As baseball awaits free agent signings as we move closer to the annual winter meetings, the trade market has started to take shape. Following Rangers-Mets trade of Marcus Semien and Brandon Nimmo during the weekend and the Boston Red Sox’s acquisition of Sonny Gray from St. Louis On Tuesday, other teams will likely be eager to get in on the action.
Who are the most likely trade candidates right now, and why would their current teams move them? Let’s break down five trade candidates that could shake up the MLB offseason.
Nolan Arenado, 3B, St. Louis Cardinals
Another offseason, another round of Nolan Arenado trade rumors. Last winter, the Cardinals third baseman was pretty picky about where he wanted to play in 2025, limiting where he could be moved. Arenado went so far as to veto a trade that would have sent him to the Houston Astros; they then pivoted and signed Christian Walker.
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But after a poor season in 2025 and with a growing desire to leave St. Louis, Arenado will likely be more open-minded this time around about where he plays next season. The 34-year-old third baseman hit just .237 with 12 homers this year, his lowest total since his rookie season.
For the Cardinals, one would imagine that new president of baseball operations Chaim Bloom would like a fresh start as he looks to rebuild what has been a stagnant Cardinals roster over the past few seasons. A trade for Arenado seemed like the best thing for both sides last winter, and a year later, nothing has changed.
MacKenzie Gore, LHP, Washington Nationals
Left-hander MacKenzie Gore was one of baseball’s best players during the 2025 season, striking out a career-high 185 batters and being named an All-Star for the first time. Gore also proved to be one of baseball’s most talked-about trade targets ahead of the deadline, and with him pitching for a team in complete rebuild mode, you can see why.
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After the firing of former general manager Mike Rizzo, the likelihood of the team allowing an interim general manager to trade away a controllable starting pitcher seemed low. But with new President of Baseball Operations Paul Toboni at the helm in Washington DC, moving Gore seems more realistic now.
Gore, 26, would be an intriguing acquisition for any team looking to add pitchers. He has proven to be one of the best strikeout artists on the left side in baseball, and he has three more years of club control. In a pitching market without many youngsters, the Nationals left-hander stands out.
Steven Kwan, LF, Cleveland Goalies
There are very few players as complete as Steven Kwan. Offensively, Kwan has elite batting skills, is an excellent base runner, and has started to harness some power over the past two seasons. You could also argue that Kwan is the best defensive outfielder in the game, having won the AL Gold Glove for left field every year he’s played in the big leagues.
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So why would the Guardians move such a talented player? They have too many contact-only sticks in their lineup, and with Kwan two years away from free agency, he could be more expensive than Cleveland can bear in his final years of arbitration.
Several suitors attempted to acquire Kwan before the July trade deadline, and while it’s unclear whether Cleveland will move him this winter, the Guards have been open to offers. At some point, another team might reach his price.
Freddy Peralta, SP, Milwaukee Brewers
Of all the players listed, Freddy Peralta appears to be the most likely to wear a new uniform on Opening Day. But why? Peralta is coming off the best season of his career in 2025. He led the National League with 17 wins and a career-best 2.70 ERA with 204 strikeouts in 33 starts. The Brewers ace has transformed himself into one of the best pitchers in baseball.
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But when it comes to Milwaukee, you have to look at their history. In recent years, when players have one year of club control remaining, the Brewers typically move them before they reach free agency. Some of those players included Josh Hader, Corbin Burnes, and most recently Devin Williams last offseason.
“Obviously, there’s a lot of interest in Freddy,” Brewers president of baseball operations Matt Arnold said during general managers’ meetings. “He means a lot to our group, but he certainly has a lot of interest. And I’ve said this before, we can never close the door on anything with anyone in our market. We’ve had to make some very difficult decisions over the years. … I mean, we want to try to be competitive next year, and I think he could play a very important role in that, as he has for a long time.”
If a team is looking for a starting pitcher and isn’t averse to a short-term rental, it will be hard to find a better option than Peralta.
Jarren Duran, OF, Boston Red Sox
Teams have had their eye on Jarren Duran for some time, and this offseason could be the one in which he finally gets jettisoned from Boston. He will have his share of suitors, as he has become one of the most dynamic players in baseball. Duran had a slash line of .256/.332/.442 in 2025, with 41 doubles, 13 triples and 16 homers with 84 RBIs for the Red Sox in 157 games.
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Additionally, the Red Sox outfielder has the fourth-most extra base hits in MLB (153) since 2024 and has led baseball in triples over the past two seasons. You can easily see how his talent would be enticing to any competitor looking to add instant offense to a lineup. Duran has also developed into an above-average defender, with +32 defensive runs saved and +8 putouts above average over the past two seasons.
But at the same time, the Red Sox outfield has become crowded in recent seasons, with Duran, Ceddane Rafaela, Wilyer Abreu and the arrival of phenom Roman Anthony. Boston needs to move one of these players to clear the logjam in the outfield and add some starting pitching. And while Duran is often discussed as the player most likely to be moved, Abreu has also come up in conversations.
Boston will have a high asking price for either player, and in its quest to fill out the rotation, one of its young outfielders is likely to become a centerpiece of the trade.
