Top 25 MLB Offseason Trade Candidates and Best Team Fits

The 2025–2026 MLB offseason is already buzzing with rumors. Few storylines feel hotter than which stars might end up in new uniforms by Opening Day 2026.

ESPN insider Kiley McDaniel just dropped his latest top 25 trade candidates. Not every name will move, but the list really maps out who front offices are circling as winter meetings creep closer.

Tarik Skubal Tops the Talent List, Not the Trade Board

When it comes to pure value on the trade market, it’s tough to top Tarik Skubal. The Tigers’ ace is fresh off back-to-back AL Cy Young Awards, pairing nasty strikeout stuff with durability and a calm on the mound that teams crave.

Still, McDaniel only gives Skubal a 10% chance of being traded. Detroit thinks its window is opening again, and you just don’t move a frontline lefty who anchors your rotation and maybe your whole identity. Any team trying to pry him loose would have to pay a ridiculous price in top prospects and young big-leaguers. Even then, the Tigers might just shrug and say no thanks.

Why Skubal Is Almost Untouchable

Skubal mixes elite results with team control—that’s the golden ticket in today’s game. He lets Detroit build around a proven ace, instead of hoping to find one in a thin free agent market.

For now, he’s more a benchmark for value than an actual trade chip.

Ketel Marte Headlines the Position Player Market

On the position-player side, Ketel Marte stands out as maybe the most attractive name. The Arizona star is one of baseball’s best second basemen, a switch-hitter with real bat speed, defensive flexibility, and steady offense that holds a lineup together.

McDaniel puts Marte at about a 40% chance of being traded. That number shows the Diamondbacks are truly listening, but also that guys with his skills and contract don’t move often.

Teams Circling Marte: Pirates, Giants, and More

The Pirates and Giants are especially interested. For Pittsburgh, Marte could be the middle-of-the-order bat that helps a young core grow up fast. San Francisco has chased versatile, offensive catalysts like him for years.

With five years left on his deal, any trade would be about long-term plans as much as a quick fix.

Freddy Peralta and Sonny Gray: High-End Arms, Different Situations

The pitching market never feels deep, so playoff-caliber starters always get attention. Two names fit that: Freddy Peralta (Brewers) and Sonny Gray (Reds).

Peralta, heading into the last year of a team-friendly deal, gets a 25% chance to move. Milwaukee isn’t desperate to sell, but they’ll listen if someone comes calling with a monster offer. That means multiple premium pieces for a proven No. 2 starter who can shine in October.

Sonny Gray’s Velocity Surge Changes the Math

Gray shows up with just a 10% trade chance despite electric stuff. He’s hitting 99.4 mph with his fastball and brings strong secondary pitches. He looks like an ace right now. But his contract is so valuable to the Reds that they’d only move him if a contender absolutely blows them away.

Byron Buxton and Joe Ryan: Twins at a Crossroads

The Minnesota Twins are in a weird spot—caught between win-now and reshaping for the future. Two names—Byron Buxton and Joe Ryan—pop up high on McDaniel’s list, and what happens with them could really change the franchise’s direction.

Buxton, with three years of team control, still flashes one of the sport’s most exciting toolkits: defense, speed, power. McDaniel gives him a 35% chance to move, especially since he’s reportedly open to waiving his no-trade clause for the right fit.

Joe Ryan’s Unusual Fastball Makes Him a Hot Target

Righty Joe Ryan comes in at a 50% chance of being traded—a true coin flip. His fastball plays up because of its shape and deception, and he’s been durable. Contenders like the Boston Red Sox and New York Mets are watching closely. For Minnesota, trading him would sting now, but the return could jumpstart a retool.

Red Sox Rebalancing: Jeter Downs Duran and Beyond

The Boston Red Sox seem ready to shake up their roster. One of the most interesting names in that mix is Jeter Downs Duran, a young outfielder with versatility and upside.

McDaniel gives Duran a 50% chance to be traded. His elite speed and bat speed make him appealing to teams that trust their player development. Boston might use him to land pitching or a controllable infielder.

Other Notable Names: Luis Lopez, Sean Murphy, Josh Donovan

A few other players could shape the second tier of the trade market:

What This Trade Board Tells Us About the 2026 Landscape

When you step back from the individual names, McDaniel’s list gives us a telling snapshot of where the league might be headed. Clubs now weigh contract value, years of control, and roster fit as they try to set themselves up for 2026 and beyond.

Elite players like Skubal and Gray feel more like cornerstones than trade bait. Meanwhile, versatile and controllable guys—Marte, Buxton, Ryan, and Donovan—seem to be at the heart of all the aggressive trade chatter.

With winter meetings creeping up, rumors will probably ramp up, and front offices will poke around to see who’s really on the table. The 2025–2026 MLB offseason could shake up both contenders and rebuilders, with the trade market as the main stage for those big, franchise-changing moves.

 
Here is the source article for this story: Ranking the top 25 MLB offseason trade candidates — and finding their best fits