There is plenty of anticipation surrounding this year’s MLB free agent class, which will be led by the power bats of Kyle Schwarber and Pete Alonso, the well-rounded position players such as Kyle Tucker, Bo Bichette and Alex Bregman, and several standout starting pitchers such as left-handers Framber Valdez and Ranger Suárez and right-handers Dylan Cease, Zac Gallen and Michael King and dominant closers, including Edwin Díaz and Robert Suarez.
However, those aren’t the only stars who might change uniforms this offseason. There are several big names who could be traded. For teams targeting frontline pitching, in particular, the market could be especially fruitful, as three potential No. 1 starters may be available.
Let’s take a look at the top-10 biggest names most front office executives believe could or will be dealt this winter:
1. Tarik Skubal, LHP, Detroit Tigers
The Tigers commenced negotiations on an extension with Skubal — who is entering his walk season — but were somewhat surprised to find they were about a quarter of a billion dollars off with their latest offer. Skubal and Paul Skenes of the Pittsburgh Pirates are considered the two best pitchers in the sport. To sign either one of them to a long-term deal, their current teams must expect to commit dollars far beyond the Gerritt Cole contract of nine years and $324 million and Yoshinobu Yamamoto’s 11-year, $324 million pact.
When Juan Soto got his $765 million and Shohei Ohtani got his $700 million, they reset the market for top free agents, and the expectation now is that Skubal will reset the market for pitchers and become the highest-paid starting pitcher in history, with a realistic starting price north of $400 million. It’s unlikely the Tigers go there, and if that’s the case, they certainly can’t make the mistake of waiting until the trade deadline to deal him or letting him walk with minimal draft compensation next offseason.
Therefore, even though the Tigers are in position to compete for the postseason next year, it’s likely they shop Skubal at the Winter Meetings and try to make the best trade they can with so many big market teams with deep farm systems obviously wanting him, such as the Mets, Dodgers, Red Sox, Yankees and Giants.
2. Freddy Peralta, RHP, Milwaukee Brewers
Peralta is expected to finish in the top three in the NL Cy Young Award voting this offseason. The Brewers have an $8 million team option on him for next season that they will certainly pick up. However, after picking up that option, the Brewers are expected to do the exact same thing they did two years ago with their then-ace Corbin Burnes and trade him.
Peralta is coming off the best year of his career as he’s really figured out how to use and mix his dominant stuff. Fastball Freddy held opposing batters to a .209 average against his four-seamer, .173 against his changeup, .183 against his curveball and .157 against his slider. He’s a true top-of-the-rotation ace at age 29. There will be plenty of interest in him on the trade market, with the Red Sox, Orioles, Mets, Angels, Astros, Giants, Padres and Tigers all likely to inquire on him.
The Reds have four years of team control remaining for Hunter Greene but rumors are flying they may be willing to deal him. (Andy Lyons / Getty Images)
3. Hunter Greene, RHP, Cincinnati Reds
There have been several reports out of Cincinnati that the Reds are planning to shop Greene this winter. I have not been able to confirm these reports, nor do I understand why they would want to consider it since they have him under team control through the 2029 season (Greene signed a six-year, $53 million extension in 2023 with a team option for 2029 worth $21 million). Greene has the potential to win a Cy Young Award someday or at the very least finish in the top five.
One reason a trade might be considered is because of Greene’s durability issues; through his first four years in the big leagues, he’s never made 27 starts or pitched 160 innings. It’s possible that there is a medical risk that we don’t know about.
One thing I do know, if they want to trade him, the Reds could get a huge return with that amount of team control remaining, and the Dodgers, Mets, Red Sox, Yankees, Orioles and Giants are likely to be interested. I think it would be a huge mistake for them to deal Greene, but we can’t ignore the rumors because they’re so loud and no one is denying them.
4. Jarren Duran, LF, Boston Red Sox
I’m not sure I understand why the Red Sox keep listening to offers for Duran, outside of the fact they envision their future outfield as Wilyer Abreu in right field, Ceddanne Rafaela in center field and Roman Anthony in left. Why not keep Duran for DH? Or, better yet, why not let all four outfielders rotate between the outfield and DH?
Regardless, Duran’s name keeps coming up in trade rumors and it now sounds like the Red Sox will move on from him this winter.
Duran slashed .256/.332/.442 this year, leading the league in triples for the second consecutive season and posting a 4.6 bWAR. In 2024, he was worth 8.7 bWAR and hit .284/.342/.492 with a league-leading 48 doubles and 14 triples while also hitting 21 homers and stealing 34 bags.
Teams such as the Phillies, Dodgers, Tigers, Guardians and Rangers would love to land him. He’s also controllable through the 2028 season, so it would take a huge haul for the Red Sox to move him.
5. MacKenzie Gore, LHP, Washington Nationals
Paul Toboni has taken over as president of baseball operations for the Washington Nationals and it’s only a matter of time before he starts shopping Gore. Toboni’s old team, the Red Sox, seem like a good place to start. He’s so familiar with Boston’s prospect cabinet that I’m sure he’d find a strong return even if he can’t land the team’s very best prospects in a trade.
Gore made his first All-Star team this year thanks to a dominant first half where he posted a 3.02 ERA over his 19 starts with 138 punchouts in 110 1/3 innings. He slumped in the second half, posting a 6.75 ERA over his final 11 starts, though pitching for a last-place team isn’t the easiest thing to do over the course of a full season.
He’s controllable for two more seasons, so the best time to trade him to maximize the return would be this offseason. It makes sense that his name is popping up everywhere. If the Red Sox don’t land him, watch for the Padres to push for a reunion.
6. Sandy Alcantara, RHP, Miami Marlins
The Marlins shopped Alcantara in earnest at the trade deadline but they couldn’t get the top prospect return they wanted and decided to hold him and reevaluate this offseason.
Next season, Alcantara will be another year removed from his Tommy John surgery, which bodes well for his chances of returning to his Cy Young form. This year, he made 31 starts and logged 174 2/3 innings, proving that he’s healthy. He also improved as the season went on — his second-half ERA was 3.33.
The Marlins hold a team option for Alcantara for 2027, so he’s under team control for two more seasons. If Miami doesn’t get the asking price it wants this winter, the team will just hold onto him until next year’s trade deadline, giving him further time to get back to his accustomed level of dominance. Teams likely to have interest include the Red Sox, Angels, Astros, Orioles and Yankees.
7. Sonny Gray, RHP, St. Louis Cardinals
Chaim Bloom has taken over as the head of baseball operations for the Cardinals, and he’s already talked to Gray about waiving his no-trade clause. Gray has indicated to Bloom he would consider doing so for the right contending team.
Gray, 35, is entering his 14th season in the big leagues, but he’s still effective. His 2025 FIP (3.39) was nearly a run lower than his ERA (4.28). He also led the league in K/BB (5.29) and crossed the 200-strikeout threshold for the second straight year. He finished in the 66th percentile in overall pitching run value and the 97th percentile in breaking run value, thanks to his curveball that opponents hit .215 against and his sweeper that they hit only .150 against.
Gray is signed for two more seasons, so teams such as the Mets and Orioles, who like shorter-term commitments to starting pitchers, would be great trade fits.
8. Brandon Lowe, 2B, Tampa Bay Rays
Lowe has played his entire eight-year career with the Rays and has a career slash line of .247/.326/.481 and 157 home runs in 745 major-league games. The Rays have a team option for him for 2026 that they will pick up, just as they did last offseason.
The 31-year-old will be a free agent after next season and if they’re ever going to trade him, the time is now. He’s coming off his healthiest year since 2021, playing in 134 games while putting up a SLG of .477. His 31 homers were tied with Jazz Chisholm Jr. of the Yankees for the most by a second baseman, three more than Ketel Marte of the Diamondbacks and six more than Jose Altuve of the Astros. The Yankees and Astros could potentially have interest.
9. Alec Bohm, 3B, Philadelphia Phillies
Bohm has been the Phillies’ regular third baseman for the last five years, averaging 16 homers and 89 RBIs over 162 games. He has basically plateaued as a player, however, hitting his ceiling as a slightly above-average major leaguer.
At 29, Bohm could benefit from a change of scenery, and an upgrade at the hot corner would help the Phillies too. With both Alex Bregman and Bo Bichette being viable options in free agency, it would make sense for the Phillies to deal Bohm at this time.
He’s controllable for one more year and his best trade fit could be with the Los Angeles Angels.
10. Jo Adell, OF, Los Angeles Angels
Adell broke out this year, belting a career-high 37 home runs with a .485 SLG. He ranked in the 76th percentile in batting run value, 90th percentile in xwOBA, 96th percentile in xSLG and Barrel% and 99th percentile in bat speed. He’s a below-average defender in the outfield, however, with a below-average arm, and is better suited for left field rather than center.
The Halos control him for just two more years and should dangle him in trade proposals now as they must rebuild their starting rotation and their inventory of long-term controllable assets. His trade value is the highest it’s been since he was drafted in the first round back in 2017. The Reds and Pirates could have interest.
