Fresh MLB Trade Packages for the Top 10 Rumored Targets
While the vast majority of Major League Baseball's top free agents have signed a new contract this winter, plenty of marquee names are theoretically still available on the trade block.
But which teams are most desperate to acquire the likes of CJ Abrams, Jarren Duran and Joe Ryan? And what's it going to cost to get them?
For each of these 10 players, we've put together not one, not two, but three possible trade packages, utilizing the median surplus value from Baseball Trade Values in order to make sure the scales are relatively balanced. (By no means do we always agree with those theoretical values, but it's better than nothing.)
Players are presented in alphabetical order by last name, which just so happens to preserve the biggest blockbuster until the very end.
CJ Abrams, SS, Washington Nationals
1 of 10
Contract Info: $4.2M in 2026, arbitration-eligible in 2027 and 2028
Baseball Trade Values Median Surplus: 52.9
Why Might He Be Available?: The Nationals already traded away MacKenzie Gore last week and have pretty clearly admitted defeat on contending in 2026; probably in 2027, too, if we're being honest. James Wood isn't going anywhere, but if they can turn CJ Abrams into two controllable assets or a potential long-term star, they're bound to consider it.
Trade Package A: San Francisco Giants send 1B Bryce Eldridge straight up for CJ Abrams (48.9 median surplus)
We know the Giants have kicked the tires on acquiring Abrams, but they've probably balked at being willing to part with Eldridge, instead hoping that the Nationals will accept a "one quarter and four dimes for a dollar" type of offer that they took from the Rangers for Gore. Could be a simple one-for-one swap, though, giving Washington its primary first baseman for the next six-plus years.
Trade Package B: Boston Red Sox send LHP Connelly Early and RHP Kyson Witherspoon for CJ Abrams (47.7 median surplus)
While Boston has about a dozen options for its starting rotation at this point, its middle infield situation remains highly suspect. Witherspoon was their first-round pick this past summer, several years away from making any sort of impact in the majors. But Early could be the ace of Washington's staff in 2026.
Trade Package C: Seattle Mariners send SS Cole Young and RHP Ryan Sloan for CJ Abrams (51.6 median surplus)
If the M's feel set with Cole Young as a primary middle infielder for 2026 and beyond, fantastic. Feel free to ignore this proposal. But the M's plan at both 2B and 3B is questionable at best from afar, while SS J.P. Crawford is heading into his final year before free agency. Giving up Young and an intriguing-but-far-from-ready-for-the-bigs pitching prospect for an established bat might be worth their while.
Kris Bubic, LHP, Kansas City Royals
2 of 10
Contract Info: Either $5.15M or $6.15M in 2026, to be determined in arbitration hearing; Free Agent after next season
Baseball Trade Values Median Surplus: 18.4
Why Might He Be Available?: The Royals have multiple years of team control on Seth Lugo, Michael Wacha, Cole Ragans, Bailey Falter, Noah Cameron, Ryan Bergert and Stephen Kolek. That doesn't mean they'll toss away their final season of Kris Bubic for next to nothing. But they could be looking to parlay his breakout 2025 campaign into an impact bat that they desperately need.
Trade Package A: New York Mets send 3B Brett Baty straight up for Kris Bubic (21.9 median surplus)
The Mets did finally upgrade their rotation in a big way with the acquisition of Freddy Peralta, but are they done? And are they actually planning to use Brett Baty in left field, or is he the ultimate expendable asset in a New York infield that would still be over-crowded even if you remove him from the equation? He could finally get everyday work if he gets shipped to the Royals.
Trade Package B: Los Angeles Angels send OF Jo Adell and UTIL Kyren Paris for Kris Bubic (14.4 median surplus)
Adell doesn't provide much in terms of overall value, but he certainly provides home runs, hitting 37 of them in 2025. And for a Royals team that only got 37 home runs from its entire outfield last season, he could be a game-changer in the heart of the lineup. Meanwhile, the Halos need all the pitching help they can get if they're ever going to make it back to the playoffs.
Trade Package C: San Francisco Giants send OF Heliot Ramos straight up for Kris Bubic (16.7 median surplus)
The Giants just signed Harrison Bader on Monday, so might they now trade from what is somewhat of a surplus of outfielders to secure what could be the final piece of their rotation puzzle? Ramos has eclipsed 20 home runs in each of the past two seasons, but he's a considerable liability on defense. Kansas City could look to use him at DH on a regular basis, though.
Byron Buxton, CF, Minnesota Twins
3 of 10
Contract Info: $15M in 2026, $15M in 2027, $15M in 2028
Baseball Trade Values Median Surplus: 35.1
Why Might He Be Available?: It's still not entirely clear what Minnesota plans to do about both its present and its future. But with a 2026 win total o/u line of 73.5 and three or fewer years of control remaining on Byron Buxton (three), Royce Lewis (three), Joe Ryan (two), Pablo López (two), Trevor Larnach (two) and Ryan Jeffers (one), reigniting the summer fire sale could still be in the cards.
Trade Package A: Cincinnati Reds send RHP Rhett Lowder and RHP Chase Petty for Byron Buxton (30.2 median surplus)
Giving up five years of Lowder and six years of Petty for an oft-injured outfielder would be a major risk for a Reds team that can't well afford to just buy its way out of decisions gone wrong. But Buxton would have been Cincinnati's most valuable position player by a country mile last season and could be the missing link that finally gets the Reds a postseason series win for the first time since 1995.
Trade Package B: New York Mets send RHP Jonah Tong and 1B Ryan Clifford for Byron Buxton (39.1 median surplus)
Neither Buxton nor Luis Robert Jr. has ever played anywhere other than center field in the majors, but could the Mets convince one of those Gold Glovers to man left field in 2026? Could also plan on having them more or less equally share the CF and DH duties while maybe dangling Mark Vientos on the trade block to get another corner outfielder.
Trade Package C: Los Angeles Angels send RHP Tyler Bremner, RHP Caden Dana and OF Nelson Rada for Byron Buxton (32.7 median surplus)
Selling basically the entire farm for an injury-prone slugger heading into his age-32 season? It's been a while since the Angels played one of their classic hits, but that seems right up their alley. And they certainly need a better center fielder if they're serious about contending this season.
Brendan Donovan, 2B, St. Louis Cardinals
4 of 10
Contract Info: $5.8M in 2026, arbitration-eligible in 2027
Baseball Trade Values Median Surplus: 30.7
Why Might He Be Available?: The Cardinals have already traded away Sonny Gray, Willson Contreras and Nolan Arenado, mostly in the name of salary relief and restocking the farm system. Unless they envision a scenario in which they are somehow back with a vengeance in 2027 after punting on 2026, they might as well trade Brendan Donovan's final two seasons for something more long-term.
Trade Package A: San Francisco Giants send SS Josuar Gonzalez (39.4 median surplus) for Brendan Donovan and OF Lars Nootbaar (43.3 median surplus)
Aside from Roki Sasaki, Josuar Gonzalez was regarded as the top prospect in last winter's international class. And though he didn't turn 18 until after the season ended, he stole 33 bases, walked more than he struck out and posted an .859 OPS. But it'll be years before he's helping out in the majors. Meanwhile, like Donovan, Nootbaar has two years left until free agency and is presumably every bit as available as his second base counterpart.
Trade Package B: Seattle Mariners send LHP Kade Anderson (31.2 median surplus) for Brendan Donovan and LHP JoJo Romero (37.0 median surplus)
Last week, our Zach Rymer put together every team's wish list for what's left of the offseason. For the Mariners? It was an everyday infielder and bullpen depth. So a Donovan/Romero package sure would be sweet. Sweet enough to part with the No. 3 overall pick in the 2025 draft, though? Perhaps we'll find out.
Trade Package C: Los Angeles Dodgers send OF Zyhir Hope straight up for Brendan Donovan (33.2 median surplus)
Do the Dodgers need Donovan? Of course not. They've got Tommy Edman, Hyeseong Kim, Miguel Rojas and Alex Freeland as options at second base. But they don't have a sure thing there, which is what Donovan would be in their quest for a third consecutive World Series. They also have a preposterous surplus of outfielders at this point and could flip one of their top prospects to St. Louis without even feeling the loss.
Jarren Duran, OF, Boston Red Sox
5 of 10
Contract Info: $7.7M in 2026, arbitration-eligible in 2027 and 2028
Baseball Trade Values Median Surplus: 41.9
Why Might He Be Available?: Roman Anthony and Ceddanne Rafaela are both signed through at least 2031, and Wilyer Abreu is under team control through 2029. Throw in Masataka Yoshida clogging the DH option and Nate Eaton as a serviceable fourth outfielder and Jarren Duran is probably worth more on the trade block than he is to Boston.
Trade Package A: Houston Astros send SS Jeremy Peña (55.9 median surplus) for Jarren Duran and IF Dorian Soto (54.4 median surplus)
If the Astros won't shop Isaac Paredes, what about an even bigger fish? Boston could move Trevor Story back to second base to make room for two years of Peña's services. Houston could slide Carlos Correa back to short, cement Paredes at the hot corner, shore up the outfield with Duran and bring in a switch-hitting 17-year-old to perhaps take over at shortstop once Correa's contract runs its course.
Trade Package B: Detroit Tigers send IF Kevin McGonigle (77.2 median surplus) for Jarren Duran, LHP Connelly Early and IF Mikey Romero (76.3 median surplus)
McGonigle is one of the top prospects in all of baseball, but it was only a few months ago that the Padres parted with MLB.com's No. 3 overall prospect (Leo De Vries) to get Mason Miller and JP Sears. And if the Tigers added Duran and Early while hanging on to Tarik Skubal, they would almost have to be regarded as the clear favorite to win the AL Central and a decent threat to take the World Series.
Trade Package C: Cincinnati Reds send LHP Andrew Abbott (44.1 median surplus) to Cleveland Guardians; Cleveland Guardians send 2B Travis Bazzana and RHP Hunter Gaddis (43.1 median surplus) to Boston Red Sox; Boston Red Sox send Jarren Duran to Cincinnati Reds
Got to at least throw one three-team proposal into the fray, right? Cincinnati could desperately use the outfield help, while Cleveland could desperately use another sure thing in the rotation. The question is whether the 2024 No. 1 overall pick would be enough to pique Boston's interest. Doesn't help matters that Bazzana's progression has been slowed by injury, but he certainly could be a big-league asset in 2026.
Nico Hoerner, 2B, Chicago Cubs
6 of 10
Contract Info: $12M in 2026, Free Agent after next season
Baseball Trade Values Median Surplus: 18.1
Why Might He Be Available?: When the Cubs signed Alex Bregman, it created a bit of an infield logjam. And while the most logical solution is to use Matt Shaw as a utilityman in 2026 before cementing him at second base when Nico Hoerner becomes a free agent next winter, it's also plausible they could trade Hoerner to upgrade elsewhere.
Trade Package A: Atlanta Braves send RHP Robert Suarez straight up for Nico Hoerner (TBD median surplus)
The year before Chicago signed Dansby Swanson, Hoerner was their primary shortstop, and a darn good one. And with Ha-Seong Kim out indefinitely with a torn tendon in his right middle finger, maybe Hoerner fills that void for the Braves? Coincidentally, Atlanta has two quality closers on its roster, while the lack of an established closer is maybe the Cubs' biggest question mark.
Trade Package B: San Francisco Giants send OF Bo Davidson and RHP Blade Tidwell for Nico Hoerner (20.5 median surplus)
Davidson is probably still at least a year away. But with both Ian Happ and Seiya Suzuki hitting free agency next winter, looking ahead to 2027 with an outfielder acquisition is probably the play for Chicago—especially after trading away Owen Caissie to get Edward Cabrera. And Tidwell is hardly a throwaway piece in the deal. He was one of the chips San Francisco got for Tyler Rogers this past summer, and he has some promise if he keeps the walks under control.
Trade Package C: Los Angeles Dodgers trade OF Mike Sirota straight up for Nico Hoerner (22.1 median surplus)
It's probably a bit of an overpay by the Dodgers—but what isn't? And if they can get a year of Hoerner without giving up any of their top three outfield prospects, they probably leap at the opportunity. They traded Gavin Lux for Sirota last January and just might move him again.
Steven Kwan, LF, Cleveland Guardians
7 of 10
Contract Info: $7.725M in 2026, arbitration-eligible in 2027
Baseball Trade Values Median Surplus: 28.3
Why Might He Be Available?: For the same reason Steven Kwan might have been available this past summer: Cleveland almost certainly isn't going to extend him before he hits free agency, nor re-sign him once he hits the open market two winters from now. The Guardians aren't going to give him away, but he's hardly untouchable.
Trade Package A: Houston Astros send IF Brice Matthews, RHP Spencer Arreghetti and C Walker Janek for Steven Kwan (27.4 median surplus)
Giving up two of the best prospects from what might already be the worst farm system at the moment sure would further complicate Houston's long-term plans. But the Astros also have one of the most suspect outfields among contenders, and adding Kwan's four-time Gold Glove to the mix would be huge. And if they did acquire Kwan, shipping Isaac Paredes to Boston suddenly becomes much more doable.
Trade Package B: New York Mets send RHP Jonah Tong straight up for Steven Kwan (30.8 median surplus)
As things presently stand in Queens, it'll be Juan Soto in right, Luis Robert Jr. in center and presumably some combination of Carson Benge and Brett Baty in left. But between that lack of experience in left and the injury history in center, adding one more sure thing to the mix would be swell. And if the Guardians add Tong to the rotation, they could probably still contend for the AL Central crown in 2026 without Kwan.
Trade Package C: Arizona Diamondbacks send OF Ryan Waldschmidt and LHP Kohl Drake for Steven Kwan (26.6 median surplus)
Waldschmidt is probably still a year away from the big leagues, so the Guardians might not be all that interested in this package. But the theoretical value is about right, and the Diamondbacks would surely love to add an impact outfielder without running up against the luxury tax threshold.
Isaac Paredes, IF, Houston Astros
8 of 10
Contract Info: Either $8.75M or $9.95M in 2026, to be determined in arbitration hearing; arbitration-eligible in 2027
Baseball Trade Values Median Surplus: 12.9
Why Might He Be Available?: Houston has reportedly been reluctant to even discuss Isaac Paredes in trades, preferring to retain his bat and figure out ways to make the lineup work. But with Carlos Correa, Jeremy Peña, Jose Altuve and Christian Walker not going anywhere, a trade could be in order.
Trade Package A: Boston Red Sox send OF Wilyer Abreu (32.3 median surplus) for Isaac Paredes, RHP Bryan Abreu and IF Brice Matthews (30.9 median surplus)
Boston has repeatedly popped up as a team with interest in Paredes, and the marriage makes sense, with Houston surely desiring one of Boston's outfielders. If Eugenio Suárez ends up signing elsewhere after already missing on Alex Bregman, Munetaka Murakami and Kazuma Okamoto, the Red Sox might finally make Houston an offer it can't refuse.
Trade Package B: Milwaukee Brewers send OF Garrett Mitchell straight up for Isaac Paredes (14.7 median surplus)
To part with Paredes, Houston would maybe insist on getting someone with less of an injury history than what Garrett Mitchell brings to the table. But he has three years of team control remaining and had an .805 OPS from 2022-24, operating at 162-game paces of 18 home runs and 28 stolen bases. Could be a real asset (and an inexpensive one) if healthy.
Trade Package C: Pittsburgh Pirates send RHP Jared Jones straight up for Isaac Paredes (21.0 median surplus)
Jones was electric when he first arrived in the majors in 2024, but he missed all of 2025 following UCL surgery. Would the Pirates be willing to give up his future in order to add another quality bat today? Paredes could be the final piece that actually makes Pittsburgh's lineup reasonably formidable.
Joe Ryan, RHP, Minnesota Twins
9 of 10
Contract Info: $6.1M in 2026; $13M mutual option for 2027, but will be arbitration-eligible if declined
Baseball Trade Values Median Surplus: 53.8
Why Might He Be Available?: While the Twins have done more buying than selling this winter, let's not pretend their 'small potatoes' deals with Josh Bell, Victor Caratini and Taylor Rogers were a sign that they're all-in on winning in 2026. We always assumed that if they did end up continuing their summer fire sale, it would be after most of the free agents have signed elsewhere and teams started getting desperate. Probably about time to dangle Joe Ryan and see who bites most voraciously.
Trade Package A: New York Yankees send RHP Will Warren, OF Spencer Jones and RHP Bryce Cunningham for Joe Ryan (54.1 median surplus)
Should the Twins insist upon Cam Schlittler instead of Will Warren, they'll probably need to throw something else in the deal to get it across the finish line. But for five years of team control on Warren and a pair of coveted prospects, it's probably worth giving up their final two years on Ryan and planning on contending again in 2028.
Trade Package B: Baltimore Orioles send IF Jordan Westburg and OF Nate George (58.6 median surplus) for Joe Ryan and RHP Cole Sands (62.6 median surplus)
Parting with Westburg would be such sweet sorrow, but the O's do have quite the surplus of infielders. If they're reasonably confident in Coby Mayo as the primary third baseman, the drop in production from Westburg to Mayo would probably pale in comparison to the improvement of the starting rotation with Ryan as the ace of the staff.
Trade Package C: Philadelphia Phillies send RHP Andrew Painter straight up for Joe Ryan (52.3 median surplus)
For as much as they've refused to include him in negotiations in the past, it's hard to imagine the Phillies would even consider this. Maybe if the Twins agree to also take Nick Castellanos' contract in the deal, though, that would grease the wheels. And if the Phillies aren't confident in Painter playing a big role in 2026, Ryan certainly would fill the Ranger Suárez-sized hole in their rotation.
Tarik Skubal, LHP, Detroit Tigers
10 of 10
Contract Info: Either $19M or $32M in 2026, to be determined in arbitration hearing; Free Agent after next season
Baseball Trade Values Median Surplus: 58.0
Why Might He Be Available?: Well, Tarik Skubal most likely isn't available—and he almost certainly won't be movable until all parties know which of the two possible salaries he will be earning next season. But after seeing how much the Mets gave up for one year of Freddy Peralta, let's at least make some updated guesses at Skubal's theoretical market, yeah?
Trade Package A: New York Yankees send RHP Cam Schlittler, OF Jasson Domínguez and RHP Carlos Lagrange for Tarik Skubal (59.6 median surplus)
Was Schlittler's 10 appearance run from mid-August through those two postseason starts the real deal or a flash in the pan? He might be a key piece of their rotation for the next six years, but imagine a 2026 Yankees rotation featuring Skubal, Max Fried, Carlos Rodón, Luis Gil and—whenever he makes it back from his March 2025 Tommy John surgery—Gerrit Cole. After all the Red Sox, Orioles and Blue Jays did this winter, it'd be hard to bet against that rotation in the AL East.
Trade Package B: New York Mets send OF Carson Benge (69.8 median surplus) and RHP Jonah Tong for Tarik Skubal and OF Parker Meadows (65.0 median surplus)
If you're going to be all-in, go all the way in. The Mets already gave up two highly touted prospects for a year of Peralta, and perhaps they could give up two more gifted youngsters for a year of Skubal. Benge figures to be a key part of New York's outfield mix in 2026, so it probably would need an outfielder back to give him up. But going Skubal, Peralta and Nolan McLean atop the rotation would be incredible.
Trade Package C: Texas Rangers send SS Sebastian Walcott straight up for Tarik Skubal (61.7 median surplus)
If Skubal wins the arbitration hearing and earns a $32M salary, Texas might steer clear in the name of staying below the luxury tax threshold. But if he ends up getting $19M, this theoretically would be a "fair" one-for-one swap that would give Texas a starting rotation of Skubal, Jacob deGrom, Nathan Eovaldi, MacKenzie Gore and Jack Leiter/Kumar Rocker. Yeah, that'll do.
