A look at 12 MLB players heavily rumored to be on the trade block this winter.

RELATED
2026 MLB Trade Candidate Tracker

Sonny Gray (36, SP, Cardinals)

Gray has already expressed his desire to move on from the Cardinals if they don’t commit to adding aggressively to the roster this offseason. Like Arenado, Gray holds a no-trade clause, so he’ll have to work closely with the front office to negotiate a path to his next team, but this seems much more likely than not at this point. Gray is owed $35M in 2026, with a $5M buyout attached to a $30M club option in 2027.

MacKenzie Gore (27, SP, Nationals)

A big piece of the Juan Soto trade back in 2022, Gore has now put together nearly 3 full seasons of quality (though not dominating) starts. He’s arbitration-eligible through 2027, which could butt up against a looming work stoppage for the league. It’s probably the right time for a new front office in Washington to make this move.

Mitch Keller (29, SP, Pirates)

Keller has 3 years, $54.5M remaining on his contract in Pittsburgh, including $16.5M for the upcoming 2026 season. The Pirates have developed a strong young rotation, which could make Keller expendable this winter, especially if they can bring back an MLB-ready bat or two.

Joe Ryan (29, SP, Twins)

The Twins are largely expected to cut costs in 2026, and that will include the active payroll as well. Ryan was sought after at the trade deadline, but a deal didn’t materialize. The 29-year-old is arbitration-eligible through 2027, with an estimate near $6M for the upcoming season.

Brady Singer (29, SP, Reds)

The Reds appear dead set on finding more production at the plate this offseason, and could swap an experienced starter in order to secure some of it. Singer has averaged 30 starts per year since 2022, and would be a reliable middle rotation option for plenty of contending teams in the league. He projects toward a $13M salary in arbitration this season, his final year of team control.

Kodai Senga (32, SP, Mets)

After missing nearly all of 2024 with a calf injury, Senga began 2025 looking like the pitcher of old. A midseason hamstring injury appeared to change everything, as his return to the mound was a veritable disaster for both he and the Mets - who eventually optioned him to AAA in early September. A few things to note here: The deal contains $28M over the next 2 seasons, and Senga has a 10-team no trade clause the rest of the way.

Nolan Arenado (34, 3B, Cardinals)

The 34-year-old is past his prime, especially as it pertains to power production, but is still a viable asset on both sides of the ball. He’s owed $21M in 2026 ($16M salary, $5M deferred), then another $15M in 2027. Both sides appear motivated to move on this winter, but St. Louis will likely need to retain some salary in order to facilitate a trade worthy of their time.

Brandon Lowe (31, 2B, Rays)

‘Tis the season for any Rays player with an upcoming salary north of $10M to be rumored in trade discussions. The club has already declined a $12.5M option on closer Pete Fairbanks, but did exercise the $11.5M salary for Lowe through 2026. How long they keep the productive middle-infielder at that price remains to be seen.

Brendan Donovan (28, 2B, Cardinals)

Now a positional utility man (2B, 3B, LF, RF) Donovan’s stock is at a career-high, and the Cardinals appear poised to bank off of it this winter. The 28-year-old is cost-controlled through 2027, which should net St. Louis a fairly strong prospect in return. The 28-year-old projects to a $5.75M salary in his first arbitration-eligible season.

Jarren Duran (29, OF, Red Sox)

Boston has a surplus of young positional player talent that could/should culminate in a sizable trade or two this winter. Duran seems the most likely man to move, and there will be more than a handful of teams ready to pounce. The 29-year-old has been filling up the stat board each of the past 2+ seasons, and is a Day 1 starter elsewhere. He comes with a $7.7M salary for the upcoming season, and is cost-controlled through 2028.

Steven Kwan (28, LF, Guardians)

Kwan (projected $8.5M in 2026) is arbitration-eligible through the 2027 season, so there’s no real urgency for Cleveland to cut ties just yet. However, extension negotiations appear to have turned sour, and could be all but dead between the two sides. Generally speaking, once Cleveland knows they won’t have a featured player going forward, they begin to nibble at the trade market. That’s likely what this winter looks like for these two sides.

Luis Robert Jr. (28, CF, White Sox)

Rumored to be leaving Chicago for years now, will this finally be the offseason that a trade commences? The White Sox exercised a $20M club option for the upcoming season, and another $20M option exists in 2027 as well ($2M buyout). With that said, Robert hasn’t posted $20M production at the plate since 2023, his last injury-free season. However, a minimal list of free agent options at the CF position this winter could generate enough interest to get a deal done here.