Even with MLB insiders reporting the latest rumblings and roster construction pointing to obvious trade candidates, there is still plenty of room for a trade market surprise.
To that point, just a few short months ago, the most obvious trade chip in baseball was dealt when Tarik Skubal joined the Los Angeles Dodgers. At the same time, few expected Adley Rutschman to be wearing a Boston Red Sox uniform in August.
Turning our attention to the 2026-27 MLB offseason, which figures to be a weird one given the upcoming CBA negotiations and expected lockout, we've highlighted 10 speculative trade candidates outside of the frequently mentioned names.
They won't all find new homes this winter, but don't be surprised if a few guys from this list end up at the center of a major winter deal.
RP Bryan Baker, Tampa Bay Rays
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Stats: 65 G, 41 SV, 1.44 ERA, 0.91 WHIP, 63 K, 62.1 IP, 2.9 WAR
Contract: Arbitration-eligible through 2028
One of the biggest breakout stars of the 2026 season, Bryan Baker led the majors with 41 saves and helped pitch the Rays to the World Series as a reliable anchor at the back of their bullpen.
That performance, coupled with his two remaining years of club control, would make him untouchable for most teams with an eye on contending during the upcoming season. The Rays are not most teams.
With a $4.1 million projected arbitration salary, he stands to be one of the highest-paid players on the Tampa Bay roster.
For a team that is willing to get creative in deploying a bullpen, that might be incentive enough to sell high and maximize the prospect return.
SP Tanner Bibee, Cleveland Guardians
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Stats: 33 GS, 7-15, 4.36 ERA, 1.22 WHIP, 148 K, 188.0 IP, 1.8 WAR
Contract: $39 million owed for 2027-29
With a 3.82 ERA and 108 ERA+ in 686 innings over the past four seasons, Tanner Bibee has developed into a rock-solid piece of the Guardians starting rotation.
The club signed him to a five-year, $48 million extension prior to the 2025 season, at which point he was the de facto ace of a young starting rotation.
However, since that deal was signed, Gavin Williams and Parker Messick have emerged as the present and future of the Cleveland rotation, and Bibee was relegated to one relief appearance in Game 4 of the ALDS across Cleveland's 11 playoff games.
For a Guardians team that ranked dead last in team payroll in 2026, his $7.4 million salary for the upcoming season might be reason enough to move him. Elsewhere, that would represent a team-friendly salary for even middle-of-the-rotation production.
OF Henry Bolte, Athletics
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Stats: 110 OPS+, .277/.359/.405, 29 XBH (11 HR), 21 SB, 3.4 WAR
Contract: Pre-arbitration, controllable through 2032
The Athletics have an abundance of outfield talent and a glaring need for starting pitching, and that has made controllable center fielder Denzel Clarke a popular speculative trade candidate.
However, if they hope to bring back a true impact arm in a trade, Henry Bolte would make a far more compelling centerpiece in a blockbuster deal.
His terrific offensive production made him the team's primary leadoff hitter for much of the year, while his standout defense (5 DRS, 5 OAA) further boosted his value.
Clarke might be the most logical trade chip, but Bolte is the piece that could bring back a bona fide rotation anchor from a team looking for a long-term answer in center field.
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C William Contreras, Milwaukee Brewers
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Stats: 108 OPS+, .270/.341/.417, 46 XBH (18 HR), 2.9 WAR
Contract: $15.5 million salary for 2027
Most teams would not entertain trading the reigning World Series MVP, but the Brewers have a well-established history of moving stars before their final season of club control.
Corbin Burnes, Devin Williams and Freddy Peralta were all dealt under those circumstances in recent years, and Milwaukee went on to win the NL Central after each trade.
If the Brewers don't see a clear path to signing an upcoming free agent long-term, they maximize his value during the offseason rather than waiting to move him when he is a trade deadline rental.
There are sticking points to this hypothetical. The potential of an extended lockout has made some teams wary of trading for upcoming free agents, and the Brewers don't have a clear in-house replacement unless they trust Bo Naylor or Jeferson Quero.
Still, recent history tells us a Contreras trade is at least a consideration in the Milwaukee front office.
C Yainer Diaz, Houston Astros
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Stats: 116 OPS+, .285/.313/.459, 31 XBH (14 HR), 1.7 WAR
Contract: Arbitration-eligible through 2028
Over four full seasons in the big leagues, Yainer Diaz has hit .280/.307/.455 for a 112 OPS+ while averaging 30 doubles, 24 home runs and 84 RBI per 162 games played.
There is little question he is a bat-first catcher, but he did throw out 23.5 percent of base stealers in 2026, a tick above the league-average mark. He might not win a Gold Glove, but he's a capable starting backstop.
The Astros are at a crossroads and might benefit from retooling the roster, and while shortstop Jeremy Pena and third baseman Isaac Paredes are their most frequently mentioned trade chips, both could see their value undercut by a potential lockout and their looming free agency after the 2027 season.
A Diaz trade would likely be accompanied by an outside addition to fill the catcher position, but a short-term bridge to top prospects Jason Schiavone and Walker Janek might be all they need.
IF Royce Lewis, Minnesota Twins
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Stats: 86 OPS+, .227/.287/.380, 40 XBH (15 HR), 16 SB, 0.9 WAR
Contract: Arbitration-eligible through 2028
Royce Lewis has shown flashes of delivering on the potential that made him the No. 1 overall pick in the 2017 draft, including a 2023 campaign where he logged a 149 OPS+ with 22 extra-base hits in 58 games.
The oft-injured former top prospect set career highs in games played (125) and plate appearances (509) last season, but his offensive production plummeted and he spent time back in Triple-A early in the year.
With an 85 OPS+ in 912 plate appearances over the last two seasons, he no longer profiles as a star-caliber player who just needs to stay healthy, but there's still a case to be made he would benefit from a change of scenery.
His $5.1 million projected arbitration figure is enough to at least mention him as a potential non-tender candidate, but at 27 years old, there is still enough untapped potential that the Twins should be able to find a trade partner if they are ready to cut ties.
SP Carmen Mlodzinski, Pittsburgh Pirates
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Stats: 37 G, 12 GS, 3.95 ERA, 1.37 WHIP, 97 K, 123.0 IP, 1.3 WAR
Contract: Arbitration-eligible through 2029
Carmen Mlodzinski began last season in the Pittsburgh rotation, but he was moved to the bullpen when Jared Jones returned from the injured list in May.
He was initially placed on the restricted list after he informed the team he was not ready to pitch out of the bullpen, but that lasted one day and he ultimately embraced the role for the remainder of the season.
Mlodzinski was much better as a reliever (25 G, 2.55 ERA, 1.09 WHIP, 70.2 IP) than as a starter (12 GS, 5.85 ERA, 1.76 WHIP, 52.1 IP), but that doesn't mean he no longer prefers starting.
The Pirates did well to flip an under-the-radar controllable arm in Mike Burrows to the Astros last offseason in a three-team deal that brought back Brandon Lowe and Mason Montgomery from the Rays, and they could take a similar approach with Mlodzinski this winter.
1B Vinnie Pasquantino, Kansas City Royals
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Stats: 113 OPS+, .249/.333/.428, 39 XBH (17 HR), 2.5 WAR
Contract: Arbitration-eligible through 2028
From a clubhouse leadership standpoint, trading Vinnie Pasquantino might be a non-starter for the Royals, but if they are open to moving him, it makes a lot of sense in terms of roster construction.
Jac Caglianone is a first baseman miscast as a right fielder, and the defensive metrics (-4 DRS, -9 OAA) back that up, while Salvador Perez is spending more time at designated hitter and first base and less time as a catcher at this stage of his career.
Moving Pasquantino to potentially address another area of need would clear up that defensive logjam, and despite a down year by his standards, the "Pasquatch" is still a viable middle-of-the-order bat.
He is just a year removed from posting a 118 OPS+ with 33 doubles, 32 home runs and 113 RBI, and in a thin market for impact bats, his two remaining years of club control should carry significant value.
IF/OF Casey Schmitt, San Francisco Giants
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Stats: 119 OPS+, .271/.301/.483, 39 XBH (21 HR), 1.5 WAR
Contract: Arbitration-eligible through 2029
Do the Giants think Casey Schmitt is a viable option as the everyday second baseman next season?
The 27-year-old has played 737 career innings at second base, but just 51 innings in 2026, and his middling career defensive metrics (-4 DRS, -3 OAA) suggest he might be stretched at the position on an everyday basis.
He fits best at an infield corner, but with Rafael Devers and Matt Chapman signed long-term and Bryce Eldridge absorbing the bulk of the DH at-bats, that's not going to happen. He has also played some left field (-4 DRS, -2 OAA), but is more of a stopgap there than a regular starter.
That lack of a clear defensive home could make him a trade chip as the front office looks to bolster the starting rotation behind Logan Webb, Landen Roupp and Adrian Houser this winter.
SP Bryan Woo, Seattle Mariners
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Stats: 30 GS, 4.01 ERA, 1.10 WHIP, 175 K, 173.0 IP, 2.0 WAR
Contract: Arbitration-eligible through 2029
The Mariners already flipped one of their starting pitchers when they traded Luis Castillo to the White Sox at the deadline, but the rise of 2025 first-round pick Kade Anderson and emergence of Emerson Hancock still make the starting staff an area of depth.
As it stands, those two would join Logan Gilbert, George Kirby, Bryan Woo and Bryce Miller in a potential six-man rotation, with Gilbert and Kirby the most frequently mentioned trade candidates due to their proximity to free agency.
However, if the Mariners are truly looking to make a splash, Woo would undoubtedly net the most significant return.
The 26-year-old has three years of control remaining, compared to one for Gilbert and two for Kirby, and even with an uptick in his ERA last season his 3.24 FIP and underlying metrics still paint him as arguably the best pitcher on the staff.
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