In case anyone hasn't heard the hard truth, this MLB offseason doesn't feature a very good class of free agents. There's Tarik Skubal and then not much else.
On the plus side, this could make for a very active trade market.
For the sake of setting the stage, we're going to run through the best trade assets in every team's possession. These include specific players and more general areas of strength, such as major league surpluses and prospect riches.
With individual players, we've attempted to stay somewhere within reasonable boundaries. Would it be totally wild if, say, Bobby Witt Jr. hit the block this winter? You bet. But that idea and others face major headwinds.
We'll go division by division, starting in the American League East and ending in the National League West.
Prospect rankings are according to B/R's Joel Reuter.
American League East
1 of 6
Baltimore Orioles
- Infield surplus
- Relief pitchers
The Orioles' infield logjam primarily concerns third base, which only has room for one starter between Christian Encarnacion-Strand, Coby Mayo and Jordan Westburg.
It's harder to imagine Gunnar Henderson or Jackson Holliday, though not necessarily because both should be untouchable. As unthinkable as it might have sounded once upon a time, neither has sky-high trade value right now.
Otherwise, there's no harm in other teams asking about Fรฉlixย Bautista, Yennier Cano or Rico Garcia. Ryan Helsley is also worth asking about following his decision to opt in for 2027.
Boston Red Sox
- Jarren Duran
- Former top prospects
The Red Sox seem all but certain to trade Duran this winter, and not just because they stand to have an outfield logjam if they don't. He has more value than most guys coming off a 0.4-rWAR season, as he still has ample power and speed plus two remaining years of club control.
Triston Casas, Kristian Campbell and Brayan Bello are the former top prospects, and all three arguably need a change of scenery. With Casas, though, teams can wait and see if Boston non-tenders him.
New York Yankees
- Pitching surplus
- Former top prospects
The Yankees' major league rotation is so full that there aren't guaranteed roles for Luis Gil, Ryan Weathers or Clarke Schmidt going forward. They also have a couple intriguing prospects standing by, in Elmer Rodrรญguez and Carlos Lagrange.
It's past time for the Yankees to look around for takers for Anthony Volpe and Jasson Domรญnguez. They were meant to be mainstays when they were brought up. That hasn't panned out, and the discourse around both has gotten a little too heated for comfort.
Tampa Bay Rays
- Drew Rasmussen
- Top-100 prospects
Rasmussen is in the No. 2 spot in MLB Trade Rumors' top 40 trade candidates for the winter. It's a little counter-intuitive, given that he was last seen serving as the ace for the American League champs. But the Rays are always budget-conscious, so Rasmussen's $20 million salary for 2027 represents a problem.
If the Rays would rather double-down on this year's success by buying on the trade market, they have six top-100 prospects in their system. Those include two shortstops and two catchers, so there's redundancy that could come into play.
Toronto Blue Jays
- Bad contracts
- Sell high candidates
Yeah, it's pretty bleak when it comes to Toronto's trade assets. Maybe they can get something for Andrรฉs Gimรฉnez or Anthony Santander, yet rarely has the word "maybe" done such heavy lifting.
This is why selling high on guys should be in play, and we're specifically looking at Ernie Clement and Louis Varland. Clement is more of a nice guy to have than the All-Star starter he was this year. Varland had an elite year (1.27 ERA!) as the Jays' closer, but it's an outlier relative to the rest of his career.
American League Central
2 of 6
Chicago White Sox
- Infield surplus
- Relief pitchers
The White Sox don't have an infield surplus right now, per se, but they are on a collision course with one.
Roch Cholowsky and Caleb Bonemer loom for the left side of the infield, so it might be worth their time to see what's out there for Miguel Vargas or Colson Montgomery.
As for the relievers, do they dare capitalize on Grant Taylor's breakout year and dangle him on the market? If it sounds crazy, just remember what the A's got when they cashed in Mason Miller in July 2025.
Cleveland Guardians
- Steven Kwan
- Former top prospects
Chris Antonetti says Kwan is expected to be "a big part" of the 2027 team, but it remains fair game to speculate otherwise. He's due for free agency after next year, and he's thus in that window when the Guardians typically look to cash in when a player has trade value.
Given that each is due for a raise in arbitration, teams can try their luck calling about Jo Adell and Brayan Rocchio. After he failed to build on his 2025 breakout this year, Kyle Manzardo is also worth a spot on teams' radars.
Detroit Tigers
- Spencer Torkelson
- Former top prospects
Torkelson's name has popped up here and there in trade speculation in the past, and you can expect it to happen again this winter. He still has two years of club control left, but he could use a change of scenery that would hopefully involve a more power-friendly stadium than Comerica Park.
Torkelson obviously falls into the "former top prospect" bucket, but we're more so thinking about Colt Keith and Jace Jung. The latter just plain needs a change of scenery after failing to break through as a Tiger.
Kansas City Royals
- Michael Wacha
- Left-handed hitters
The Royals need some kind of dramatic pivot after back-to-back seasons of diminished returns, which is why Wacha needs to be on the market. He has one year left on his contract, and plenty of value after posting a 3.32 ERA over 200.2 innings.
It's right-handed bats that are in short supply across MLB, but the Royals might shop one or more of their lefties anyway. Vinnie Pasquantino could fetch a haul. Michael Massey and Kyle Isbel are worth less, but at least offer good gloves.
Minnesota Twins
- Joe Ryan
- Former top prospects
Even if he only has one 30-start season under his belt, Ryan is a two-time All-Star with established No. 2 upside. He's also only under club control for one more season, so now is the time if the Twins are ever going to trade him.
It's time for them to move on from leftover remnants of their last prospect wave. Royce Lewis should be put out there as a change of scenery candidate. Trevor Larnach is more of a known quantity, yet no longer a building block. He's 29 and headed into his final season under club control.
American League West
3 of 6
Athletics
- Shea Langeliers
- More surplus hitters
There were Langeliers trade rumors flying around for a minute during the summer, only for them to go quiet after he tore his meniscus. Teams are sure to check back in on the slugging catcher this winter, knowing full well that he's a Scott Boras client who is only two years from free agency.
Other trades the A's could make to restock their farm system could include Lawrence Butler or Zack Gelof, and maybe Brent Rooker if anyone out there still sees him as an impact hitter.
Houston Astros
- Jeremy Peรฑa
- Isaac Paredes and Christian Walker
Speaking of Boras clients running short on club control, Peรฑa is due for free agency after 2027. Houston's efforts to extend him have gone and still figure to go nowhere, so cashing in on the All-Star shortstop is looking like the smart play.
Paredes and Walker are sure to be discussed as well. Each offers reliable 25-homer power from the right side of the plate, an increasingly rare skill. Walker is also a four-time Gold Glover at first base. Both are slated for free agency after 2027.
Los Angeles Angels
- Zach Neto
- Reid Detmers
At least among realistic targets, Neto is arguably the trade prize to be won this offseason. He's a 25-year-old with three straight seasons of 20-plus home runs and stolen bases under his belt, and his club control goes through 2029.
Detmers, meanwhile, is only a tier below Neto when it comes to trade value. He rather quietly posted a 3.36 ERA over 185.0 innings this season, and that was with a rock-solid 4.4 K/BB ratio. His club control runs through 2028.
Seattle Mariners
- Starting pitching surplus
- Top-100 prospects
The Mariners had six starters for five spots before they traded Luis Castillo in July, and now they're in the same spot after promoting Kade Anderson. George Kirby and Emerson Hancock are the obvious trade candidates, but don't rule out a Corbin Burnes-style deal for Logan Gilbert. He has one year before free agency.
The Mariners have seven top-100 prospects in their farm system, the most of any team in MLB. Even if Anderson (No. 7) and Ryan Sloan (No. 9) are off-limits, that still leaves five who could be centerpieces in a mega-trade.
Texas Rangers
- Jacob deGrom
- Corey Seager
It's been a minute since deGrom was the toast of baseball as a back-to-back Cy Young Award winner, but he's had two straight healthy seasons in which he mostly pitched effectively. He'd upgrade any staff in the game, so long as his prospective new team could get him to waive his no-trade clause.
Whereas deGrom has one year left on his contract, Seager is only halfway through his 10-year pact with the Rangers. It might nonetheless be now or never to trade him, as he's not getting any more durable and notably got worse at the plate this year. By way of 10-and-5 rights, he also has no-trade protection.
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National League East
4 of 6
Atlanta Braves
- Ozzie Albies and Sean Murphy
- Fallen stars
Ronald Acuรฑaย Jr. will draw a crowd if the Braves put him out there, but it might be wishful thinking for other teams. Even if the ground under his feet in Atlanta is shakier than it should be, the Braves would be selling low if they traded him now.
Albies and Murphy are post-prime players who could be eyed as change of scenery candidates. Jurickson Profar and Spencer Strider are more so buy-low types after lost seasons.
Profar is coming off a 162-game suspension, while Strider is now three years removed from his last season as a healthy and effective starting pitcher.
Miami Marlins
- Otto Lopez and Xavier Edwards
- Relief pitchers
According to Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald, the Marlins are willing to listen on Lopez and Edwards. It'll take "a lot" for the team to part with either, and rightfully so. Each is a quality table-setter type of hitter, while Lopez is also a plus defender at shortstop. Both are controlled through 2029.
Assuming Sandy Alcantara is firmly off the table, the best pitchers Miami has to offer reside in the bullpen. Michael Petersen got some mentions as a summer trade candidate, and he should be on the block again after an unexpected age-32 breakout.
New York Mets
- Former top prospects
- Pricey pitchers
The Mets don't have a ton to barter with, but teams could be interested in taking fliers on Brett Baty and/or Mark Vientos. There's also Francisco Alvarez, who's still just 24 and a few years removed from being in the conversation as MLB's No. 1 prospect. He may yet emerge as an All-Star slugger at catcher.
Will there be any kind of market for Kodai Senga or Sean Manaea? Both struggled mightily in 2026, and they're due to make a combined $39 million in 2027. But if nothing else, both offer versatility as guys who could start or relieve as needed.
Philadelphia Phillies
- Bryce Harper
- Shortstop prospects
Yeah, definitely going out on a limb by citing Harper as a trade candidate here. But the Phillies do need to shake things up, and it's just never ideal when a star has a strained relationship with a president of baseball operations. If ever there was a time for Harper to be willing to waive his no-trade clause, it's now.
If the Phillies would prefer not to trade the two-time NL MVP, they might think about cutting down on redundancy in their farm system. Of their top five prospects for MLB Pipeline, three are shortstops: Aidan Miller, Bryan Rincon, Tyler Spangler.
Washington Nationals
- CJ Abrams
- Jacob Young
The Nationals will probably get calls about James Wood, but Abrams is far more likely go actually go somewhere this winter. He has two years of club control left, and he's definitely a sell-high candidate after a 30-30, 5-rWAR season in 2026.
For his part, Young is more of a complementary piece for a contender than a cornerstone on a rebuilder like the Nationals. The Nats can market him as an ace defender who has a decent bat. He also has three years of club control left.
National League Central
5 of 6
Chicago Cubs
- Matt Shaw and Pedro Ramรญrez
- Fixer-upper pitchers
Because Seiya Suzuki and Ian Happ are free agents, the Cubs might not be in a position to trade any hitters. But if they get into the trade market for starting pitching, they'll need to be prepared to part with Shaw and Ramรญrez. Both have appeal as recent top prospects who've had promising showings in the majors.
Shopping Edward Cabrera may sound pointless, but it might be a better idea than keeping him after he turned in a 5.96 ERA for the Cubs this season. The door should also be open on Justin Steele, who hasn't had a healthy season since 2023.
Cincinnati Reds
- Elly De La Cruz
- Starting pitching surplus
The Reds were willing to listen on De La Cruz during the summer, and that simply can't change this winter. They're not going to change Scott Boras' mind on an extension. And for a 30-30 shortstop with three years of club control left, teams would be more than happy to pay handsomely.
Or, the Reds could cash in some arms. Nick Lodolo and Andrew Abbott are worth asking about. So is Hunter Greene, albeit with the caveat that the flamethrower will miss all of 2027 after undergoing his second Tommy John surgery in August.
Milwaukee Brewers
- William Contreras and Trevor Megill
- Right-handed bats
According to ESPN's Jeff Passan, the reigning World Series champions "will at least listen" on Megill, whereas Contreras "isn't going anywhere." They should nonetheless expect calls on both, given that each is only controlled through the 2027 season.
Given how in-demand righty hitters are, the Brewers should also field interest in Andrew Vaughn (who's also a free agent after 2027) and Joey Ortiz. The latter is more so about his glove, as he's shown he can play plus defense at both third base and shortstop.
Pittsburgh Pirates
- Bryan Reynolds
- Starting pitching surplus
The Pirates should field interest in Reynolds this winter. The dearth of good bats on the open market could make him extra valuable. And since he was a 1.3-rWAR player in 2025, there's logic in selling high after a bounceback year (featuring 40 doubles) and getting out of the second half of his eight-year contract.
Given how Paul Skenes struggled in 2026, the Bucs might be wary of offering up any starting pitchers. Still, Mitch Keller's contract would be better off elsewhere. The team also doesn't have a clear role for Carmen Mlodzinski, which was a point of contention during the season.
St. Louis Cardinals
- Alec Burleson
- Masyn Winn
What do you do with a guy when he's fresh off hitting 27 home runs and leading the majors in RBI? If you're a contender, you keep Burleson. If you're a rebuilder like the Cardinals, you sell high now before free agency calls his name after the 2028 season.
Winn is more of a vexing case. He's elite defensively at shortstop, but he can't hit. If the Cardinals can get anything for him, they should take that W and the subsequent W of being able to move JJ Wetherholt back to shortstop.
National League West
6 of 6
Arizona Diamondbacks
- Ketel Marte
- Right-handed hitters
Sure, Marte is coming off a down year that was marred by some bad optics. But he's also a three-time All-Star and sometimes-MVP contender, and he's on a club-friendly contract that runs through 2030. Because of that, he shouldn't be totally radioactive as a trade chip.
If Marte doesn't bring back the controllable starting pitching the D-backs reportedly seek, according to ย Nick Piecoro of The Arizona Republic, then they might have to offer up Jordan Lawlar, Ryan Waldschmidt or Tommy Troy to make it happen.
Colorado Rockies
- Hunter Goodman
- Jake McCarthy and Willi Castro
The Rockies need as much prospect depth as they can get, so Goodman absolutely needs to be back on the market this winter. He's slugged 72 home runs across the last two seasons, with good numbers away from Coors Field. He has three more years of club control left.
McCarthy and Castro are lesser gets as trade candidates, but each has his sweet spot. For Castro, it's defensive versatility. McCarthy can play all three outfield spots in his own right, and he's coming off his first 30-steal season.
Los Angeles Dodgers
- Teoscar Hernรกndez
- Top-100 prospects
The Dodgers need to get younger and more athletic on offense, and trading Hernรกndez might accomplish that simply by addition through subtraction. He just shouldn't be expected to fetch much on his own, as he's a 34-year-old with a pricey contract who's coming off consecutive 1-WAR seasons.
If the Dodgers really want to make a splash, they'll open the door on all five of their top-100 prospects. That should include even Josue De Paula (No. 4), though maybe only if the return is on the Elly De La Cruz-level.
San Diego Padres
- Mason Miller
- Freddy Fermin
Trading Miller is a hard sell, but the idea was in the ether before the Padres took off and made the playoffs. They could get a huge haul for him if they actually did it, which could be especially useful for restocking a rotation that just lost Michael King to the free-agent market.
There isn't much to see among San Diego's other wares, though Fermin is worth a look as a backup catcher. He's currently sharing space with Ethan Salas and Luis Campusano, which isn't sustainable.
San Francisco Giants
- All those "bad" contracts
- Casey Schmitt
We say "bad" because Rafael Devers is a possible exception after a 37-homer season. Even so, he and Matt Chapman, Willy Adames and Jung Hoo Lee aren't really worth keeping anymore, so the Giants should open themselves back up to fielding interest in all four of them this winter.
Schmitt was a hot commodity on the summer trade market before he tore his meniscus in July. He should be again, as he can play just about anywhere and offers real power from the right side of the plate. Having three more seasons of club control doesn't hurt, either.
Stats courtesy of Baseball Reference, FanGraphs and Baseball Savant.
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