4 Realistic MLB Trades That Make Both Teams Better
In just over a month, pitchers and catchers will begin reporting to sunny Arizona and Florida for the start of spring training, but before that happens there is a lot of roster reconstruction still to take place this offseason.
While several high-profile players remain available in free agency, the trade market could also be active as teams shift their focus to alternative options to plug roster holes.
Ahead, we've laid out five realistic trade proposals that would make both teams better, with a combination of addressing needs at the MLB level, shedding payroll and restocking farm systems.
Josh Jung to the Pirates
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To PIT: 3B Josh Jung
To TEX: RHP Thomas Harrington
How It Makes the Pirates Better: The Pirates have added Brandon Lowe, Ryan O'Hearn, Jake Mangum and Jhostynxon Garcia to an offense that ranked last in the majors in runs scored (583) and team OPS (.655) last year, but there is still room for improvement.
With defensive-minded Jared Triolo penciled in as the projected starter at third base, they have already been linked to free agent Eugenio Suárez as a potential upgrade.
Josh Jung is another potential fit at the hot corner with buy-low upside. The 27-year-old is controllable through 2028, not far removed from starting the 2023 All-Star Game and coming off a 2025 campaign where he logged a 100 OPS+ with 23 doubles, 14 home runs and 61 RBI in 131 games.
How It Makes the Rangers Better: Jung had an up-and-down 2025 season in which he was briefly optioned to the minors in July, and he has looked like a potential trade candidate since the offseason started. Moving him would create a path for top prospect Sebastian Walcott, who could be ready to debut in 2026 after spending a full season at Double-A last year. Until he's ready, Josh Smith could man the hot corner, so there is already an in-house replacement for Jung.
In exchange, the Rangers bring back a former Top 100 prospect in Thomas Harrington, who checked in at No. 74 on the Baseball America prospect list at the start of last season. The 24-year-old struggled in his first big league action, but he could compete with Kumar Rocker and Jacob Latz for a spot at the back of the Opening Day rotation.
Brendan Donovan to the Mariners
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To SEA: 2B Brendan Donovan
To STL: RHP Logan Evans, SS Felnin Celesten
How It Makes the Mariners Better: The Mariners moved quickly to re-sign Josh Naylor at the start of the offseason, but holes remain at second and third base where Cole Young (257 PA, 78 OPS+, 12 XBH) and Ben Williamson (295 PA, 76 OPS+, 14 XBH) are the projected starters.
Top prospect Colt Emerson is also a candidate to break camp with a strong spring, but Brendan Donovan would give the Mariners an experienced, versatile infielder coming off his first All-Star selection. The 28-year-old has a .282/.361/.411 line and 117 OPS+ in four big league seasons, and he is controllable through 2027.
How It Makes the Cardinals Better: The Cardinals are clearly in rebuilding mode after flipping Sonny Gray and Willson Contreras for prospects, making a Donovan trade extremely likely at some point before the start of spring training.
This return package would give them a 2026 rotation piece in Logan Evans, who had a 4.32 ERA in 81.1 innings for the Mariners last year, along with a high-ceiling middle infield prospect in Felnin Celesten. Still only 20 years old, Celesten hit .285/.349/.384 with 26 extra-base hits and 20 steals in 93 games at Single-A last year, and the $4.7 million bonus he received when he signed in 2023 speaks to his significant upside.
Freddy Peralta to the Mets
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To NYM: RHP Freddy Peralta, RHP Trevor Megill
To MIL: RHP Jonah Tong, 3B Jacob Reimer, 2B/OF A.J. Ewing
How It Makes the Mets Better: With David Peterson and rookie Nolan McLean slated to anchor the Mets rotation, this deal would give them a bona fide staff ace in Freddy Peralta, and also give the organization a jump on potentially signing him to a long-term extension.
It also provides some insurance for Devin Williams in the closer's role after he had an up-and-down 2025 season, as Trevor Megill has 51 saves over the last two years and would join Luke Weaver and A.J. Minter to form a strong group of setup options.
How It Makes the Brewers Better: It was reported back in November that the Brewers were "fretting over their payroll" and little has been done to address that issue to this point. Peralta and Megill are projected to earn a combined $14.5 million in 2026, and they stand as the fifth- and seventh-highest paid players on the team, so this would give the club some financial flexibility.
More importantly, it turns a pair of upcoming free agents unlikely to be re-signed into controllable pieces. Jonah Tong could immediately step into Peralta's spot in the rotation, while Jacob Reimer and A.J. Ewing are both coming off breakout 2025 seasons and would slot comfortably inside Milwaukee's top 10 prospect list.
A Steven Kwan-for-Brady Singer Swap
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To CIN: OF Steven Kwan
To CLE: RHP Brady Singer, OF Rece Hinds, OF Hector Rodriguez
How It Makes the Reds Better: Will Sammon and Kate Woo of The Athletic described JJ Bleday and Dane Myers as "upside players who offer protection in the event they're unable to make a bigger acquisition," so the door is not closed on the Reds potentially searching for an upgrade in left field.
Steven Kwan is a two-time All-Star and four-time Gold Glove winner over his first four seasons in the majors, and with two years of club control remaining, he would be more than just a rental upgrade. His power is limited, but generating over-the-fence production is generally not an issue at Great American Ball Park, and his defense, speed and contact skills would be a welcome addition to the Reds lineup.
How It Makes the Guardians Better: Kwan saw his salary jump from the league minimum to $4.175 million last season in his first year of arbitration, and that figure is projected to more than double to $8.8 million in 2026. That's a big number for a penny-pinching Cleveland organization, and if they don't intend to lock him up long-term, now could be the time to flip him.
Brady Singer is a one-year rental, but he would join Gavin Williams and Tanner Bibee at the top of the rotation and would amount to roughly a $3 million addition to the payroll when balanced with Kwan's projected salary. Meanwhile, Rece Hinds and Hector Rodriguez provide two more candidates to fill out the Cleveland outfield, as they would join Chase DeLauter, George Valera, Nolan Jones, Johnathan Rodríguez and others in the battle for outfield playing time.
