Top MLB Trade Candidates to Watch as the Winter Market Opens

The winter trade market could move quickly

Milwaukee is celebrating, and the offseason is underway. Free agency won’t officially begin for five days, while clubs settle option decisions and get an exclusive window to negotiate with their own free agents. Trades can happen now: teams are free to resume talks for the first time since August 3. That timing matters. The candidate pool includes players whose names have circulated since the deadline, along with others who have only recently become plausible trade targets. Some carry rising salaries that may not fit their teams’ usual payrolls; others could be available after a late-season stumble or a change in the front office. The market may also have more room for player-for-player deals than usual. Few clubs are in full rebuild mode, and this is one of the weaker free-agent classes in recent memory, especially among position players. Teams looking for offense may have to trade for it. A December 1 lockout is also expected, which could push front offices to finish more of their work in the next five weeks. Here’s the thing: this list weighs both trade value and the chance a player actually moves. That judgment is subjective. Several names lower down could jump into the top five or ten if stronger reporting emerges that their teams are willing to deal. The [arbitration projections](https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2026/10/projected-arbitration-salaries-for-2027.html) come from MLBTR contributor Matt Swartz. Contract-control estimates assume the upcoming CBA won’t change the service-time system. *An asterisk indicates a player has no-trade rights.*

1. Reid Detmers, Angels, LHP

[Reid Detmers](https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/d/detmere01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.mlbtraderumors.com&utm_campaign=2026-10-27_br) is arbitration-eligible through 2028 and projected to earn $7.5 million. The Angels’ deadline discussions involving Detmers and [José Soriano](https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/s/soriajo02.shtml?utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.mlbtraderumors.com&utm_campaign=2026-10-27_br) were an early sign the club might finally prioritize its longer-term outlook after years of avoiding a retool. Soriano was the one who moved in August. Detmers could draw another round of interest this winter, with two years of arbitration control remaining. The 27-year-old, a former top-10 draft pick, just put together the best season of his career: 32 starts, 185 innings and a 3.36 ERA. He struck out 28.5% of hitters and walked 6.5%, while keeping the home-run problems that had dogged him earlier in his career more in check. His finish was especially strong, with a 1.89 ERA over 13 starts after the All-Star break. That’s a compelling middle-of-the-rotation profile. Detmers works around 94 mph and pairs his fastball with two breaking pitches that miss bats. He commanded the ball better than ever, handled hitters from both sides and showed he could work through a lineup repeatedly. His projected $7.5 million salary next year puts the likely cost for his final two arbitration seasons at roughly $20 million. It’s unclear how far the Angels intend to take a rebuild. Competing within Detmers’ remaining control window would be a steep challenge. After sending Soriano to Toronto for top shortstop prospect [Arjun Nimmala](https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=nimmal000arj&utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.mlbtraderumors.com&utm_campaign=2026-10-27_br), Los Angeles could seek a comparable headliner for Detmers, with a stronger group of supporting prospects. Plenty of contenders could fit him into their rotation and budget; two-thirds of the league or more might at least make a call.

2. Drew Rasmussen, Rays, RHP

[Drew Rasmussen](https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/r/rasmudr01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.mlbtraderumors.com&utm_campaign=2026-10-27_br) has a $20 million club option for 2027. Rasmussen’s second consecutive elite season has put him among the game’s 10 to 15 best pitchers. After finishing ninth in American League Cy Young voting in 2025, he could land in the top five this time: he logged 172 innings with a 2.67 ERA, struck out 26% of opponents and walked just 5%. His regular-season form carried into October. Across the past two seasons, he’s one of only 11 pitchers with at least 250 innings and an ERA below 3.00—a group that includes Cy Young winners and established aces. His ability was never the question. Apart from a 12-game rookie season, Rasmussen has posted an ERA below 3.00 every year in the majors. He was viewed as a first-round talent but fell to the sixth round after two Tommy John surgeries at Oregon State. An internal brace procedure on his ulnar collateral ligament in 2023 then limited him to 73⅓ innings across 2023 and 2024. The Rays extended him before the 2025 season, buying out his final arbitration years and adding a 2027 club option. The deal started with an $8 million base, plus escalators tied to his health that could raise the option to $20 million. Rasmussen stayed healthy enough to reach the maximum. Even at $20 million, the option looks like a bargain for this level of performance. Tampa Bay is expected to exercise it, but keeping Rasmussen may be harder: the Rays have never carried a player at that salary and are likely to run a payroll in the low nine figures, even after a pennant run. They could trade one year of control to a higher-spending contender and seek affordable starting pitching in return.

3. Zach Neto, Angels, SS

[Zach Neto](https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/n/netoza01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.mlbtraderumors.com&utm_campaign=2026-10-27_br) is arbitration-eligible through 2029, with a projected salary of $9.8 million. A Neto trade is less likely than a Detmers deal. He has three years of control, and a position player doesn’t carry the same injury uncertainty as a pitcher. But if the Angels choose a full rebuild, their shortstop would be among the winter’s biggest trade targets. The 2022 first-round pick has become a franchise cornerstone. Baseball Reference has credited him with about five wins above replacement in each of the past three seasons; FanGraphs has placed him in the three-to-four-win range. His defensive evaluations vary, but few middle infielders combine his power and speed. Neto has gone 20-20 in three straight seasons. In 2026, he hit 27 home runs and stole 24 bases in 36 attempts, batting .239/.330/.436 in 704 plate appearances. There are clear limits to the package. Neto strikes out often, doesn’t steal bases efficiently and can make defensive mistakes. He sits a tier or two below the position’s top stars, such as [Bobby Witt Jr.](https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/w/wittbo02.shtml?utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.mlbtraderumors.com&utm_campaign=2026-10-27_br) and [Elly De La Cruz](https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/d/delacel01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.mlbtraderumors.com&utm_campaign=2026-10-27_br). Still, three years of control over an above-average shortstop is a major asset, especially in a winter with virtually no free-agent help at the position. The Angels reportedly asked Boston about [Franklin Arias](https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=arias-008fra), one of baseball’s top three prospects, during deadline talks over Neto. That’s an ambitious bar. Los Angeles can reasonably ask for multiple top-100 prospects, including a headliner ranked among the top 25 to 50. Nimmala, acquired for Soriano, hit well in Double-A and could eventually take over at shortstop, though the Angels would still need a veteran bridge for what could be another rebuilding season.

4. George Kirby and 5. Emerson Hancock, Mariners, RHP

[George Kirby](https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/k/kirbyge01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.mlbtraderumors.com&utm_campaign=2026-10-27_br) is arbitration-eligible through 2028, with a projected $9.8 million salary. [Emerson Hancock](https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/h/hancoem01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.mlbtraderumors.com&utm_campaign=2026-10-27_br) is pre-arbitration and controllable through 2030. For years, observers—including MLBTR—have speculated that Seattle might trade a starting pitcher. The Mariners finally did so this summer, sending [Luis Castillo](https://www.baseball-reference.com/search/search.fcgi?pid=castilu02,castilu01,castil007lui,castilu03,castil025lui,castil018lui,castil026lui&search=Luis+Castillo&utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.mlbtraderumors.com&utm_campaign=2026-10-27_br) to the White Sox. They have yet to break up their homegrown rotation core. That may be the next step. Seattle won’t trade prized rookie [Kade Anderson](https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/a/anderka01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.mlbtraderumors.com&utm_campaign=2026-10-27_br), but any other starter could surface in talks. [Logan Gilbert](https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/g/gilbelo01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.mlbtraderumors.com&utm_campaign=2026-10-27_br) is entering his final arbitration year; Kirby has two years of control, [Bryce Miller](https://www.baseball-reference.com/search/search.fcgi?pid=millebr04,miller014bry,miller013bry&search=Bryce+Miller&utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.mlbtraderumors.com&utm_campaign=2026-10-27_br) and [Bryan Woo](https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/w/woobr01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.mlbtraderumors.com&utm_campaign=2026-10-27_br) have three, and Hancock has four. Rival teams are likely to call on all five, and perhaps Anderson before Seattle quickly shuts down the conversation. Kirby and Hancock drew the most visible deadline interest. Seattle reportedly gauged Hancock’s value after his breakout, while taking a more exploratory approach with Kirby. Hancock, the sixth overall pick in his draft, posted a 3.57 ERA in 25 starts. His 22.3% strikeout rate was a career best, up six percentage points, after changes to his pitch mix: he leaned more on his four-seam fastball, reduced his sinker use and added a cutter that worked well against left-handed hitters who had hit his changeup hard in 2025. This version looks like a solid No. 3 starter. A left abductor strain ended his season in the final month, but he should have a normal offseason. Kirby has a higher ceiling, though his recent results have been closer to average. He had a 4.33 ERA over 30 starts this year, with a career-low 20% strikeout rate. His once exceptional command has slipped to merely very good, and he struggled away from pitcher-friendly T-Mobile Park. Teams will have questions about that decline. They’ll also see a fastball that climbed from about 96 mph to nearly 97, a strong strikeout-and-walk profile against right-handed hitters and a pitcher who isn’t far removed from looking like a No. 2 starter. The market is short on controllable rotation help, so some clubs may believe a small adjustment could restore that form. Seattle’s likely reason to trade from its rotation is to add offense now. The Mariners ranked 28th in scoring and could lose their top hitter, [Randy Arozarena](https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/a/arozara01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.mlbtraderumors.com&utm_campaign=2026-10-27_br), to free agency. They need a major bat in a corner-outfield spot and could also pursue an upgrade at shortstop. [Read more](https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2026/10/top-trade-candidates-mlb-offseason-2026-27.html)

6. Ketel Marte, Diamondbacks, 2B

[Ketel Marte](https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/m/marteke01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.mlbtraderumors.com&utm_campaign=2026-10-27_br) is due $12 million in 2027, $20 million in 2028 and $22 million annually from 2029 through 2030. His contract includes an $11.5 million player option for 2031 and $35 million in future deferrals. He has full no-trade rights.* Marte’s relationship with Arizona took another hit in 2026. He missed the first game of an August series at Fenway Park, extending what appears to have become an annual pattern. The Diamondbacks put him on the restricted list, then the injured list with a knee issue. He returned a couple of weeks later and finished the season without another reported problem, but the episode added to the organization’s frustration. His manager, Torey Lovullo, and teammates offered less public support than before. Owner Ken Kendrick said after the season that he hoped Marte would “overcome his consistent acts of immaturity.” Arizona again fell a game or two short of a playoff berth, sharpening the frustration around a star who has repeatedly become a source of distraction. On the field, Marte had a down year by his standards: .249/.316/.432 with 22 home runs in 624 plate appearances, roughly league-average production. He continued to punish left-handed pitching but was below average from the left side of the plate. At 33, it’s hard to know whether that reflects a season played below full health or the start of a broader decline. There’s still obvious upside: a year ago, Marte was baseball’s best-hitting second baseman. But questions about his work habits and a contract with five years and $87.5 million remaining make him difficult to price. His 10-and-5 status gives him full veto power over a trade. A return to Arizona would be unsurprising, though a deal now seems more plausible than it did when the Diamondbacks first entertained offers last offseason.

7. CJ Abrams, Nationals, SS/2B

[CJ Abrams](https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/a/abramcj01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.mlbtraderumors.com&utm_campaign=2026-10-27_br) is arbitration-eligible through 2028, with a projected $10.2 million salary. Abrams looked like a leading deadline candidate until Washington’s unexpectedly strong start cooled the club’s interest in moving him. The Nationals stayed near the Wild Card race into the deadline, but their pitching staff—especially the bullpen—eventually faltered. Washington sold shorter-term pieces, trading [Luis García Jr.](https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/g/garcilu04.shtml?utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.mlbtraderumors.com&utm_campaign=2026-10-27_br) and [Foster Griffin](https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/g/grifffo01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.mlbtraderumors.com&utm_campaign=2026-10-27_br), while holding to a steep asking price for Abrams. The former sixth overall pick had his best season: 33 home runs, 34 steals in 40 attempts and a .261/.336/.497 line across 654 plate appearances. He faded later in the year again, but the second-half slide was less severe than in either of the previous two seasons. His defense remains the complication. Abrams committed at least 20 errors for the second straight year and the third time in his career. He tied [Willy Adames](https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/a/adamewi01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.mlbtraderumors.com&utm_campaign=2026-10-27_br) for the worst shortstop mark in Outs Above Average, at -17. Washington began using him at second base in September, then moved away from plans for a full-time switch, settling on a more even middle-infield split.

Houston’s infield surplus still has trade value

Isaac Paredes is the Astros’ most obvious trade chip, though moving him would mean giving up a productive hitter who fits his home park unusually well. He hit .262/.360/.447 with 25 home runs in 2026. His defense at third base graded below average, but he handled first base adequately in 15 games and made a few appearances at second. That’s emergency coverage, not a long-term solution. Houston’s crowded infield looked like a problem last winter, when Paredes was returning from a potentially season-ending injury and Carlos Correa had arrived to play third. Jeremy Peña had shortstop, Jose Altuve’s experiment in left field was brief, Christian Walker was signed to a three-year, $60 million deal at first, and Yordan Alvarez occupied most of the designated hitter role. The Astros held onto Paredes, and injuries to Peña and Correa quickly showed why that apparent surplus mattered. The same group is back, but there are still more veterans than everyday jobs. Walker is easier to move now with one year remaining on his contract; Paredes costs more, which gives Houston reason to consider dealing him too. Both can become free agents after the season. Paredes has positive trade value, and his pull-heavy fly-ball swing suits Daikin Park’s short left-field porch. His $13.35 million club option is cheaper than his projected $15 million arbitration salary, so Houston—or an acquiring club—would be expected to exercise it. Walker’s case is less attractive to a buyer. He faded after a strong start but finished with 29 home runs and good defense at first. At 35, his .226/.299/.427 line makes his $20 million 2027 salary hard to swallow; Houston might need to cover a meaningful share. A club willing to take on roughly 40% of the remaining contract could still help the Astros clear space and move past the controversy that followed Walker’s public criticism of Houston fans after the team’s Wild Card loss to the White Sox.

Burleson could bring St. Louis a useful return

Alec Burleson’s 2026 season made him a more valuable trade candidate than his $3.3 million salary might suggest. The 27-year-old, who turns 28 in late November, set a career high with 26 home runs and hit .279/.343/.473. He has been an above-average hitter for three straight seasons, with a .279/.324/.451 line since 2024 and a .284/.343/.466 mark since 2025. The Cardinals sold at the deadline after their pitching staff faltered, even though the offense exceeded expectations in part because of Burleson. His projected salary jumps to $8.3 million, still manageable for St. Louis. The bigger question is timing: he has two years of control left, and the club is still in transition. If president of baseball operations Chaim Bloom isn’t planning a serious push in 2027, this may be the moment to hear offers while Burleson’s value is high. There’s no need to rush. St. Louis could wait until the summer or next offseason and retain substantial trade value; if the Cardinals are contenders in 2028, Burleson could be part of that team. But a prime-aged slugger who struck out in just 16% of his plate appearances over the past two seasons should draw calls. The market includes first-base alternatives such as Jake Bauers, Ty France and Alec Bohm, so it’s uncertain whether enough clubs will bid to produce a strong offer. A team with pitching to spare could make a compelling case.

Kwan’s rebound complicates Cleveland’s usual calculus

Steven Kwan looked headed for an offseason non-tender after a rough finish to 2025 and a .212/.318/.257 line through June. Then he took over the second half. From July onward, he led the majors in batting average and on-base percentage, hitting .352/.445/.441. His final line was .282/.382/.349, backed by a career-best 13.3% walk rate and a strikeout rate below 10%. Power remains a weakness: Kwan hit three home runs, with a .067 isolated power mark. Still, he finished among the top 10 qualified hitters in on-base percentage. His defense also proved more flexible than his reputation might suggest. A four-time Gold Glove left fielder, he started nearly half of Cleveland’s games in center and recorded six Defensive Runs Saved and six Outs Above Average across 637 innings, while continuing to defend left field at his usual level. Cleveland president of baseball operations Chris Antonetti played down a possible trade, saying, “As we sit here today, we’re expecting Steven Kwan to be a big part of a contending team next year.” The Guardians need outfielders and have limited salary commitments for 2027, so a projected $11.3 million arbitration salary is affordable. They’re unlikely to extend him, though a qualifying offer after 2027 could bring compensation. The complication is Cleveland’s pattern of trading stars as free agency approaches, with José Ramírez the notable exception. Kwan is arbitration-eligible through 2027, and the Padres, Phillies, Cubs, Giants, Yankees, Astros, Blue Jays and Reds could all have reason to contact the Guardians.

Duran’s price and performance point in different directions

Jarren Duran’s 2026 season was a sharp fall from his previous form. He barely cleared 20 home runs and 20 stolen bases, but his rate stats were poor: .207/.266/.361 across 608 plate appearances, all personal lows in a full season. Among 135 qualified hitters, only Ezequiel Tovar reached base less often. Duran’s walks, strikeouts and hard contact all moved the wrong way. Boston reportedly made him available at the trade deadline, after Duran appeared to criticize third-base coach Chad Epperson for not sending him on a potential sacrifice fly. The Red Sox then watched their offense fade in September and score just two runs over two lopsided Wild Card games against the Yankees. Duran never found his footing. Boston could seek a stronger bat to share left field and designated hitter duties with Roman Anthony. Duran’s projected arbitration salary is now $11.1 million, and a non-tender is possible. But his earlier record should interest clubs looking for a reset: he hit .276/.339/.471 in nearly 1,800 plate appearances from 2023 through 2025. He’s a fast, capable left fielder with enough ability to play center for a club without a Gold Glove regular such as Ceddanne Rafaela. With control through 2028, he could fit the Giants, Cardinals, Rangers, Angels or Phillies.

Texas could listen, if its stars agree

Jacob deGrom’s full no-trade clause gives him the deciding vote on any move. He used it to stop discussions between the Rangers and Braves about a deadline deal that may have involved Spencer Strider going to Texas. That could mean deGrom simply doesn’t want to leave. It could also mean he was willing to revisit a trade in the offseason; the available information doesn’t settle that question. The Rangers have missed the playoffs three years running with an expensive, aging roster, despite playing in a division where no team pulled away. Ownership has also limited payroll flexibility. Texas doesn’t appear ready to dismantle the roster, but reducing some of its largest commitments would make sense. DeGrom is the biggest: he’s due $37 million in 2027, the final guaranteed season of his five-year, $185 million contract. His 2028 option starts at $20 million and would rise to $30 million if he finishes in the top five of Cy Young voting next year. If deGrom agreed to waive his clause, contenders would still have reason to pursue him. His 4.20 ERA was ordinary, but he struck out 30% of opponents while throwing in the upper 90s. At 39, he’d still be viewed as an impact starter. Atlanta could return to the discussion, and the Dodgers, Padres and Red Sox are plausible fits. Corey Seager would be harder to move in a different way: he also has full no-trade rights as a 10-and-5 player, and his contract runs $31 million annually from 2027 through 2031. That’s $155 million for his age-33-to-37 seasons. Three injured-list stints in 2026, two involving his lower back, and a .227/.312/.424 line over 436 plate appearances make the commitment a difficult sell. Yet Seager’s full-season numbers obscure a better finish. After returning from his last injured-list stint on July 31, he hit .269/.332/.472 with 10 home runs in 51 games. Teams short on infield options could still take a look: he can remain at shortstop or shift to third, and this free-agent class offers limited help at either position. If Texas covered enough salary to bring his annual cost down to roughly $22 million to $25 million, Atlanta or the Yankees might ask whether he’d approve a deal.

Larnach’s interrupted move may still be a sign

Trevor Larnach nearly left Minnesota at the deadline in a proposed swap for Houston reliever Bryan Abreu. Astros owner Jim Crane reportedly blocked the deal, a move that suggested he had lost confidence in general manager Dana Brown; Crane dismissed Brown three weeks later. Larnach finished the year with the Twins, but the failed trade may not have changed the underlying direction.

Abrams’ next decision is Washington’s

CJ Abrams has two years of arbitration control remaining and has likely earned a raise into eight figures. Washington already has enough offense to contend for a playoff place, but the pitching staff needs a major overhaul. That leaves the Nationals with a timing question: do they expect to be ready in 2027, and could they secure Abrams on a long-term extension? If not, trading him could become the latest major move in a rebuild that has already run longer than planned.

The case for moving Trevor Larnach is mostly about roster fit. He had a productive season, hitting .269/.352/.436 with 13 home runs in 433 plate appearances, and punished right-handed pitching at a rate 31 percent above average. Minnesota shielded him from most lefties, though, and has a growing supply of left-handed outfield bats. Top prospects Walker Jenkins and Emmanuel Rodriguez made their debuts late in the season; Alan Roden and Hendry Mendez are also in the upper minors. At a projected $6.3 million, Larnach may be more useful as trade currency than as another left-handed bat in Minnesota’s crowded outfield. The return probably won’t be substantial; San Diego or Arizona could make sense.

Los Angeles has more outfielders than jobs

16. Teoscar Hernández, Dodgers, LF ($14.5MM salary in ’27, including $8MM deferred; $15MM club option or $6.5MM buyout for ’28)

The Dodgers don’t need payroll relief. They do have a 34-year-old corner outfielder entering the last guaranteed year of his deal, plus a pipeline that’s starting to press for playing time. Josue De Paula, 21, debuted late after racing through the upper minors and hit well in his first look. He’s ranked among the sport’s top five prospects. That alone gives Los Angeles a reason to consider a change, even if Hernández remains the more dependable option today.

There’s also the sheer depth. Kyle Tucker is set in right after signing a huge contract last winter, while Andy Pages broke out in center. The farm has two more outfielders inside Baseball America’s top 20, Eduardo Quintero and Mike Sirota, as well as No. 80 prospect Charles Davalan. If those young players aren’t ready, versatile veterans can cover the gaps, especially Tommy Edman.

Hernández hit .267/.334/.425, good for a 110 wRC+, with 16 homers. His best work came against left-handers; against righties, he was a little below average. The defensive decline is harder to wave away: in 999 corner innings, he rated five runs below average by both DRS and OAA. His bat still has value, but the platoon split and glove make the overall package less compelling than the home run total suggests.

A budget-conscious club that can’t afford to pursue Seiya Suzuki or Randy Arozarena might see Hernández as a discounted power bat for a corner spot. The Dodgers may need to cover several million dollars to make the numbers work. Potential fits include lower-spending teams with corner-outfield needs—the Reds, Royals or Marlins—clubs that struggled against left-handed pitching, such as the Blue Jays, and teams with designated hitters departing, including the Twins and Rangers. The size of the Dodgers’ contribution may decide whether a deal happens.

Texas must weigh Gore’s upside against its rotation needs

17. MacKenzie Gore, Rangers, LHP (arbitration eligible through ’27; projected $8.7MM salary)

Texas paid a five-player price for Gore last winter, with infielders Gavin Fien and Devin Fitz-Gerald leading the return to Washington. The bet was on the ceiling of a former No. 3 overall pick who once ranked as baseball’s top pitching prospect. That ceiling has been complicated by injuries and mechanical trouble; San Diego even sent him to extended spring training to work on his delivery.

Gore had only 16 major league games with the Padres before they included him in the Juan Soto blockbuster. In Washington, he showed flashes without reaching the heights of fellow returnees James Wood and CJ Abrams. In the summer of 2025, he carried a 3.02 ERA, 30.5% strikeout rate and 7.7% walk rate through 110⅓ innings over 19 starts, with a 36% ground-ball rate. Then came a four-start collapse: 23 runs allowed in 15⅔ innings. He recovered and finished well, but ended the year at a 4.17 ERA.

The Rangers wanted more of that earlier version. Gore’s ERA spent much of 2026 in the low-to-mid fours. His average fastball barely changed, from 95.3 mph in 2025 to 95.1 in 2026, but his strikeout rate fell from 27.2% to 23.2%, and his swinging-strike rate dropped from 13.3% to 11.2%. He did allow less hard contact than the year before, yet struggled badly with runners in scoring position: opponents hit .294/.395/.500 with a runner on second or third.

At a projected $8.7 million for one remaining year of club control, Gore is a costly bet on a rebound. A trade could bring Texas a prospect or two and help ownership keep trimming payroll, a stated priority for more than two years. But the Rangers’ rotation depth is thin, and replacing his innings would likely mean another signing. A decent offer may be required to make that gamble worthwhile.

There’s still a real upside case: Gore is 28, throws left-handed at 95 mph, and misses bats above average. Even a return to merely dependable innings would make the salary defensible; a breakout could raise his trade value before the 2027 deadline. If the qualifying-offer system remains in place, a strong season could also make him a candidate for one. The White Sox, Mets, Blue Jays, Orioles, Braves, Giants, Cubs, Reds and Padres are all plausible destinations. Texas has reason to listen, but it also has reason to wait.

18. Jeremy Peña, Astros, SS

Jeremy Peña (arbitration eligible through ’27; projected $13.1MM salary)