MLB Trade Ideas for Contenders in Danger of Selling Off 2026
For a handful of MLB teams that entered the 2026 campaign expecting to contend, things have not gone as hoped over the first few weeks of the new season.
The New York Mets are the most glaring example, mired in an eight-game losing streak, while the Boston Red Sox, Houston Astros, San Francisco Giants and Toronto Blue Jays have also stumbled out of the gates.
There's still a ton of time for each of those clubs to turn things around, but it's also never too early to start looking ahead to what the trade deadline might look like if they are unable to right the ship and wind up selling.
Ahead we've proposed seven hypothetical trades framing those five struggling teams as trade deadline sellers.
Robbie Ray to the Chicago Cubs
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To CHC: LHP Robbie Ray
To SF: 1B Jonathon Long (Tier 4, No. 6 CHC prospect)
With Cade Horton lost for the season, Matthew Boyd nursing a biceps strain and Justin Steele still working his way back from Tommy John surgery, the Cubs' rotation depth is being put to the test early.
They used Riley Martin as an opener ahead of Colin Rea on Tuesday night against the Phillies, and could continue to get creative with how they approach games at the back of the rotation.
It's not hard to envision a veteran starting pitcher being atop their wish list at the deadline, and left-hander Robbie Ray could be the ideal target if the Giants can't turn things around.
If the Cubs absorb what's left of his $25 million salary, it would lessen the prospect cost to acquire the former Cy Young winner. The 34-year-old enjoyed a bounce-back season in 2025 with a 3.65 ERA and 186 strikeouts in 182.1 innings, and he has a 2.42 ERA in 22.1 innings through four starts so far this year.
Pitching in the final season of a five-year, $115 million deal, he would be a quality stopgap with the upside to start a playoff game. In exchange, the Giants receive a bat-first prospect in Jonathon Long who has an .877 OPS with 21 home runs and 104 RBI in 132 games at Triple-A since the start of last year.
Christian Vázquez to the Pittsburgh Pirates
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To PIT: C Christian Vázquez
To HOU: IF Tyler Callihan (Tier 5)
This might not look like the sexiest trade proposal on paper, but a veteran catcher helping to lead the young Pittsburgh rotation would go a long way in helping a team on the rise reach the next level.
The Pirates are currently rolling out the underperforming tandem of Henry Davis (40 PA, 81 OPS+, 0.1 WAR) and Joey Bart (26 PA, 41 OPS+, -0.2 WAR) behind the dish, and both former top prospects profile more as organizational depth than impact talent at this point.
Meanwhile, Vázquez is enjoying a resurgent season playing on a one-year, $1 million deal after winning the backup catcher job as a non-roster invitee to Astros spring training.
The 35-year-old is hitting .370/.393/.630 with five extra-base hits in 29 plate appearances, and his real value comes from his ability to handle a pitching staff and control the running game.
The return wouldn't be huge given his age and rental status, but Tyler Callihan is a controllable, MLB-ready utility piece that could fill an immediate role in the big league bench.
Kevin Gausman to the Athletics
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To ATH: RHP Kevin Gausman, cash
To TOR: LHP Wei-En Lin (Tier 4, No. 5 ATH prospect), OF Darwing Ozuna (Tier 5)
The Athletics failed to upgrade a weak starting rotation during the offseason, settling on Aaron Civale as the only notable addition to the staff, and now they currently rank 20th in the majors with a 4.27 starters' ERA.
Their lineup has also underperformed relative to expectations, but it's far more likely the bats come around than it is the pieces suddenly fall into place on a flawed collection of starting options.
Financial limitations are always a factor for the Athletics, but the Blue Jays might be willing to eat a significant chunk of the money still owed to Kevin Gausman in the final season of his contract if it means a better prospect return.
Gausman, 35, is still pitching at a frontline level with a 2.42 ERA, 0.85 WHIP and an AL-leading 31 strikeouts in 22.1 innings through four starts. He has a $23 million salary this year in the final season of a five-year, $110 million deal.
Left-hander Wei-En Lin would immediately become one of the top arms in the Toronto system. The 20-year-old is already pitching at the Double-A level, and with four polished pitches and plus command, he has Top 100 prospect upside.
Outfielder Darwing Ozuna is more of a lottery ticket, but an intriguing one with 55-grade raw power who signed for $850,000 as part of the 2025 international class.
Isaac Paredes to the Milwaukee Brewers
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To MIL: IF Isaac Paredes
To HOU: RHP Logan Henderson (Tier 3, No. 6 MIL prospect), OF Luis Lara (Tier 5, No. 10 MIL prospect)
An infield logjam as a result of the Carlos Correa reunion last summer made Isaac Paredes a popular name on the trade market during the offseason, and while he ultimately stayed put, he remains a logical trade candidate.
That's especially true if the Astros continue to struggle, as his remaining club control through 2027 and All-Star pedigree still give him significant trade value, even if he doesn't have an everyday home in the Houston lineup.
The 27-year-old had a 124 OPS+ with 20 home runs and 2.3 WAR in 102 games last season while earning his second career All-Star selection, and he has a 115 OPS+ over seven seasons in the majors.
Meanwhile, third base has been a black hole for the Brewers, with newcomers Luis Rengifo and David Hamilton splitting duties and hitting a combined .153/.254/.220 with zero home runs.
The price here is steep, as Logan Henderson is an MLB-ready starter who currently slots in at No. 81 on the B/R Top 100 prospect list, while Luis Lara is a 20-year-old with plus speed and a sure-fire center field glove.
A small price to pay for a potentially transformative addition to the lineup.
Aroldis Chapman to the Arizona Diamondbacks
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To ARI: LHP Aroldis Chapman
To BOS: LHP Kohl Drake (Tier 5)
Once upon a time, the Royals turned a two-month rental of Aroldis Chapman into a controllable young starter named Cole Ragans in a 2023 trade deadline deal with the Rangers.
Could the Red Sox follow a similar blueprint this summer?
Chapman enjoyed one of the best seasons of his career last year with the Red Sox, posting a 1.17 ERA, 0.70 WHIP and 12.5 K/9 with 32 saves in 67 appearances, and he was re-signed to a one-year, $13 million deal that includes a $13 million mutual option and $300,000 buyout for 2027.
The D-backs rank 24th in the majors with a 5.05 ERA from their bullpen, and they already have five blown saves in 12 chances, making the back of the bullpen a glaring early need.
Left-hander Kohl Drake was acquired in the deal that sent Merrill Kelly to the Rangers last summer. The 25-year-old represents an MLB-ready rotation option with middle-of-the-rotation upside, and he is currently pitching well at the Triple-A level.
Daulton Varsho to the Detroit Tigers
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To DET: CF Daulton Varsho
To TOR: IF Hao-Yu Lee (Tier 4, No. 7 DET prospect), LHP Jake Miller (Tier 5), OF Jackson Strong (Tier 5)
With 16.7 WAR since the start of the 2022 season, Daulton Varsho is a strong candidate for baseball's All-Underrated Team, and free agency awaits next offseason for the slugging outfielder.
The 29-year-old has averaged 25 home runs per 162 games over the course of his time in the big leagues, and he launched 20 long balls in 271 plate appearances last season, but it's his elite defense that is the foundation of his value.
Originally drafted as a catcher, he has developed into one of baseball's best center fielders, logging 45 Defensive Runs Saved at the position since joining the Blue Jays in 2023.
For the Tigers, he would be a clear upgrade to a position that has been something of a revolving door, and even more so now that Parker Meadows is sidelined following arm surgery.
Hao-Yu Lee is the centerpiece of the proposed return, and offers a profile similar to Ernie Clement and Davis Schneider as a versatile utility option with offensive upside.
Jake Miller logged 104 strikeouts in 87.1 innings while pitching to a 1.85 ERA across three minor league levels last season, while Jackson Strong is a high-floor outfield prospect with on-base ability and a plus glove.
Freddy Peralta to the San Diego Padres
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To SD: RHP Freddy Peralta
To NYM: C Ethan Salas (Tier 3, No. 1 SD prospect), OF Ryan Wideman (Tier 5, No. 7 SD prospect), RHP Tucker Musgrove (Tier 5)
The idea of the Mets flipping Freddy Peralta just months after acquiring him in a blockbuster deal with the Brewers might seem outlandish, but it's the reality of the situation for an upcoming free agent with blockbuster value.
It's also not uncharted territory for the Mets, who just a few years ago traded Justin Verlander to the Astros before he completed his first full season with the team, cutting their losses after spending big in free agency.
A more team-friendly $8 million salary and frontline production make Peralta a more valuable trade chip than Verlander, and teams will be lining up with offers if he is made available.
The Padres look like a contender in clear need of rotation help, especially now that Nick Pivetta is dealing with elbow inflammation. Team president AJ Preller has never been shy about cashing in prospect trade chips, and now might be the time to turn the page on Ethan Salas.
A hyped international signing who reached Double-A at the age of 17, Salas has seen his development stall while struggling to adjust to upper-level pitching and navigating injuries. He is still only 19 years old, though, and an extremely attractive change of scenery target.
Ryan Wideman is a toolsy outfielder with 70-grade speed, while Tucker Musgrove is an intriguing flier with a high-octane fastball but limited track record.
