter.
With Roman Anthony, Ceddanne Rafaela and Wilyer Abreu as a potential starting outfield going forward, Duran is an expendable piece, which is a wild thing to say about a player who turned in an 8.7-WAR season and finished eighth in AL MVP voting a year ago.
The 28-year-old is not making quite the same level of impact this year, but he still has a 108 OPS+ with 25 doubles, 10 triples, nine home runs, 51 RBI, 54 runs scored, 16 steals and 2.5 WAR in 101 games.
A speculative swap for Marlins starter Edward Cabrera is a deal that could make sense for both sides, and that figures to be the type of player the Red Sox will be targeting if they are going to seriously consider a Duran trade.
1. SP Mitch Keller, Pittsburgh Pirates
10 of 10
Contract: $16.9 million in 2026, $18.4 million in 2027, $20.4 million in 2028
An All-Star in 2023 and a staple in the Pittsburgh rotation for the past five seasons, Mitch Keller has already established himself as one of the best homegrown pitchers in recent Pirates history.
Like Gerrit Cole, Joe Musgrove and other quality arms who came before him, he finds himself at the center of trade rumors, with the big difference being that he signed a five-year, $77 million extension with the team.
With Paul Skenes anchoring the staff, Bubba Chandler knocking on the door and more young pitching talent on the way, it makes sense that the Pirates would consider offloading the final three years and $55.7 million of Keller's contract in an effort to bolster a bad offense.
On pace to reach 30 starts for the third year in a row, Keller has a 3.48 ERA, 1.14 WHIP and 92 strikeouts in 119 innings, and he has been throwing the ball extremely well of late with a 2.32 ERA in 42.2 innings over his last seven starts.
The 29-year-old is good enough to be part of a contender's playoff rotation, and his remaining contract is a bargain relative to market value, making him the most valuable non-rental trade chip on the market this summer.
