10 MLB players who could be traded before the 2026 deadline

We’re nearly two full months into the 2026 MLB season and we’re starting to really get a feel for which teams are contenders and which are, well, not. That leads to plenty of conversations in general, but it’s important to distinguish the contenders from the bottom feeders for one specific reason – the trade deadline. 

This year’s MLB trade deadline is set for Aug. 3, so we’re still more than two months away from things really picking up. That being said, it’s never too early to take a look at which players could get dealt over the next two-plus months. 

With SeatGeek serving as the Official Ticket Marketplace of MLB, we’ve been keeping a close eye on how all 30 clubs have performed up to this point. Since the deadline will be here before we know it, we’re going to look at 10 big-name players who could be traded over the next few months. 

Top MLB trade candidates to watch in 2026

With the 2026 MLB trade deadline approaching, several big names could become available if their teams fall further out of contention. Here are 10 players who could draw serious interest from contenders this summer.

Boston Red Sox RP Aroldis Chapman

Chapman, 38, is in his 17th MLB season but is showing no signs of slowing down. The flame-throwing lefty has 12 saves and a 0.51 ERA across 18 games for Boston this year and would be a welcomed addition for any top contender. 

The Sox made the playoffs last year and were aiming to contend again this season, but things haven’t gone to plan as Boston is 22-27 and appears to be heading for a sub-.500 season. We always see relievers moved at the deadline, and Chapman is more than just a big name considering how well he’s pitching. Chapman’s deal also includes a 2027 vesting option, which could make him even more appealing to a contender that’s set to contend again next year. There’s a good chance Chapman is the biggest name moved in terms of closers and relievers this summer. 

Los Angeles Angels SP Jose Soriano

If the Angels really want to reset a farm system that has largely lacked top-end talent for roughly a decade, they need to take calls on Soriano.

The standout right-hander has struggled his last four starts – 15 runs in 22 innings – after an unreal beginning to his 2026 campaign, but Soriano, 27, remains a fantastic arm with devastating stuff and elite metrics, especially his ability to keep the ball on the ground. A contending team with a deep farm system would make a lot of sense for a trade like this, with teams like the Brewers, Dodgers, Pirates and even Cardinals making a lot of sense. 

The Angels have tried to make things work in recent years with minimal spending and a lackluster farm system, but it just hasn’t worked. A Soriano trade would be waving the white flag in 2026, but considering the Angels are in last place in the AL West, it’s time for the team to look towards the future. 

Minnesota Twins RHP Joe Ryan

The Twins were a fun story in early- to mid-April after a solid start to the season, but they find themselves 23-27 and slipping down the AL Central standings. Minnesota had a fire sale of epic proportions at last year’s deadline, but they held onto two big names in Ryan and outfielder Byron Buxton. Buxton has a full no-trade clause and has seemingly made it clear he wants to stay with the Twins, but Ryan could hit free agency this winter as he has a mutual option for 2027 in his contract.

Ryan, who turns 30 next month, has been a model of consistency for the Twins since debuting in 2021, making his first All-Star Game last year and pitching to a 3.60 ERA or better each of the last three years. After his start on Wednesday, Ryan owns a 3.02 ERA and sub-1 WHIP. He’s far and away the most valuable trade chip the Twins have, and any team looking for starting pitching help will certainly be hitting up Minnesota’s line over the next few months assuming the tall right-hander stays healthy and productive.

Miami Marlins SP Sandy Alcantara

It was good to see Alcantara back in the mix last year after the 2022 Cy Young winner missed all of 2024 after undergoing Tommy John surgery, but he looked like a shell of himself with a 5.36 ERA in 31 starts. Another year removed from the surgery and Alcantara again looks like a potential All-Star with a 3.53 ERA in 10 starts, one of which was a complete game shutout. Alcantara has struggled more in May with a 4.96 ERA in three starts after posting a 3.04 ERA across his first seven starts, but there’s still plenty to like. 

The veteran right-hander would be an intriguing option for a lot of pitcher-needy teams this summer, especially as his contract has a team option for the 2027 season at a very team-friendly price. With Alcantara pitching well this year and having a proven track record of getting outs and eating innings, he’d be a valuable addition to any contender over the final few months of the season. Plus, it looks like the Marlins are set to miss the postseason again as they’re 22-28, so this would be the time for Miami to take some calls on the former Cy Young winner. 

Washington Nationals SS CJ Abrams

Offense has not been the problem for the Nationals, who have one of baseball’s best lineups. That’s thanks in large part to the play of their young shortstop as Abrams has an OPS over .900 with 10 home runs, 42 RBIs, 22 extra-base hits and a batting average of exactly .300. The issue for Washington has been the pitching. 

If the Nats decide to shop Abrams, who is under club control through 2029, they could get a king’s ransom. A team with a surplus of pitching that needs a spark in the lineup, like Milwaukee, for instance, would match up well here. 

It really comes down to whether the Nationals think they can really turn the corner on the pitching front over the next three years with Abrams in the mix, or whether they can net more value in a trade to help restock their lackluster pitching corps. Regardless, Washington will be getting calls on the 2024 All-Star.  

Houston Astros OF/DH Yordan Alvarez

This will be an interesting name to monitor, though I doubt the Astros get an offer they like enough to pull the trigger.

Houston is at a bit of a crossroads. The Astros are 20-31 and have arguably baseball’s worst pitching staff. Hunter Brown is banged up, which doesn’t help, but the depth after him is pretty rough. Houston’s other top bats are all getting older, such as Jose Altuve and Carlos Correa. Would the Astros consider turning things over and beginning a rebuild after a decade of American League dominance? If they do, Alvarez would be the key one way or the other, as he’d either be the piece traded away to get a massive return, or he’d be the player to build around. 

The star slugger is signed through 2028 on a team-friendly deal, and he’s playing like an MVP candidate with a .303/.412/.605 slash line, 15 home runs, 31 RBIs and nearly as many walks (31) as strikeouts (36). He’s as dangerous of a hitter as there is in baseball, and players like him are rare in general, but it’s also rare to have a player like Alvarez come available in trade talks. 

I’d guess Houston looks at this year as a flop due to poor pitching and will keep Alvarez and undergo major changes on the pitching front this offseason. But if the Astros want to tear down to rebuild, an Alvarez trade would certainly be worth considering for the right astronomical price. 

New York Mets SP Freddy Peralta

The Mets traded for Peralta with one year left on his contract to lead the charge in the team’s quest to make it to the World Series. Peralta has been very good – a 3.31 ERA in 10 starts – but the Mets’ bats have lagged behind, resulting in a 21-28 record. New York has quietly turned things around this month after a disastrous April, but if the team fades again this summer, trading Peralta would have to be on the table considering he’s a pending free agent. 

The Mets may be inclined to hold onto him for the rest of the year and try to make a surge towards a Wild Card spot, which would make a lot of sense. But if there’s another dreadful stretch like we saw last month, they could at least get a solid return for a player that may not be back next season anyways. It’d be interesting to see him moved so soon after the Mets traded for him, but teams are always looking for potential returns on pending free agents. 

Detroit Tigers SP Tarik Skubal

This is one of the more interesting stories to follow between now and the 2026 trade deadline on Aug. 3. The Tigers, despite plenty of rumors and speculation, held onto Skubal, a two-time Cy Young winner who is a free agent after 2026, this past offseason after making the postseason each of the last two years. Detroit notably signed Framber Valdez in free agency, which both signaled the team was making a strong push in 2026 as well as adding a proven arm to lead the rotation assuming Skubal leaves next offseason. 

The Tigers were the preseason favorites in the AL Central, but they’re 20-30 and appear to be fading fast. Skubal is also on the shelf after elbow surgery, but he could be back in June. 

So what about when he returns? Will the Tigers be in position to make a push in the second half with Skubal back? Or will they be so far out of it that they would be silly not to take calls on the standout lefty? That also assumes Skubal returns from his injury and looks like we’re used to seeing. 

Like I said, Skubal’s trade candidacy has a lot of layers to it, and the buzz will only get louder as we get deeper into the summer. There’s a decent chance he’s the biggest name dealt. 

Los Angeles Angels OF Mike Trout 

Trout is in his 16th MLB season – all with the Angels – and it feels like we’ve brought him up in trade talks for years. That’s largely because even with Trout and Shohei Ohtani, the Angels never really came close to contending. Trout, now 34, has been in the playoffs just once in his career, which was way back in 2014. 

The Angels had a solid start to 2026 but are now 17-33, the worst record in all of baseball. Would they finally pull the trigger on a Trout trade? That largely depends on what Trout wants as he owns a full no-trade clause in his deal, which runs through the 2030 season. 

Trout has slowed down in May after a red-hot April, but he still has 12 home runs, an on-base percentage of .398 and an OPS of nearly .900. Plus, teams always need outfield help, and with the DH in both leagues, that could open things up for Trout. 

Perhaps a return to Pennsylvania to his childhood team, the Phillies, would prompt him to waive his no-trade clause as Trout’s former teammate, Brandon Marsh, is the only Philly outfielder doing much with the bat this year. If Trout stays put, maybe the Angels take calls on fellow outfielder Jo Adell, who is signed through next season and still is young with plenty of upside in the tank.

San Francisco Giants players

This is cheating a bit, but it looks like the Giants are open for business after trading catcher Patrick Bailey and starting off 20-30. The 2026 season has been a disaster for San Francisco, and with a ton of expensive big-name players on the roster, it would make sense for the Giants to try and build towards the future, especially with the Dodgers and Padres looking ready to contend for the foreseeable future. 

Robbie Ray is in the final year of his contract, and the 2021 Cy Young winner was an All-Star last year. Luis Arraez is also on a one-year deal, and he’s again hitting over .300. The Giants would also certainly love to get out of contracts for Rafael Devers (signed through 2033), Willy Adames (signed through 2031) and even Matt Chapman (signed through 2030). 

An interesting one would be whether the Giants would shop ace Logan Webb, who is signed through 2028 on a rather affordable extension. He’s currently on the injured list but is expected back soon, so if he returns and pitches well and the Giants continue to falter, perhaps he could net them a massive prospect return in addition to some salary relief.