7 Top Prospects Who Could Be Jewels of 2026 MLB Trade Deadline Blockbusters
The annual whirlwind of activity that is the MLB trade deadline is fast approaching, and after some serious young talent was on the move last summer, this year could bring another reshuffling of the prospect landscape.
Leo De Vries was one of the highest-ranked prospects ever traded at the deadline when he was shipped from the Padres to the Athletics last summer in exchange for closer Mason Miller.
Who could be this year's marquee prospect that finds a new home?
Ahead we've highlighted seven top prospects from prospective buyers and explained why they might not be untouchable in the right deadline deal.
SS Felnin Celesten, Seattle Mariners
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Age: 20
Current Level: Double-A
Prospect Rank: No. 77 on B/R Top 100
Prospect Outlook
Signed for $4.7 million as one of the top prospects in the 2023 international class, Felnin Celesten has shown flashes in the past, but has taken a significant step toward fulfilling his vast potential in 2026.
He hit .314/.409/.534 with 21 doubles, 13 home runs and 52 RBI over 80 games at High-A to earn a recent promotion to Double-A, and he remains arguably the best defensive infielder in the Seattle farm system.
Why He Could Be Traded
With Colt Emerson signed to a long-term deal as the shortstop of the present and future in Seattle, Cole Young enjoying a breakthrough season at second base and 2026 first-round pick Ace Reese expected to move quickly through the minors as the third baseman of the future, there is a clear infield logjam in Seattle.
OF Zyhir Hope, Los Angeles Dodgers
2 of 7
Age: 21
Current Level: Double-A
Prospect Rank: No. 38 on B/R Top 100
Prospect Outlook
Zyhir Hope was acquired in the trade that sent Michael Busch to the Cubs, and he immediately broke through with a loud age-19 season in the lower levels of the minors after joining the Dodgers organization.
With above-average tools across the board, including 60-grade power and the athleticism to stick in center field, he has been a top-tier prospect for multiple seasons now. Through 87 games at Double-A this year, he is hitting .289/.371/.529 with 17 doubles, 21 home runs, 84 RBI and 17 steals.
Why He Could Be Traded
The Dodgers are loaded with outfield prospects, with Josue De Paula (No. 3), Mike Sirota (No. 13) and Eduardo Quintero (No. 51) joining Hope on B/R's Top 100 prospect list. De Paula is the clear untouchable in that group and Sirota has overtaken Hope this year with a huge performance playing alongside him at Double-A, leaving Hope as the most likely marquee trade chip in a major blockbuster deal.
RHP Brody Hopkins, Tampa Bay Rays
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Age: 24
Current Level: Triple-A
Prospect Rank: No. 83 on B/R Top 100
Prospect Outlook
With a 2.42 ERA and 141 strikeouts in 116 innings at Double-A last season, Brody Hopkins firmly established himself as a Top 100 prospect in his first full year in the Tampa Bay organization after coming over in the Randy Arozarena trade with Seattle.
He has continued to miss plenty of bats this year with 95 strikeouts in 77.2 innings, showcasing a triple-digit fastball and power breaking stuff. However, he has also walked 74 batters for a 21.0 percent walk rate, and command has been the question mark throughout his career.
Why He Could Be Traded
The Rays are known for their ability to develop pitching talent, but have not been able to rein in his command to this point. However, his pure stuff is still dynamic enough to drive significant interest, and a 2.50 ERA over his last four starts has him trending in the right direction.
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SS Dax Kilby, New York Yankees
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Age: 19
Current Level: Rookie League
Prospect Rank: No. 76 on B/R Top 100
Prospect Outlook
Part of an unusually deep high school shortstop class a year ago, Dax Kilby went No. 39 overall in the 2025 draft and inked an above-slot $2.8 million signing bonus as the Yankees top pick.
He then hit .353/.457/.441 with 16 steals and more walks (13) than strikeouts (11) over 19 games at Single-A Tampa to kick off his pro career and immediately boost his prospect stock. A hamstring injury has kept him sidelined for most of the 2026 season, but his 60-grade hit tool and offensive polish keep him in the top prospect conversation.
Why He Could Be Traded
With George Lombard Jr. and Carlos Lagrange expected to be untouchable, and Spencer Jones no longer a top-tier prospect amid ongoing strikeout issues, Kilby figures to be the prospect sellers are circling in trade talks with the Yankees. The win-now mentality in the Bronx could make him expendable in the right deal to improve in 2026.
IF Luis Peña, Milwaukee Brewers
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Age: 19
Current Level: High-A
Prospect Rank: No. 18 on B/R Top 100
Prospect Outlook
In almost any other farm system, Luis Peña would be the untouchable headliner, but he has played in the shadow of Jesús Made since they were both signed as part of the 2024 international class.
He spent the entire 2025 season as an 18-year-old playing full-season ball and more than held his own, hitting .270/.335/.422 with 33 extra-base hits and 44 steals. It has been more of the same back at High-A to start the year, and his 55-hit, 55-power, 70-speed profile gives him a franchise-caliber offensive ceiling.
Why He Could Be Traded
The Brewers don't often make a splash at the trade deadline, and they tend to cling to their top prospects as a means of low-cost production. That said, with Cooper Pratt signed long-term at shortstop, Brice Turang locked in at second base and Jesús Made the top infield prospect in the system, Peña is the rare standout up-and-comer they might be willing to part with in the right deal.
SS Jefferson Rojas, Chicago Cubs
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Age: 21
Current Level: Double-A
Prospect Rank: No. 2 CHC prospect
Prospect Outlook
The Cubs have moved Jefferson Rojas aggressively through their farm system, sending him to Single-A at the age of 18 and continuing to push him up the ladder on tools and upside more than production.
Now the pieces are all falling into place at Double-A Knoxville, where he is hitting .272/.341/.462 with a career-high 14 home runs and 55 RBI in 81 games as one of the youngest everyday players in the Southern League.
Why He Could Be Traded
With Dansby Swanson (through 2029), Nico Hoerner (through 2032) and Alex Bregman (through 2030) all signed long-term, the Cubs don't have a path to playing time on the infield and won't for some time. The clear organizational need right now is starting pitching, and Rojas could help reel in a rotation piece capable of taking the ball in a playoff series.
SS Wyatt Sanford, Pittsburgh Pirates
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Age: 20
Current Level: High-A
Prospect Rank: No. 81 on B/R Top 100
Prospect Outlook
Part of the same 2024 draft class as Konnor Griffin, the Pirates took Wyatt Sanford with the No. 47 overall pick in the second round and he is quickly rising the ranks in a deep Pittsburgh farm system.
He is hitting .287/.425/.539 with 11 doubles, 10 home runs and 21 steals in 48 games at High-A, helping to eliminate some questions about how much offensive impact he would make with what seemed like a hit-over-power approach offensively. He also has a good chance of sticking at shortstop long-term, though he is getting looks at second base as well.
Why He Could Be Traded
Seth Hernandez and Edward Florentino will almost certainly be off-limits in trade talks, so if the Pirates are going to be aggressive buyers at the deadline, Sanford could be the player sellers are targeting. Moving him would be tougher to swallow if they didn't have Griffin penciled in long-term at shortstop.
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