There are less than three weeks until the 2026 MLB trade deadline on Aug. 3. As the second half of the season begins, teams are having conversations about players they can potentially acquire. And with the American League being so mediocre and only three of the 15 teams further than 3.5 games out of a wild-card spot, there is a heightened sense of importance on the next few weeks.
We ranked the top 25 players who could be moved at this year’s trade deadline. And while several teams are in range of the wild card, things could change quickly.
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There are a few names excluded from the list, including Yordan Alverez, Byron Buxton, Mike Trout and Willson Contreras. Buxton, Trout and Contreras each have no-trade clauses and have been public about not waiving them, making a trade feel remote.
Here are top players who could be moved at this year’s trade deadline:
Skubal has been baseball’s biggest trade piece since 2024. And as the years have gone by, the chatter surrounding the back-to-back AL Cy Young Award winner being moved has gotten only louder. Skubal, who’s 5-5 with a 3.09 ERA, is healthy and would make any postseason contender better ahead of being baseball’s biggest free agent this winter. But while six weeks ago a trade of Skubal seemed guaranteed, the Tigers’ season has shifted after a tumultuous start.
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Since June 1, Detroit has the best record (22-14) in the American League and is currently just 3 1/2 games out of the third AL wild-card spot. While the Tigers have played well, it feels like Skubal’s time in Detroit has run its course. And even being close to a wild-card spot, risking the Tigers’ long-term future letting him go for nothing doesn’t make much baseball sense.
Outside of Skubal, there may not be a better pitcher discussed at this year’s trade deadline than Ryan. The Twins’ ace has consistently been one of the best starters in the American League the past few seasons. Ryan, who is 6-5 with a 2.85 ERA in 20 starts this year, is in the midst of the best season of his career that featured a second consecutive All-Star selection.
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The Twins haven’t seemed interested in parting with their homegrown ace, declining to move him at their selloff at last season’s trade deadline when they moved shortstop Carlos Correa. But unlike center fielder Byron Buxton, who has a no-trade clause and has been vocal about using it, Ryan does not, making him much easier to move. And he would be one of the only frontline arms who could be attainable.
Minnesota is currently tied for the third and final AL wild-card spot, and if it remains within earshot, moving Ryan seems highly unlikely.
Gray is having a phenomenal first season in Boston and has taken over as the team’s ace while left-hander Garrett Crochet has been on the injured list. The right-hander, who was named an All-Star for the third time, is 11-1 with a 2.54 ERA in 17 starts this season. And while Gray would have been an easy candidate to be on the move early in the season, similar to the Tigers, the Red Sox have made things more interesting.
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Boston is the hottest team in baseball and currently on a nine-game winning streak. The Red Sox are currently 0.5 games out of the third AL wild-card spot and are playing with a lot of confidence. When they fired manager Alex Cora on April 25, it looked like their season was headed down the drain. But getting hot just a few weeks before the deadline may have saved chief baseball officer Craig Breslow from an August selloff and asking Gray to waive his no-trade clause.
Ten years ago, Chapman was the prize of the trade deadline as he was acquired as the final piece of the 2016 Chicago Cubs’ World Series-winning roster. And 10 years later, at the age of 38, Chapman is still one of the most coveted relievers on the market. The longtime closer is 1-3 with a 2.20 ERA and 19 saves for Boston this season and continues to be effective.
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Like Gray, Chapman was once thought of as a sure-fire tradeable piece. But if the Red Sox decide they’re going to make a run at the playoffs, it’s hard to imagine them moving their dominant closer in the process.
It seems wild that Peña, a former World Series MVP, could be a trade candidate, but times have changed in Houston. The Astros shortstop has been extremely consistent since his debut in 2022, averaging a 4.1 wins above replacement each season. This season, Peña is hitting .287 with six homers and 22 RBI, missing some time with a calf and hamstring injuries.
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But Houston appears to be on the downturn of its long run of success, and without a loaded farm system, remaining highly competitive seems remote without some tough decisions. Those decisions could include moving its All-Star shortstop a year out from free agency, especially after being unable to come to terms on an extension last year.
One thing that could keep Peña in Houston is that the AL West is the worst division in baseball this year. And despite being four games under .500, the Astros are just three games back of first place in the division and 1 1/2 games back in the wild card.
(Yahoo Sports)
6) CJ Abrams, Nationals, SS
Abrams’ name was discussed plenty this offseason as the Nationals’ new regime decided what to do with the 25-year-old shortstop. Abrams has responded by having the best season of his career. The shortstop owns a .275/.352/.510 slash line with 20 homers, 67 RBI and is one of the reasons Washington is tied for the MLB lead in runs scored.
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The Nationals have played their way into the NL wild-card conversation, but it’s important to note they are still in their first year of a new front office. And in a year when there’s not as much offensive firepower available, Abrams is the type of impact player who is extremely intriguing, especially with two years of club control remaining after this season.
Wacha might not be the hard-throwing right-hander he was early in his career with the Cardinals, but he has aged nicely. Wacha is the definition of consistency. The Royals veteran has turned in four consecutive seasons with an ERA in the mid-3.00s and is headed for another this year with a 3.77 ERA in 19 starts. The Royals are tied for the worst record in MLB to start the second half, and with a farm system lacking depth and impact, moving Wacha would significantly help. Not to mention, he has a year of club control after this season.
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8) Jung-Hoo Lee, Giants, OF
While the Giants have several contracts that will be difficult to move, one particular player has some appeal. Lee, 27, is having his best season since coming stateside from South Korea. The Giants right fielder is slashing .302/.333/.429 with 21 doubles, three triples, five homers and 33 RBI. Lee is under control for three more seasons, but his contract includes an opt-out after the 2027 season.
The Casey Mize era in Detroit has not gone exactly how Tigers fans would have hoped when Detroit drafted him No. 1 overall in 2020. The Tigers right-hander has been good, not great, since his arrival in Motown. In what could be his last year in Detroit, Mize isn’t going out on a sour note. He’s having the best season of his career in 2026, going 4-6 with a 2.79 ERA in 14 starts this season and was an All-Star. Mize, a free agent at season’s end, has shown the ability to be a formidable starter. And if the Tigers sell, they could have two of the best arms on the market.
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Since becoming a reliever full-time in 2024, Weaver has been one of the best high-leverage arms in baseball. Weaver, who signed a two-year, $22 million deal with New York prior to this season, has again been lights out in the back end, going 2-1 with a 1.85 ERA in 35 games. And while Weaver hasn’t been closing in Queens with Devin Williams in that role, he has closer experience.
The Mets are one of the few teams in MLB that knows they are sellers, and in a year when almost any team contending needs bullpen help, New York has one of the better arms in Weaver.
There will be plenty of teams looking to acquire rentals that come off the books at the end of the season. But for teams looking for starting pitching with additional years of club control, Detmers fits the bill. The 27-year-old lefty has not always had an easy road during with the Angels. But since returning to being a starter full time after spending all of last season in the bullpen, he’s shown flashes of elite stuff. Detmers is currently 11th in MLB in strikeouts this season and has two years of club control after this season.
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12) José Soriano, Angels, SP
When the 2026 season began, Soriano was one of the few bright spots for the Angels. Soriano allowed just one run over his first 37 2/3 innings and looked like an early frontrunner for the AL Cy Young Award. Since then, the right-hander has hit a rough patch, with a 5.14 ERA over his past seven starts. Still just 27 years old, Soriano has shown elite stuff that, when harnessed, can consistently get hitters out. Similar to his rotation-mate Detmers, Soriano comes with two additional years of club control after this season.
There’s plenty of money on the books the Giants are going to have a hard time moving, but one player whom president of baseball operations Buster Posey will be able to move is Arraez. He is probably sad that his time in the Bay is coming to a close as he’s having one of the best seasons of his career. The Giants second baseman is carrying a .330/.369/.460 slashline with 21 doubles, seven triples, four homers and 35 RBI. Arraez has also taken advantage of being around infield coaching extraordinaire Ron Washington, as he has graded out as an above-average defender at second.
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If you’re looking for other trade pieces of value on the Mets’ roster, look no further than Holmes. Since converting Holmes into a starter full-time in 2025, the right-hander has excelled, pitching to a 3.26 ERA in 40 starts. And this season, Holmes was putting together an All-Star caliber first half before a line drive off the bat of Yankees outfielder Spencer Jones fractured his fibula, forcing him to the 60-day IL.
While Holmes has been rehabbing and expected to return in the second half, he’s been open to staying in Queens long term, even telling reporters last week that he’s open to an extension. Until that time comes, Holmes is a name contenders should want and Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns should listen to every call.
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If there’s one player on this year’s trade market accustomed to change, it’s Ray. The 34-year-old southpaw is currently on his fifth team in 13 big-league seasons, but that’s a bit deceiving. When healthy, Ray is extremely consistent and this season he has pitched to the tune of a respectable 3.38 ERA in 18 starts. Ray will be a free agent at the end of the year and, playing for one of the few definitive sellers, he’ll be one of the easiest players to move at the deadline. He should be a solid acquisition for the team that acquires him.
Each season, there’s a player who goes overseas after a failed stint in the big leagues and returns a better player. This year, that guy is Griffin. The lefty has been unbelievable in his first year back in the U.S. Griffin, 30, is 10-2 with a 2.77 ERA in 19 starts and was an NL All-Star. The Nationals’ one-year gamble on Griffin seems like it will pay off, and with him becoming a free agent at the end of the season, he is one of the best rentals on the starting pitcher market.
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When the Reds brought Singer over from the Kansas City Royals, they thought they would be adding to a playoff roster ready to go to the next level. Unfortunately, that hasn’t happened, leaving the Reds in a position to likely sell. One thing that has affected Singer, like you would expect at Great American Ballpark, has been the long ball. The right-hander has allowed 20 homers on the season, tied for the fifth-most in MLB.
But after a slow start to his season, Singer has found his groove over the last month. He has a 2.79 ERA over his past seven starts and would be a rental with his contract expiring at the end of the season.
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It’s been a disastrous season for Peralta and the Mets. Peralta has struggled to find consistency in his new home after coming over from the Milwaukee Brewers in an offseason trade, pitching to a 4.66 ERA in 20 starts this season. And in a season when the Mets are one of the few sellers, they’ll take whatever they can get for the pending free agent. While the numbers haven’t been there, the right-hander has plenty of postseason experience and the right team likely believes it can make enough adjustments to get him back on track.
Since Paredes got to the Astros last season, finding him a consistent spot to play has been a unique challenge. And with Christian Walker at first base, Jose Altuve back at second base and Yordan Alvarez entrenched at DH, Paredes has felt like the odd man out for two seasons. But with Carlos Correa’s season-ending ankle surgery, the Astros slugger has gotten to spend more time at his natural third base position this season.
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If there’s one thing Paredes has shown during his time in the big leagues, it’s that he has plenty of pull-side power, with 12 homers, and he take his walks. While he might not be the centerpiece of a lineup, he can definitely be a strong piece of a talented one.
If there’s one thing that makes Steer a unique trade candidate this year, it’s that he’s the only player on the list who can play any position you need. Steer has been every bit of a utilityman during his time with the Reds, playing every position except catcher at least once since 2022. And if you gave him a few days to learn, he could probably do that too.
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Steer has shown he has consistent pop from the right side, with four consecutive 20 home-run seasons. This season, he is hitting .247 with 14 homers and 37 RBI. He also has two more years of club control after this season and would be a great right-handed option in a platoon or a left-handed-heavy lineup in need of a regular right-handed bat.
21) Adrian Morejon, Padres, RP
Teams looking for left-handed, high-leverage arms not named Aroldis Chapman would do well giving Morejon a look. He is 7-2 with a 3.42 ERA in 44 games this season, has been part of a San Diego bullpen that has been the team’s strength the past several years. While the Padres and their president of baseball operations AJ Preller usually go for it at the deadline, San Diego had a less-than-stellar first half and has slid to 3 1/2 games back of the final NL wild-card spot. Trading closer Mason Miller seems unrealistic regardless whether the Padres fall out of the race or not. But if they become sellers, the left-handed Morejon should be more attainable, especially being a free agent after this season.
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While there isn’t much impact behind the plate this trade deadline, Jeffers has piqued the interest of contenders. Jeffers has plenty of right-handed power and, when healthy, has shown he can provide plenty of thump in the middle of a lineup.
Acquiring a starting catcher as opposed to a backup is always a challenge midseason. Learning a new staff on the fly is tough and is much easier for a backup catcher than a starter. Jeffers is a free agent at the end of the season.
After being a bullpen addition at last year’s trade deadline, Finnegan returned to Detroit on a two-year, $19 million deal this past offseason. Finnegan has been one of the best high-leverage arms in the American League this season, going 2-0 with a 2.13 ERA in 40 games for the Tigers. If the Tigers decide to sell, Finnegan should be a name on the reliever market to watch.
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If Ward was the 30-homer slugger he was last season when he put up a career-high 36 for the Angels, he’s probably higher on this list. Ward’s power has almost disappeared this season, hitting just six homers in 96 games. But he has become an OBP machine. Ward, a free agent at season’s end, has put up a .387 on-base percentage and is third in MLB with 75 walks as the Orioles’ leadoff hitter.
Ginkel was a consistent bullpen option for the Diamondbacks from 2022-24, but last season, the Arizona right-hander had the worst season of his career, pitching to a 7.24 ERA before a shoulder sprain ended his year. It looks like Ginkel has found his old form in 2026 and has been one of the better relievers in the NL, going 3-2 with a 2.84 ERA in 41 games. He is exactly the kind of pitcher contenders look for at the trade deadline.
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