An early look at 11 intriguing offseason trade candidates

With less than three weeks remaining in the regular season, many clubs have already started to formulate their offseason plans as they prepare for 2027 and beyond.

We started previewing the hot stove season with a look at the Top 10 free agents and an exhaustive list of options and opt-outs that will help shape the winter, but trades are a huge part of the offseason, so let’s dive in with a look at 11 players who could be on the block when the season is over.

(Players are listed alphabetically; statistics are through Tuesday’s games)

CJ Abrams, SS, Nationals

The Nationals opted not to deal Abrams at the Trade Deadline, but their decision to split his time between second base and shortstop might be the precursor to a trade. Abrams wants to remain at shortstop long-term, making an extension with Washington unlikely, so president of baseball operations Paul Toboni could look to deal the two-time All-Star as he continues to shape the club in his second year on the job. Abrams is two stolen bases away from the first 30-30 season of his career, and with two years of arbitration remaining before free agency, he should be coveted by a number of teams.

Denzel Clarke, OF, Athletics

The Athletics have a glut of outfielders with Lawrence Butler, Henry Bolte, Tyler Soderstrom, Clarke and Carlos Cortes, and while Clarke is a stellar defender, Bolte offers better offense without sacrificing much defense. The Athletics will be looking to upgrade their pitching this offseason, and dealing from the outfield would seem to be their most sensible option. Clarke won’t even enter arbitration for at least another year, making him a controllable, cost-effective option for clubs seeking help in center field.

Jarren Duran, OF, Red Sox

Duran has been a theoretical trade candidate for a couple years, but his value has plummeted since his monster 2024 campaign. Duran is two stolen bases away from a 20-20 season, but his .624 OPS is down 150 points from 2025 and 210 points from 2024. Boston will have to settle on a lesser return if it trades Duran, but with Roman Anthony, Ceddanne Rafaela and Wilyer Abreu on the roster, Duran doesn’t have a clear-cut role if that trio is healthy. When it comes to change-of-scenery candidates, Duran may be the poster child of that group.

Logan Gilbert, RHP, Mariners

Could this be the offseason that the Mariners finally trade one of their starting pitchers? George Kirby might also be a candidate, but Gilbert is now only one year away from free agency and doesn’t appear to be heading toward an extension with Seattle. Gilbert’s 3.71 ERA in 28 starts is his highest since 2023, but he remains a rock in the rotation, ranking seventh in the AL with 165 innings pitched. Gilbert earned $10.9 million this season and will surely earn a raise in his fourth and final year of arbitration, making him a logical option if the Mariners want to trade from their pitching depth, which includes Kade Anderson and Ryan Sloan – two of MLB Pipeline’s Top 10 overall prospects.

Steven Kwan, OF, Guardians

The two-time All-Star has been dangled as a trade candidate in the past, and with only one year remaining until free agency and no extension seemingly in sight, Cleveland could look to move Kwan to bring back younger, more controllable talent. Kwan’s counting stats are down this season (two home runs, 27 RBIs, 72 runs scored in 136 games), but his .371 on-base percentage and 4.4 bWAR are his highest since his 2022 rookie season, and he ranks in the top 10 percent of the league in strikeout percentage, walk percentage and Outs Above Average.

Shane McClanahan, LHP, Rays

McClanahan has pitched well this season after missing two years following Tommy John surgery, but he’s entering his final year of arbitration prior to becoming a free agent, a time when Tampa Bay has typically looked to move players. Given his injury history, McClanahan’s salary should be reasonable next season (he earned $3.6 million in 2026), making him an appealing option for clubs looking to upgrade their rotation in 2027. The only thing that could prevent McClanahan from being dealt is Drew Rasmussen’s $20 million option, which would be the largest single-season salary in Rays history if they bring him back to lead the rotation.

Zach Neto, SS, Angels

Neto’s name was a popular one leading up to the Trade Deadline, but the Angels opted to hang on to their shortstop while dealing away other controllables including José Soriano, Jo Adell and Ryan Zeferjahn. With three more years of arbitration eligibility remaining, Neto would be the Angels’ most attractive trade chip if the new general manager – whoever that may be – wants to tear the roster down and start their own rebuild. Neto has 24 homers, 69 RBIs and a .758 OPS in 140 games, posting his third straight season with at least 4.0 bWAR.

Jeremy Peña, SS, Astros

We’ve seen this movie before. Peña is heading into his final year before free agency, so if the Astros are unable to extend him, they could look to trade him as they did with Kyle Tucker in his final year of control. Peña was a trade candidate this summer, but Houston held onto him with an eye toward reaching the postseason. With a new general manager leading the front office, Peña could be shipped elsewhere to help shape the club in the new executive’s direction.

Matt Shaw, INF/OF, Cubs

Shaw has been a staple on trade candidate lists, but with Seiya Suzuki and Ian Happ headed for free agency, the Cubs could move him to a corner outfield spot if they choose. That said, Shaw could be a valuable trade chip for the Cubs if they look to deal for pitching. With a relatively weak free-agent market, his ability to play both second and third base could make him appealing to clubs seeking infield help.

Spencer Strider, RHP, Braves

The Braves tried to send Strider to Texas in a contract swap trade for Jacob deGrom before the Trade Deadline, and although deGrom blocked the deal with his no-trade clause, it’s clear that Atlanta is open to moving its former ace. Strider has been out since mid-June with right elbow inflammation, and while it’s unlikely that he will return this season, there is an outside chance he could be available out of the bullpen during the postseason. Strider is owed $22 million in each of the next two seasons with a $22 million club option ($5 million buyout) for 2029, so if the Braves can find a team willing to bet he can return to his previous form, they could look to move him.

Mark Vientos, INF, Mets

Following his breakout season in 2024 (27 home runs, 71 RBIs, .837 OPS in 111 games), Vientos has regressed in each of the past two years, posting negative bWAR in both 2025 and 2026. His struggles have made him an afterthought for the Mets at this point, but another team may view him as a change-of-scenery candidate. It’s possible that the Mets could non-tender Vientos, though his price tag should be low enough as he enters his first year of arbitration that he could draw trade interest.