The Trade Deadline is still more than a month away, yet as seems to be the case every summer, it will be here before we know it.
We recently examined some of the biggest questions that will need to be answered between now and Aug. 3, with all but three teams in the Majors still within a half-dozen games of a postseason spot.
It may take a while before the buyers and sellers truly separate themselves, but scouts and executives are already monitoring players who could potentially be on the block, so every day could serve as an audition of sorts.
Here’s a look at nine players (listed alphabetically) whose recent performances have their trade stock on the rise. (All stats through Wednesday’s games.)
JJ Bleday, OF, Reds
Bleday is off to the best start of his five-year career, hitting 11 home runs with 29 RBIs and a .930 OPS in 39 games after spending the first month of the season at Triple-A. The 28-year-old is earning $1.4 million this season and is under club control for two more seasons, and while he could be a key cog in the Reds’ lineup moving forward, he could also be an appealing trade chip if Cincinnati opts to be a seller this summer.
Reid Detmers, LHP, Angels
Detmers’ name has surfaced on the trade market before, but with two years of club control remaining, this might be the right time for the Angels to trade the 26-year-old. Detmers, a first-round pick in 2020, is 1-0 with a 1.73 ERA in his past four starts, posting a 0.54 WHIP and holding batters to a .105 average during that stretch, striking out 36 in 26 innings. For the season, Detmers ranks in the 89th percentile of the league in strikeout percentage.
Jarren Duran, OF, Red Sox
It seemed as though Duran’s trade value had plummeted to an all-time low by the end of April, when he was hitting .170 with one home run and a .481 OPS through his first 26 games this season. Since May 1, the 29-year-old has turned things around, posting a .767 OPS with nine homers in 35 games, and while he still doesn’t look like the player who posted a 9-WAR season in 2024, Duran is under control for two more years and could benefit from a change of scenery given a Boston outfield that will be crowded again when Roman Anthony returns from the injured list.
Hunter Goodman, C, Rockies
The Rockies have shied away from trading Goodman in the past, but under new president of baseball operations Paul DePodesta, anything is possible this summer – even moving a player many deem untouchable. An All-Star and Silver Slugger recipient last season, Goodman has continued to hit this year, belting 18 home runs with an .837 OPS in 63 games. Goodman’s defense is slightly below average, but his bat would make him an appealing asset to a lot of contenders and he is under club control for three more seasons.
Sonny Gray, RHP, Red Sox
Gray is in the final guaranteed year of his contract, earning $31 million this season with a $10 million buyout on a $30 million club option for 2027 (which Gray can opt out of if it’s exercised), though the Cardinals are paying down some of that salary as part of the trade that landed the pitcher in Boston. The 36-year-old is 7-1 with a 3.20 ERA in 11 starts this season, but he’s 5-0 with a 2.43 ERA in six outings since returning from a hamstring injury, making him one of the better starters (in the non-Tarik Skubal category) who could be available this summer.
Zach Neto, SS, Angels
With the worst record in the American League and no real hope of turning things around, the Angels may be in position to embark on a rebuild. Trading a 25-year-old shortstop might seem counterintuitive, but Los Angeles doesn’t have a ton of trade chips to cash in, so moving Neto might be a key to bringing back a haul of young players. Neto is earning $4.5 million this season, but is arbitration-eligible for three more years, offering the type of control teams covet. Over his past 23 games, Neto has seven home runs, 14 RBIs and a .921 OPS, though his defense has been poor this season (-10 Outs Above Average).
Riley O'Brien, RHP, Cardinals
A successful reliever with four years of club control would seem to be exactly the player a young team would want to hold on to, but O’Brien is already 31 years old and his value is as high as it’s ever been. St. Louis’ surprising season has the Cards in playoff position, so selling off their closer might be a difficult decision, but given that this was viewed by many as a transition year for the Cardinals, capitalizing on O’Brien’s strong performance (3.68 ERA, 17-for-21 in save opportunities) could be the right move. The hard-throwing O’Brien has been a ground-ball machine (93rd percentile in the league) while ranking in the 89th percentile in walk percentage.
Joe Ryan, RHP, Twins
After a winter filled with trade rumors, Ryan returned to the Twins in 2026 and continues to put up strong numbers, ranking among the elite in both walk and strikeout percentage. The 30-year-old is 2-0 with a 2.39 ERA over his past six starts, striking out 44 batters in 37 2/3 innings while posting a 0.93 WHIP. Ryan is earning $6.1 million this season and has a $13 million mutual option for 2027, which will likely be declined, sending him to arbitration for the final time before free agency.
Casey Schmitt, INF/OF, Giants
Schmitt has been the Giants’ best player in 2026, so trading the 27-year-old might not be in the cards for San Francisco. But Schmitt would be an attractive trade candidate for many teams given his versatility in the field, and given his breakout offensive season, the Giants could look to capitalize on his value if they decide to become big sellers. In 61 games this season, Schmitt – who will be arbitration-eligible for the first time next offseason – has 15 home runs, 38 RBIs and an .823 OPS.