2026 MLB All-Stars Who Could Be on the Trade Block
Major League Baseball players going directly from the All-Star Game to the trade block happens more often than you might think.
Last year, both Ryan O'Hearn and Eugenio Suárez were traded away after appearing in the All-Star Game.
The summer before that, Isaac Paredes, Tanner Scott and Luis Arraez each played for two teams during an All-Star campaign.
And back in 2021, a staggering 10 All-Stars were on the move, including Max Scherzer, Trea Turner and Kris Bryant.
While it's hard to imagine we'll see anything quite like that this summer, there are a fair number of representatives from the midsummer classic who plausibly could be playing elsewhere in a few weeks' time.
Players are presented in ascending order of perceived likelihood of being dealt.
Mason Miller, RHP, San Diego Padres
1 of 9
Contract Status: $4M in 2026, arbitration-eligible for 2027-29
Team Status: 48-48, 3.5 GB for wild card, 12.5 GB for division
Likelihood of Trade: Extremely unlikely...but it's A.J. Preller
Presumably Interested Parties: Everyone?
This past Thursday, MLB.com's Mark Feinsand ran an article in which he asked a number of rival executives whether they thought Padres' president of baseball operations A.J. Preller would consider trading Mason Miller, and what type of haul they could get for him one year after giving up a king's ransom to acquire him from the A's.
That notion of Miller possibly landing on the trade block came out of nowhere a couple of days before Feinsand's article, and there has been no indication that it's something the Padres are legitimately thinking about. In fact, one of Feinsand's quotes from an anonymous AL executive was: "I haven't heard whispers [about Miller being available,] but I can definitely see Preller moving him to restock (their depleted farm system)."
Feinsand also said, "The consensus among the dozen or so executives we spoke with was that Preller is unlikely to trade Miller...unless the Padres' situation gets far worse over the next three weeks."
However, now that the idea is out there, it's going to remain a talking point unless/until someone in the Padres organization comes out and explicitly shuts it down, similar to the Paul Skenes trade speculations from a year ago that spread like wildfire despite being rooted in poppycock.
We'll put him on the list just because, but it would be truly shocking if the Padres were to trade away the most dominant closer on the planet when they're not even in a rebuilding state.
Adley Rutschman, C, Baltimore Orioles
2 of 9
Contract Status: $7.25M in 2026, arbitration-eligible for 2027
Team Status: 46-51, 2 GB for wild card, 11.5 GB for division
Likelihood of Trade: Might require a Godfather offer
Presumably Interested Parties: Yankees, White Sox, Red Sox
In late June, Orioles president of baseball operations Mike Elias made it pretty clear that they have no desire to trade away Adley Rutschman, saying, "That's not something that's crossed the desk or the agenda...I wish our commitment was greater than it is. We want him here forever."
All the same, they have repeatedly failed to make that type of long-term commitment with Rutschman (nor with Gunnar Henderson) and presently find themselves on the wrong side of the postseason picture with just one year of control remaining on their supposed franchise cornerstone.
If they sputter through their next 15 games, it might be time to get past the wishes and wants and start asking if they believe he'll ultimately re-sign with them—or asking how legitimately they should even try, with Samuel Basallo already signed through 2033 and producing at the same level as Rutschman.
Most likely, though, they won't be trading him. Not in the next few weeks, at any rate. Unloading Rutschman would essentially be admitting defeat in both 2026 and 2027, unless they're able to get a package that includes an upper echelon, MLB-ready pitching prospect who can play a major role in the rotation next season. And good luck finding a team willing to pay that price.
Aroldis Chapman, LHP; Willson Contreras, 1B, Boston Red Sox
3 of 9
Chapman's Contract Status: $13M in 2026, conditional $13M option for 2027
Contreras' Contract Status: $14M in 2026, $13M in 2027, $20M club option (or $7.5M buyout) for 2028
Team Status: 46-48, 0.5 GB for wild card, 10 GB for division
Likelihood of Trade: Possible, but far less likely than a month ago
Presumably Interested Parties: Mariners, Cubs, Pirates and White Sox for Chapman; Rangers, Marlins and Tigers for Contreras
Just three Thursdays ago, the Boston Red Sox had fallen to 29-43 with the lowest scoring offense in the majors. They were 15.5 games behind the Yankees in the AL East and 6.5 games back in a gaggle of mediocrity for the final wild-card spot.
Anyone who spends even a second thinking about the trade deadline in mid-June was already picking over this roster like a vulture with a carcass, searching for landing spots for Aroldis Chapman, Willson Contreras and plenty more.
But then Boston messed around and heated up, going 14-2 to close out the first half, climbing to within an inch of a wild card spot—all while the list of key Red Sox players on the IL just continues to grow.
Selling is no longer the sure thing it seemed to be a few weeks ago.
If they do end up back on that road, though, Chapman is probably going to be the first domino to fall. We only listed a few above, but darn near every team could use the best reliever who might be available. And if Chapman does get shipped out, Contreras and Sonny Gray might not be far behind him.
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CJ Abrams, SS, Washington Nationals
4 of 9
Contract Status: $4.2M in 2026, arbitration-eligible in 2027 and 2028
Team Status: 48-49, 4 GB for wild card, 8 GB for division
Likelihood of Trade: Unlikely, but plausible
Presumably Interested Parties: Brewers, Yankees, Braves, Rays, Red Sox
At the moment, the Nationals are ankles deep in no-man's land; an overachieving, high-scoring club that is within shouting distance of the postseason field, yet far enough back in the standings that it doesn't make a lot of sense for them to be an aggressive buyer.
Considering they open the second half with four consecutive series against teams who also wouldn't be in the postseason field today, there's a good chance they'll be in this same spot when it's time to pick a lane.
Even if they do go the selling route, though, would they really unload CJ Abrams amid a career season with two years of control remaining? Or maybe just get something for impending free agent Foster Griffin and call it a day?
Abrams has already set a new career high for RBI in a single season (67) and has an OPS (.862) more than 100 points better than his previous best. He is on pace for roughly 33 home runs and 26 stolen bases and would be a welcome addition to just about any lineup, even as he continues to play some of the least valuable defense in all of baseball.
Hunter Goodman, C, Colorado Rockies
5 of 9
Contract Status: $810,000 in 2026, arbitration-eligible for 2027-29
Team Status: 39-59, 13.5 GB for wild card, 22.5 GB for division
Likelihood of Trade: Slim, but certainly not none
Presumably Interested Parties: Yankees, White Sox, Red Sox
The real question here is: When do the Rockies think they'll matter again?
From afar, it certainly doesn't appear imminent. They are roughly on pace for a fourth consecutive season of at least 100 losses, and their only particularly promising prospect (Ethan Holliday) not only has yet to advance beyond Single-A ball but underwent season-ending foot surgery in May. It might be another 2-3 years before he even makes his MLB debut, let alone plays a major role for a contender.
But if they can honestly see a path to the postseason by 2028, then, no, Hunter Goodman shouldn't be going anywhere. He has been, hands down, their most valuable player since the beginning of last season, and they can keep him for another three years after this one.
For a catcher who hit 31 home runs in 2025 and is on pace for more than 40 this year, though, they could get a haul for him. Probably not a "Juan Soto in 2022" or "Mason Miller in 2025" type of haul, but they could command a lot to move him.
Goodman even has some wild reverse Coors Field splits this season, with a .964 OPS on the road compared to .747 at home. His power clearly plays anywhere.
Eduardo Rodríguez, LHP, Arizona Diamondbacks
6 of 9
Contract Status: $21M in 2026, $19M in 2027, $18M vesting option for 2028 or $6M buyout
Team Status: 49-47, 2.5 GB for wild card, 11.5 GB for division
Likelihood of Trade: Let's see how Arizona starts the second half
Presumably Interested Parties: White Sox, Cubs, Cardinals, Braves
First-time All-Star Eduardo Rodríguez is having quite the "Well, where the heck has this been?" run through 2026. After posting an ERA north of 5.00 in each of the first two seasons of his four-year, $80M contract, he's sitting on a 2.29 ERA through 19 starts.
Because he is barely averaging two strikeouts per walk, though, pretty much none of the expected data suggests this is likely to last. However, if he can hold it together for a couple more starts, there are going to be some contenders willing to bet he can at least be productive down the stretch.
If the Diamondbacks end up selling, that is.
While Rodríguez has been great, the trio of Zac Gallen, Merrill Kelly and Ryne Nelson has been calamitous, with a collective ERA of 5.60 and a combined bWAR of minus-1.8. Because of that, stringing together wins has felt impossible at times—save for that stretch of 10 wins in 11 games against the Rockies and Giants in the second half of May.
But they entered the break on one heck of a high note, sweeping the Dodgers in Los Angeles. They're almost certainly toast in the NL West "race," but maybe the Snakes can slither their way back into the wild card mix? If not, they have a bunch of impending free agents to auction off in addition to this All-Star pitcher.
Michael Wacha, RHP, Kansas City Royals
7 of 9
Contract Status: $18M in 2026, up to $18M in 2027, club option for up to $18M in 2028
Team Status: 38-59, 10 GB for wild card, 13 GB for division
Likelihood of Trade: 50/50
Presumably Interested Parties: Braves, White Sox, Cardinals, Nationals, Cubs
Since turning 30, Michael Wacha has been nothing if not consistent. He is working on his fifth consecutive season with an ERA between 3.22-3.86 and a WHIP between 1.11-1.22. And after struggling in the home runs allowed department from 2019-21, he has been better than most about keeping the ball in the yard in recent years.
One big difference has been his ability to work deep into starts. Wacha is on pace for roughly 200 innings pitched and 20 quality starts. Both would be career-best marks for the 14-year veteran.
Some lot of good his quality starts have done the Royals, though. They've gone 5-14 in his appearances, routinely giving him almost no run support while flirting with the worst record in all of baseball.
Because of the two remaining years of team control, it's likely going to cost someone an arm and a leg to get the Royals to trade him away. But they don't have much else to offer as an obvious seller, and it would be self-sabotage to not at least find out what they could get for the two-time All-Star on a contract that just about any team could afford.
Foster Griffin, RHP, Washington Nationals
8 of 9
Contract Status: $5.5M in 2026, Free Agent this winter
Team Status: 48-49, 4 GB for wild card, 8 GB for division
Likelihood of Trade: More likely than not
Presumably Interested Parties: Brewers, Cubs, Cardinals, White Sox, Twins, Guardians, Rangers, Braves, Phillies
Foster Griffin was a last-minute addition to the NL roster, replacing Braxton Ashcraft who was already a replacement for Jacob Misiorowski. Even at that, Griffin wouldn't have gotten the call if Zack Wheeler hadn't turned up his nose at the offer after being snubbed in the first place.
But it still counts. The 2014 first-round pick who had pitched just eight innings in the big leagues prior to this season is an All-Star, carrying an otherwise dreadful Nationals pitching staff with his 2.77 ERA and a 10-2 record.
It hasn't been enough, though. The Nats have gone 33-45 in games not started by Griffin, slowly but surely slipping out of the postseason conversation despite leading the majors in scoring.
And while CJ Abrams probably isn't going anywhere even if Washington does admit defeat before the deadline, this impending free agent with a prorated remaining salary of not even $2M would spark quite the bidding war in a market starving for starting pitching.
Luis Arraez, 2B, San Francisco Giants
9 of 9
Contract Status: $12M in 2026, Free Agent this winter
Team Status: 41-55, 10.5 GB for wild card, 19.5 GB for division
Likelihood of Trade: Near-certainty
Presumably Interested Parties: Rays, Yankees, Guardians, Phillies, Red Sox, Nationals
Luis Arraez just keeps doing his thing. He led the National League in hits in each of the past two seasons, and were it not for the blistering inferno that is Otto Lopez, he'd be in position to do so for a third consecutive year. He also won batting titles in each of 2022, 2023 and 2024, all while striking out at a Tony Gwynn-like rate of almost never.
He sat unclaimed for a long time in free agency this past winter before taking a modest one-year deal with the Giants in mid-February. But now that he's also having an excellent defensive season for a change, Arraez is going to be possibly the most coveted position player who actually gets traded.
For what it's worth, it won't even be the first time Arraez moved during an All-Star season. He was also shipped from Miami to San Diego two years ago during his third straight All-Star campaign. Though, that time, he was dealt in May as opposed to the window between the All-Star Game and the trade deadline.
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