Sports

Top 35 Trade Candidates For The 2026 Deadline

admin June 25, 2026

Trade deadline season is approaching. There’s still a muddled standings picture in both leagues, but teams can have an idea of how their contention chances are shaping up by mid-late June. Even though significant trade activity is unlikely to pick up until after the All-Star Break, front offices need to begin mapping out buy/sell trade scenarios.

Over the next month, MLBTR will go team by team to evaluate their deadline outlooks in a series for Front Office subscribers. Before that gets underway, we’ll highlight some of the top names who could be on the move six weeks from now. A shakeup in the standings always changes the calculus in July, so we’ll do at least one or two more iterations of this list leading up to the August 3 deadline.

Before we get to the list, a note on methodology. This isn’t a strict ranking of players’ trade value, nor is it solely about likelihood of being moved. We’re trying to balance both of those things, an inherently subjective exercise. The #1 player on the list probably is the most impactful player who has any real chance of being dealt, but there are players in the back half who’d clearly be much higher if the list were based on impact alone. If there’s more reason to believe some of those players will be traded, they’ll skyrocket up future editions.

Onto the names!

1. Tarik Skubal, LHP, Tigers ($32MM salary, impending free agent)

Skubal is easily the best player in the upcoming free agent class. The two-time defending AL Cy Young winner has made a remarkably quick return from surgery to remove loose bodies from his elbow, seemingly pioneering the less invasive NanoNeedle procedure in the process. His fastball averaged 97.9 mph in his first game back, a tick above where he’d been working in April. He has a 3.32 ERA with a 28.2% strikeout rate over 59 2/3 innings.

Skubal is one of the three best pitchers on the planet. He’d be the Game 1 starter for virtually any team in baseball. Among players who have any chance to move, no other acquisition more meaningfully raises a team’s odds of winning the 2026 World Series.

Of course, he’s a pure rental — Skubal isn’t signing an extension a few months in advance of what should be the largest pitching contract ever — but any team with legitimate World Series aspirations should be involved. Teams generally balk at surrendering top prospect talent for impending free agents, but players as good as Skubal don’t hit the market most years. Detroit should be able to net a top 25-50 prospect in the game as a headliner if they make him available.

Whether they do that depends heavily on how they play over the next few weeks. Skubal is by no means a lock to be traded. Detroit is 12 games below .500 at 34-46 but only five games back in the Wild Card picture. Even a 7.5-game deficit in the AL Central isn’t insurmountable. That’d be a much tougher hill to climb if they haven’t made up any ground by the end of July, but this is one the front office figures to take right up to the final weekend.

2. Luis Arraez, 2B, Giants ($12MM salary, impending free agent)

Arraez is among the likeliest players to move. He rebuffed interest on multi-year deals to sign a one-year, $12MM free agent pact with the Giants. Arraez correctly bet on himself to play a strong second base in moving back to his original position. His offensive profile is the same as it has been throughout his career. He is baseball’s best contact hitter and in the mix for a fourth batting title. Arraez carries a .321/.358/.445 line over 332 plate appearances.

This is about as straightforward as trade candidates get. The Giants are 13 games below .500 and above only the Rockies in the National League. There hasn’t been any reporting about extension talks. San Francisco could make him a qualifying offer, but they’d only receive a compensatory pick after Competitive Balance Round B (roughly 75th overall). They should find a more valuable trade return than that.

3. Freddy Peralta, RHP, Mets ($8MM salary, impending free agent)

It has been a disappointing year for the Mets, who acquired Peralta to slot atop the rotation alongside Nolan McLean. The offseason trade acquisition has himself been underwhelming, posting a 4.83 ERA across 16 starts. That’s skewed in part by a 10-run drubbing at the hands of the Phillies over the weekend, but his 3.90 ERA going into the start was itself off his usual level. His strikeout rate has dropped to a career-low 22.1% mark, and he hasn’t worked as deep into games as hoped. Peralta certainly isn’t trending towards a second straight top five Cy Young finish, but he’d still project as a playoff starter for whomever acquires him.

Peralta and the Mets didn’t get far in extension talks this spring, seemingly held up by contract length. The All-Star righty’s agent, Seth Levinson of ACES, recently told Bob Nightengale of USA Today they’d establish their contract goals “after the season.”

The Mets parted with two borderline Top 100 prospects in Brandon Sproat and Jett Williams to acquire Peralta in January. They’re not going to match that return — he hasn’t been as good and an acquiring team could no longer make him a qualifying offer — but one prospect in that range might be attainable. As luxury tax payors, the Mets would get a compensatory pick after the fourth round if they don’t trade him and he rejects a QO. The only reason not to trade him would be if they think they can this season around. New York has fallen a season-worst 12 games under .500 and nine back of a playoff spot with their ongoing five-game losing streak.

4. Casey Mize, RHP, Tigers ($6.15MM salary, impending free agent)

All the reasons that Skubal might be available apply equally to Mize. He’s an impending free agent on a long shot contender and pitching as well as ever. The former first overall pick holds a 2.95 ERA with a career-best 25.1% strikeout rate across 11 starts. Mize has had a couple injured list stints for minor left groin issues but is currently healthy and pitching like a playoff-caliber starter. He’s much cheaper than Skubal and wouldn’t require the same prospect capital as Joe Ryan, who has an extra year of club control.

Detroit can and very likely would make Mize a qualifying offer if they hold him to the end of the season. That’d entitle them to at least a 2027 compensatory pick after Competitive Balance Round B, and it’d climb to a selection after the first round if Mize signed elsewhere for at least $50MM. A headlining prospect with some buzz at or near the back half of a Top 100 list is a reasonable ask.

5. Aroldis Chapman, LHP, Red Sox ($12MM salary, $13MM option for ’27 vests at 40 IP)

Chapman was named the American League’s Reliever of the Year in 2025. He might be even better this year, with only the Red Sox’s inability to get him many save opportunities sapping some of his value. Chapman’s 23 appearances are well off last year’s pace, but that’s the fault of the team in front of him. He’s 14-for-15 in save chances and has only allowed five runs on the season. He’d run off 17 straight scoreless appearances from April 4 until last week.

Even at 38, Chapman is a top three closer and arguably the best left-handed reliever in the game. He’s playing on a $12MM salary and trending towards vesting a $13MM option for next year. That’s fine for the team, as it’d be good value if Chapman continues at anything like his 2025-26 pace. The option may give the Red Sox at least some pause in trading him, but they’ll probably cash him in this summer when prices for relievers are highest. Every contender could make this work by bumping their current closer into the eighth inning. Even the Padres were linked to Chapman a few weeks ago despite having one of the few better closers in Mason Miller.

6. Sonny Gray, RHP, Red Sox ($31MM salary; $10MM mutual option buyout due at end of season)

The Red Sox acquired Gray from the Cardinals over the winter. The veteran righty has held up his end of the bargain but the rest of the team has not. Gray figures to be back on the market as one of the better starters available, but his trade candidacy isn’t without complications.

Gray has a full no-trade clause, giving him complete control over his destination. He told The Boston Globe this week that he’s willing to consider waiving that if the team approaches him about a sell-off. Any trade would require the Sox to eat some money. Gray is playing on a $31MM salary. More importantly, there’s a massive $10MM mutual option buyout at the end of the year. The Cardinals kicked in $20MM as part of the trade sending him to Boston, and the Red Sox are presumably willing to pay some of his salary and/or buyout down to facilitate a new deal.

Assuming the financials can be sorted out, Gray should be a target for teams looking for a veteran arm who’d slot into their playoff rotation. He carries a 2.95 ERA through 76 1/3 innings, and while he’s not striking out as many batters as he did in St. Louis, he’s getting more ground-balls to compensate. Gray has previously received a QO and is ineligible for a second, so the Sox wouldn’t receive any compensation for holding him for the remainder of the season.

7. Joe Ryan, RHP, Twins ($6.1MM salary plus $100K mutual option buyout, arb-eligible through ’27)

The Twins surprisingly elected to hang onto Ryan last offseason. An ownership change at the top and a handful of minority investors led Minnesota to stay somewhere in the middle, neither making a genuine effort to contend nor further continuing what seemed like the start of a teardown.

An open AL playoff field has kept the Twins within a couple games of the Wild Card picture even as they sit six games below .500. General manager Jeremy Zoll has already declared Byron Buxton off limits and implied they’re not yet at a point where they’d consider selling

Ryan has been one of the 20 or so best pitchers in MLB for a couple seasons. He’s arguably amidst the best year of his career, touting a personal-low 3.18 ERA with a 28.5% strikeout rate through 17 starts. Ryan commands the ball well and has thus far mitigated the home run trouble that was the only slight mark against him in prior seasons. He’s a slam dunk playoff starter who’d fit any team’s budget for two potential runs through October. Past trades of this ilk (e.g. Garrett Crochet, José Berríos, Luis Castillo) usually net multiple Top 100 prospects and a couple more mid-level upside plays.

8. Taylor Ward, LF, Orioles ($12.175MM salary, impending free agent)

Baltimore acquired Ward from the Angels last offseason, parting with four years of team control over talented but injury-prone starter Grayson Rodriguez. Ward has had an odd season, only connecting on five home runs after popping a career-best 36 longballs for the Halos. While the power has evaporated, he has dramatically cut his strikeouts and increased his walk rate. He’s getting on base at a career-high .389 clip, a top 10 mark among qualified hitters. Only Nick Kurtz and Mike Trout have taken more free passes.

It’s probably not the exact production the O’s expected, but Ward has unquestionably been a welcome addition to their lineup. Baltimore could consider a qualifying offer but seems likely to at least consider trade scenarios if they’re still a few games under .500 at the deadline. The Padres, Guardians, Phillies, Diamondbacks, Astros and Rays are among teams that could use a corner outfielder.

9. Antonio Senzatela, RHP, Rockies ($12MM salary, $14MM club option for ’27)

Senzatela isn’t the most exciting name, but he’s performing well and a near lock to move. The veteran righty battled injuries and was simply ineffective for most of the past few seasons working out of the Colorado rotation. The Rockies moved him to the bullpen late last season. Senzatela’s average fastball has jumped two mph and he’s added a cutter that now serves as his best secondary pitch. He’s alternating between single-inning stints in high leverage and multiple innings earlier in an appearance.

The 31-year-old carries a 2.13 ERA across 42 1/3 innings. His 21.2% strikeout rate is a little below average but easily a career high, as is his 11.1% swinging strike mark. Senzatela would fit as the third or fourth best reliever on a contender and should net Colorado a couple mid-tier prospects. The Rox have a $14MM club option for next season that’d carry over to a new team. For lower-payroll clubs, that might feel rich for a good but not elite reliever. Those clubs will probably view him as a rental. Either way, he’s one of the better relievers who’ll definitely be available.

10. Ryan Jeffers, C, Twins ($6.7MM salary, impending free agent)

Jeffers would be higher on this list if he were healthy. He has been out since mid-May due to a left hamate fracture that required surgery. The team hasn’t announced a specific return timeline but a standard recovery could have him back between the All-Star Break and the deadline. Jeffers was among the best catchers in MLB for the first six weeks, hitting .295/.408/.541 with seven homers across 148 plate appearances.

The 29-year-old is the clear top catcher in the upcoming free agent class. He’d be a borderline qualifying offer candidate. If Minnesota sells, he’d likely be the best catcher to move. Jeffers has already been linked to the Yankees, whose desire for a righty bat behind the plate has been apparent for months.

11. CJ Abrams, SS, Nationals ($4.2MM salary, arb-eligible through ’28)

Entering the season, Abrams was probably the favorite for the top spot on our midseason trade list. It’s to the Nationals’ credit that it’s an open question whether they should still be willing to make that kind of move. They’re surprisingly hanging around the playoff picture as the highest scoring team in the league.

Abrams is a massive part of that. He’s hitting .287/.370/.533 with 17 home runs and 13 steals across 332 plate appearances. He’s going to cruise past his previous career mark of 20 homers and is on track for what’d easily be a career season. Abrams has a habit of starting hot and tailing off in the second half, but this is a new level even compared to his excellent early-season numbers from 2024 and ’25.

His glove at shortstop still isn’t good, and there are likely teams that’d immediately move him to second base (or even center field) if they acquired him. The positional fit isn’t a huge deal when Abrams is driving a lineup the way he has.

The Nats control him for two seasons beyond this one. They’d get a massive trade package if they dealt him this summer — probably a bigger return than anyone else on this list would command — but would be justified in holding him for a long shot playoff berth this year and a more legitimate contention window in 2027-28. If they stumble in July or make it known they’re seriously considering moving him, he’d probably be #1 on future installments of this list.

12. Reid Detmers, LHP, Angels ($2.625MM salary, arb-eligible through ’28)

13. José Soriano, RHP, Angels ($2.9MM salary, arb-eligible through ’28)

The Angels should make Soriano and Detmers available, but that’d run counter to their usual course of action under owner Arte Moreno and GM Perry Minasian. The Halos aren’t going anywhere this season and don’t have a clear path to contention within the next two and a half years. Detmers and Soriano are both mid-rotation arms cheaply controlled through 2028.

It’s not out of the question that the Angels could net multiple Top 100 prospects for both players this summer. Will they? That’s less likely. USA Today’s Bob Nightengale wrote over the weekend that Moreno is disinclined to give up any of Detmers, Soriano or outfielder Jo Adell.

14. Robbie Ray, LHP, Giants ($25MM salary, impending free agent)

Ray isn’t as appealing a trade candidate as Arraez, but the Giants should be motivated to move him. The former Cy Young winner has a 3.70 ERA across 87 2/3 innings. He’s striking out a solid 22% of opponents but has struggled with walks and home runs, both of which have been issues throughout his career. The Giants might need to cover some of the roughly $7.5MM that’ll be remaining on Ray’s salary after the deadline. There wouldn’t be much reason for them to balk at that when the alternative is having him play out a losing season in the Bay Area.

15. Foster Griffin, LHP, Nationals ($5.5MM salary, impending free agent)

The Nationals signed Griffin, a former first-round pick of the Royals, to a $5.5MM contract after a strong three-year run in Japan. The 30-year-old southpaw has been an excellent find, turning in a 3.15 ERA across 91 1/3 innings. He’s striking out 24% of opponents against a 6% walk rate. Griffin’s average fastball only sits around 91 mph, but he has a deep arsenal and has found success with a cutter he picked up while in NPB.

That subpar velocity makes Griffin a little susceptible to the home run ball. He’s probably closer to a league average starter than his ERA would suggest, but there’ll be ample interest in a plug and play arm making just a few million dollars. The Nationals have a wide open 2027 payroll and could consider a qualifying offer if they hold Griffin through season’s end, but a salary in the $23MM range feels a little high. Would they be willing to trade their most reliable starter if they’re still in the thick of the Wild Card race six weeks from now?

16. Dustin May, RHP, Cardinals ($12MM salary plus $500K mutual option buyout, impending free agent)

The Cardinals find themselves in a similar spot with May as the Nationals do with Griffin. The St. Louis righty is a little more expensive, playing on a $12MM salary and due a $500K buyout at season’s end. The $20MM mutual option will be declined — likely by May’s camp in search of a multi-year deal — so he’s a rental.

St. Louis signed May with an eye toward flipping him midseason. They’ve played better than most (presumably including their own front office) anticipated, sitting 42-36 and in possession of the NL’s second Wild Card spot. A playoff berth is very much on the table, and May has been the team’s best pitcher over the past few weeks.

The 28-year-old righty has a 4.30 ERA with slightly better than average strikeout and walk marks across 83 2/3 innings. He’s not getting a ton of whiffs on a per-pitch basis but is sitting 97 mph with his fastball and had carved up opposing lineups before an ugly outing in Kansas City over the weekend. May has been healthy so far but has a concerning injury history, raising questions about the sustainability of this performance over a full season. As with Griffin, a qualifying offer would be in play if he’s not traded.

17. Lars Nootbaar, LF, Cardinals ($5.25MM salary, arb-eligible through ’27)

Nootbaar might well have been traded last offseason were he not recovering from surgery on both heels. The Cardinals moved most of their veteran players, including Brendan Donovan when he was also down to two years of arbitration control. Nootbaar was trending towards an extended stint on the injured list to begin this season, however, and a trade would have been selling low.

The 28-year-old left fielder returned to action at the beginning of June. He’s out to an excellent start, hitting .288/.386/.492 through his first 17 games. Nootbaar had a middling ’25 season while playing through injuries but was a .246/.351/.426 hitter over the preceding three years. He’s back to being an appealing trade candidate. This also comes down to whether the Cardinals are willing to deviate from their planned retool given their strong place in the standings.

18. Jarren Duran, LF/CF, Red Sox ($7.7MM salary, arb-eligible through ’28)

Duran trade rumors are nothing new, but he’s in a different spot this summer. This would be a change of scenery move, as the former All-Star left fielder has an ugly .199/.258/.366 line across 318 plate appearances. Duran still has excellent physical gifts but is striking out at a career-worst 30.2% clip. Boston can control him for two seasons after this and might not prefer to sell low, but he’ll make around $10MM next year in arbitration and they’ll still have an outfield logjam whenever Roman Anthony gets back on the field.

19. Mickey Moniak, OF/DH, Rockies ($4MM salary, arb-eligible through ’27)

20. Jake McCarthy, CF, Rockies ($1.525MM salary, arb-eligible through ’28)

McCarthy and Moniak are arbitration-eligible role players on MLB’s worst team. The Rockies control both of them beyond this season and should be willing to move either if they get a decent return.

Moniak, who just returned from right ankle tendinitis that cost him a month, has hit .273/.314/.539 across 631 plate appearances with Colorado over the last two seasons. He’s a middling defender whose production has been heavily inflated by Coors Field and comes only against right-handed pitching. It’s a less appealing profile than the raw slash line would suggest, but Moniak has hit well enough that he should get attention as a strong side platoon bat in the corner outfield.

There are probably some teams who’d consider McCarthy the more desirable target. He’s cheaper, controllable for one extra season, and a better defender. McCarthy has alternated league average offensive seasons with essentially unplayable ones. This has been one of his better efforts, as he’s hitting .296/.338/.465 with five homers and 12 steals. McCarthy has some of the lowest exit velocities in the game and is a low-end regular on a contender. He doesn’t need to be platooned and could get interest in a weak center field market.

21. Trevor Larnach, LF, Twins ($4.475MM salary, arb-eligible through ’27)

There are some similarities between Larnach and Moniak. They’re each lefty hitters who profile as platoon corner outfielders and have an extra season of arbitration control. They’re very differently stylistically — Larnach is a much more patient hitter — but similarly valuable overall. Larnach is on fire this month and has boosted his batting line to a stout .276/.374/.419. Minnesota has enough upper minors outfield talent that they could flip him for a controllable bullpen arm even if they decide not to truly sell.

22. Trevor Rogers, LHP, Orioles ($6.2MM salary, impending free agent)

As with Ward, Rogers would be an obvious trade candidate if the Orioles have too much ground to make up. He’s an impending agent who’s not a lock to receive a qualifying offer. The southpaw had a brilliant four-month run to close the 2025 season. This season started dreadfully, as he carried a near-7.00 earned run average at the end of May, but Rogers has rebounded with a 2.22 mark across four starts in June. He’s still not missing bats at last year’s level but looks like a playoff-caliber starter when he’s going well.

23. Kenley Jansen, RHP, Tigers ($9MM salary, $12MM club option or $2MM buyout for ’27)

Jansen’s first season in Detroit hasn’t gone as smoothly as hoped. He has given up four home runs and blown four saves among 13 attempts. The future Hall of Famer is sitting on a career-high 4.00 earned run average through 18 innings. Jansen is missing bats at his typical rate, hasn’t lost much velocity on his cutter, and is a year removed from a 2.59 ERA showing with the Angels. If the Tigers sell, they’d probably shop him even with a $12MM club option for next season.

24. Matt Chapman, 3B, Giants ($25MM salary, owed $100MM from 2027-30)

The Giants are reportedly open to offloading any of Chapman, Willy Adames or Rafael Devers — their three largest long-term commitments. The latter two seem more or less immovable, likely requiring the Giants to pay down more than half the remaining money on their underwater contracts. Chapman’s contract is an obstacle too, but one which could be slightly more realistic.

A two-time Platinum Glove winner, Chapman remains one of the sport’s top defenders at third base. He started very slowly at the plate but has caught fire in June and is up to a league average .240/.328/.380 line across 329 plate appearances. There’s enough overall value that this year’s $25MM salary isn’t outlandish — Baseball Reference has Chapman on pace for nearly six WAR — but teams should balk at paying the full freight for his age 34-37 seasons.

Chapman, who has a full no-trade clause, is a Southern California native who has spent all but two seasons of his 10-year big league career in the Bay Area. He told the San Francisco Standard’s John Shea last week he hasn’t given much thought to the no-trade clause because Giants president of baseball operations Buster Posey hadn’t approached him it.

25. Willson Contreras, 1B, Red Sox ($18MM salary, $17MM salary in ’27, $20MM club option or $7.5MM buyout for ’28)

If the Sox really tear things down, Contreras would be one of the best bats available. He’s raking at a .280/.375/.520 clip with 16 home runs across 317 plate appearances. He’s on track for what would be the first 25-homer season of his career. Contreras is also playing strong defense in his second year as a first baseman. In a year in which very little has gone according to plan for Boston, they’ve been proven right that his right-handed bat would play particularly well at Fenway Park.

That’d all make it a surprise if the Red Sox traded him. Contreras is signed for next season and has what looks to be a reasonably priced club option for 2028. He’s 34 years old and playing on a non-competitive team, so the front office has at least be open to conversations, but they figure to set a high price on a player who projects as an integral piece of next year’s lineup. Contreras also has a full no-trade clause. The Cardinals agreed to cover $8MM as part of last offseason’s trade.

26. Luis Castillo, RHP, Mariners ($22.75MM salary, $22.75MM salary in ’27, vesting option for ’28)

Unlike most of the teams on this list, the Mariners are clear buyers. A Castillo trade would mostly be about reallocating salary they could use to address a clearer roster need. Seattle has six healthy starters for five spots, and they also have two of the game’s very best pitching prospects looming in the minors (Kade Anderson, Ryan Sloan). The Mariners aren’t likely to move any of Logan Gilbert, Bryan Woo, George Kirby, Emerson Hancock or Bryce Miller. They’ve mixed in tandem starts for everyone to keep them all stretched out without going to a traditional six-man rotation.

Is that a sustainable long-term setup? The pitchers have all said the right things publicly, but they’d presumably prefer to be locked into rotation spots. Castillo has had the worst season of the group, turning in a 5.22 ERA across 70 2/3 innings (but a much-improved 3.62 mark over his past 32 1/3 frames). His stuff and strikeout/walk profile are about the same as previous seasons, when he was a mid-3.00s ERA pitcher. Castillo would still be locked into the rotation for at least 25 teams.

Castillo had a full no-trade clause for the first three seasons of his contract. That’s no longer in place, though he would receive a $1MM assignment bonus if he’s moved. He’s signed for next year at $22.75MM and would lock in a $20MM salary for 2028 if he throws 180 innings next season. The Mariners may prefer to sort this out in the offseason.

27. Sandy Alcantara, RHP, Marlins ($17MM salary, $21MM club option or $2MM buyout for ’27)

The Marlins were trending towards selling but have reeled off 16 wins in 21 games this month. They’re suddenly back over .500 and within a game and a half of a playoff spot — a testament to how quickly fortunes can change in a playoff picture this tight. If they’re still this close at the deadline, an Alcantara trade would be a real surprise, but an ugly July could put it back on the table.

Miami’s longtime ace has a 4.01 ERA across 17 starts and 110 innings. He struggled in May but has been fantastic this month, running a 29:6 strikeout-to-walk ratio with a 2.60 ERA over five starts. He’s playing on a $17MM salary and controllable through 2027 via a $21MM club option. Those are relatively expensive sums by Marlins standards but manageable for a team whose only other ’27 commitment is the $10MM that they’ll send to the Yankees as part of the Giancarlo Stanton trade.

28. Nathaniel Lowe, DH/1B, Reds ($1.75MM salary, impending free agent)

Cincinnati picked up Lowe on an offseason minor league deal. The veteran first baseman broke camp as a bench bat but quickly played his way into a strong side platoon role, mostly at designated hitter. Lowe’s bat has cooled after an excellent start, but he’s still sitting on a .256/.350/.477 line with nine homers through 197 plate appearances. He’s walking at a customarily strong 12.2% clip with solid batted-ball metrics.

It’s essentially the same profile Lowe showed over a four-year stretch as a quality regular first baseman with the Rangers. His stock dipped last year amidst some struggles with the Nationals, but Lowe has otherwise been an above-average bat throughout his career. There wasn’t much appeal when he was making an eight-figure salary through arbitration. He’s a much better target when he’s playing on a modest $1.75MM base figure with Cincinnati.

The Reds are still in the hunt but have dropped five games below .500 and been one of the worst teams in MLB since the start of May. If they still have five or six teams to leapfrog by the deadline, they’ll probably cash the impending free agent in for a prospect or two.

29. Clay Holmes, RHP, Mets ($13MM salary, $12MM player option for ’27)

Holmes is in the second season of a three-year deal with the Mets. He can and likely will opt out at the end of the year, as he should be able to beat the $12MM value of his 2027 player option. Holmes has established himself as a starter in Queens after a four-year run at the back of the Yankees’ bullpen.

New York’s most reliable starter in the early going, Holmes posted a 2.39 ERA across 52 2/3 innings in his first nine appearances. He wasn’t missing a ton of bats but was getting ground-balls at a huge 56% clip behind a mid-90s sinker. Holmes took a 111 mph comebacker off his right leg on May 15, breaking his fibula in the process. He’s on the 60-day injured list and will be out beyond the deadline, hopefully returning at some point in August.

Players are eligible to be traded while they’re on the IL. There’s certainly more risk for the acquiring team — especially if Holmes has yet to resume a rehab assignment — but someone figures to roll the dice on the upside. The Blue Jays traded a solid prospect to get a rehabbing Shane Bieber (who, like Holmes, had a player option at season’s end) in a thin rotation market last summer. This could play out similarly.

30. Kris Bubic, LHP, Royals ($6.15MM salary, impending free agent)

Bubic is an impending free agent on a Kansas City team that sits 14 games under .500. He’d be an obvious trade candidate if he’s healthy. The southpaw has missed the past five weeks with elbow soreness. He began a rehab assignment a couple weeks ago, reported shoulder discomfort, and was pulled off. That was a seemingly minor issue, as Bubic resumed his rehab stint with Triple-A Omaha on Wednesday.

The recent history of arm issues is an obvious red flag. Bubic also has a 2023 Tommy John surgery and a ’25 rotator cuff strain on his medical chart. He’s a good pitcher when healthy, making an All-Star team and posting a 2.55 ERA season last year. An uncharacteristic jump in walks has pushed his ERA to 4.11 across 50 1/3 frames this season. He has fanned a quarter of opponents and would fit into the middle of a contending rotation at full strength.

31. Brady Singer, RHP, Reds ($12.75MM salary, impending free agent)

Singer is another impending free agent on a scuffing Cincinnati team. He’s not going to net a huge return due to his $12.75MM salary and underwhelming walk year. Singer has a 4.81 ERA with career-worst strikeout and home run rates over 15 starts. He’s still struggling to find answers against left-handed opponents. Singer was a durable mid-rotation arm from 2022-25, however, and he has shown signs of turning things around. The 29-year-old righty has a 1.64 ERA with a much improved 25.3% strikeout rate over four starts this month.

32. Nolan Gorman, 3B, Cardinals ($2.655MM salary, arb-eligible through ’28)

Unlike the other St. Louis players on this list, this would be about recognizing the need for a change of scenery. Gorman popped 27 home runs in his first full MLB season back in 2023. He looked like a potential middle-of-the-order bat, but his strikeout issues have magnified as his power has regressed.

Gorman combined for a .204/.284/.385 line in 804 plate appearances between 2024-25. The Cardinals nevertheless opened the everyday third base job for Gorman by trading Nolan Arenado over the offseason. The lefty hitter was unable to run with the opportunity, punching out at a 32.3% rate while batting .194/.279/.318 in 62 games. St. Louis optioned him to their complex for a mechanical overhaul last week. He’s likely trending towards a non-tender, but another team could take a flier and buy low on the power potential.

33. Jeff Hoffman, RHP, Blue Jays ($11MM salaries in 2026-27)

Hoffman recorded 33 saves in his first season in Toronto. That came with a fair share of home runs, and an otherwise excellent playoff run will be clouded by the game-tying homer he surrendered to Miguel Rojas to blow the save in Game 7 of the World Series. The Jays were understandably committed to him as their closer entering 2026, but he has had a bizarre season.

After struggling a few times in April, Hoffman lost his spot in the ninth inning to Louis Varland. The Jays continued running him out in high-leverage situations to mixed results. Hoffman has seemingly righted the ship in June, reeling off seven straight scoreless appearances before taking the loss to Houston yesterday.

The 33-year-old righty has a 4.84 ERA over 35 1/3 innings. His 35.4% strikeout rate and 17.3% swinging strike percentage, by contrast, are among the best in MLB. All the underlying numbers point to Hoffman being one of the top relievers in the game. For most of the season, the results haven’t matched. If the Blue Jays decide a change of scenery is necessary, there’ll probably be suitors even at a fairly significant $11MM salary this year and next.

34. Jung Hoo Lee, RF/CF, Giants ($22MM salary, owed $63MM from 2027-29; can opt out after ’27)

There hasn’t been as much talk about the Giants trading Lee as some of his higher profile teammates. He’s certainly less likely to move than impending free agents Arraez and Ray. At the same time, his contract is the most reasonable of the Giants’ bigger long-term commitments — aside from that of ace Logan Webb, whom Posey has already said he’s not interested in trading.

Posey otherwise said the Giants would have to keep “all options on the table.” That probably should include Lee, who can opt out of his contract at the end of next season. Lee is in the mix for the batting title, hitting .333/.367/.474 across 289 plate appearances. He’s not a great center fielder but can play there if necessary and has the tools to be a strong right fielder.

Lee’s contract would be an obstacle for some smaller-market teams. The opt-out could deter others who’d worry about taking on the long-term risk of an injury when he’s only guaranteed to stick around for two seasons. It’s a thin market for veteran bats, though, and few players on a non-contender are playing better than Lee is right now.

35. Hunter Goodman, C, Rockies (pre-arbitration, controllable through ’29)

Goodman would be the Rockies’ biggest realistic trade chip. He leads catchers with 21 homers and is behind just Cal Raleigh with 52 longballs since the start of 2025. It comes with a ton of strikeouts, but Goodman has legitimate plus power that plays at any park. He has far more homers on the road (32) than he does at Coors Field (20) over the last season and a half.

Prospect evaluators had concerns about Goodman’s mobility behind the plate early in his career. He broke into MLB as an outfielder but has worked his way to being a passable catcher. He’s not a standout defender in any area, but as with Jeffers, he’s good enough behind the plate to be one of the better all-around catchers in MLB with this kind of offense.

There’d be significant interest if Colorado made the 26-year-old available. It’s unclear if they’d make that move even as they may be headed for a fourth straight 100-loss season. The Rockies control Goodman for three seasons after this one. It’s a new front office but the same ownership group that famously resisted trading a lot of their best players when they were much closer to free agency than Goodman is now.

Others To Watch

Angels: Jo Adell, Zach Neto, Kirby Yates

Astros: Bryan Abreu, Josh Hader, Steven Okert, Isaac Paredes, Jeremy Peña, Christian Walker

Athletics: Jeffrey Springs

Cardinals: Riley O’Brien, JoJo Romero

Giants: Willy Adames, Rafael Devers, Tyler Mahle, Heliot Ramos, Casey Schmitt

Guardians: Steven Kwan

Marlins: Anthony Bender, John King, Max Meyer

Mets: Brett Baty, A.J. Minter, Brooks Raley, Mark Vientos, Luke Weaver

Nationals: Luis García Jr., Jacob Young

Orioles: Chris Bassitt, Yennier Cano, Colton Cowser, Adley Rutschman

Padres: Jason Adam, Adrian Morejon