Last week we ranked the seven best MLB free agents still on the open market, and now we’re going to break down the biggest names who could be traded between now and Opening Day.
Keep in mind, front offices are making it clear publicly in most of these cases that they are not “shopping” these players, but part of doing their due diligence as front office leaders is they have to at least listen to what other teams have to offer.
Every team is trying to get better, and you never know when another team is going to make you a trade offer you can’t refuse. Here is a ranking of the players who could be traded before Opening Day:
Tarik Skubal, LHP, Detroit Tigers
Winner of the last two AL Cy Young Awards, Skubal is entering his final season before free agency. He has strong personal relationships with Tigers owner Chris Ilitch, team president Scott Harris, GM Seth Greenberg and manager A.J. Hinch. However, there is also the business aspect of the relationship. His representation (Boras Corp.) has eyes on setting industry records with Skubal’s next two contracts, and there is believed to be a chasm between what Skubal’s team is seeking and what the Tigers are offering. There have been reports the gap is over $250 million, with Skubal’s team looking for a deal well north of $400 million.
There is even a large gap between what Skubal’s team is seeking and what the Tigers are offering for this upcoming season, his final arbitration year. In fact, the gap is so significant that the case is expected to go to salary arbitration with the team submitting a filing number of $19 million and Skubal submitting one at $32 million. It’s unlikely there will be a settlement, and based on my personal experience with the system and studying the class of players with five-plus years experience, I think it’s likely Skubal wins the case at $32 million.
Detroit would still like to sign him to a long-term contract but it’s difficult to see that happening with how far apart both sides are on a deal. The Tigers have listened to trade offers and at least talked about the “ballpark” parameters it would take to trade him. According to club sources, the asking price is so significant that it is unlikely a trade happens unless Detroit lowers its sights significantly.
So, where do the Tigers go from here? They could continue to try to extend him, keeping in mind what this year’s free-agent class has done to the market. If Kyle Tucker is worth $60 million per year, what would Skubal get on a comparable four-year deal? $70 million per year?
I’ve also been told by some rival executives that they think it makes more sense to wait until Skubal is a free agent rather than emptying their farm system for just one year of his services. At this point, Detroit could trade him now, or wait until the trade deadline when the return would be less, or do what the Angels did with Shohei Ohtani and wait until he leaves in free agency and get just draft pick compensation for him.
It will be interesting to see what happens, but I can tell you if I were Detroit, I would try to do everything I could to sign him to a contract extension and if I couldn’t do it by a certain date in March, I would trade him for the biggest return I could get rather than risk losing him for little compensation later.
Ketel Marte, 2B, Arizona Diamondbacks
The Diamondbacks made Marte available this fall and fielded offers from several contending clubs up through the Winter Meetings. At that point, they were seeking young, controllable starters in return. They never found a deal close to their liking and instead took him off the trade market, stating that he would remain with the team for the 2026 season.
Keep in mind, that stance could change with a robust trade offer, something that could come about if there is a major injury to a player in spring training and a team decides to revisit trade talks and offer closer to what Arizona was looking for in the beginning.
If the Red Sox don’t land Eugenio Suárez in free agency and can’t find another bat, they could easily circle back and make another run at Marte, as could the Yankees, Tigers and Phillies, all of whom expressed interest this offseason.
Jarren Duran, OF, Boston Red Sox
There has been a lot of speculation that the Red Sox might trade Duran because they are planning on starting an outfield of Wilyer Abreu in right, Ceddanne Rafaela in center and Roman Anthony in left, which leaves the 29-year-old Duran as the designated hitter. It’s not that they want to trade Duran, but if the return was either an infielder or starting pitcher who better fits with their current roster, they’d be open to it.
They haven’t been close on a deal involving Duran yet, but that could change during spring training. The Astros could be a good match, as they don’t have an obvious spot for Isaac Paredes to play this season now that they have Carlos Correa, and Houston needs outfield upgrades. If the Red Sox decide to keep Duran and listen on Abreu instead, the Astros would also be a good fit.
CJ Abrams, SS, Washington Nationals
The Nationals are not shopping Abrams, but they are listening and they will have to consider a trade if they can move him for a huge package like they received for trading MacKenzie Gore to the Rangers. However, unlike in the Gore trade, if they deal Abrams, they will need either major-league ready players back or prospects in the upper-levels who are close to the show.
Will CJ Abrams be the latest Nationals star to be traded? (Emilee Chinn / Getty Images)
Abrams is a 25-year-old shortstop whose best position ultimately is going to be second base, most likely. He was an All-Star in 2024 when he hit 20 homers and stole 31 bases. There are areas of his game that still need improvement, however: better plate discipline, chasing less out of the zone and finding a way to get on base more often. That said, with his speed/power combination and his prime years ahead of him, his trade value may never be higher.
If the Nationals can deal Abrams for a package of three-to-five good prospects, that’s probably their best play to further their rebuild at this point. The Giants made a run at Abrams already and remain a potential match. Solid potential trade partners also include the Red Sox, Yankees, Padres and Mariners.
Sandy Alcantara, RHP, Miami Marlins
Alcantara won the NL Cy Young Award in 2022 and made his second All-Star team before undergoing Tommy John surgery in October 2023, which led to him missing the entire 2024 campaign. He then returned in 2025 to make 31 starts, finishing with an 11-12 record and FIP of 4.28.
I expect him to be much improved another year removed from the surgery, which will only increase his trade value. He’s signed through the 2026 season and his contract includes a club option worth $21 million for 2027. Given the Marlins’ budget constraints, it’s likely he’s traded at some point between now and the trade deadline, or at the very least by next offseason.
If he has a dominant spring training and looks closer to his 2022 self, then I believe he will be moved by Opening Day. He’s a potential game-changer for teams such as the Orioles, Padres and Giants if either acquires him.
Brendan Donovan, INF/OF, St. Louis Cardinals
Donovan is the best trade asset remaining for the Cardinals, and although they’re not looking to trade him, they will if they get the right return. I’ve been told by several executives the asking price is too high to consider at this point, but that could drop between now and Opening Day.
Donovan has a career .361 OBP and will add significant traffic to any lineup. He’s also very versatile and has played all infield and corner outfield positions in the major leagues during his career. He’s well-known for all the baseball cliches we like to throw at players like, “gamer,” “dirt bag,” “winner” and “scrappy.” He fits with every team in baseball, including the Cardinals, who aren’t trading him unless they can “win” the trade.
Luis Severino, RHP, Athletics
Severino signed a two-year, $45 million pact with the Athletics last offseason. His first season didn’t match expectations, as he went 8-11 with a 4.54 ERA, 4.11 FIP and posted a career-low strikeout rate of 6.9. He was also very critical of Sutter Health Park last year, calling the A’s temporary Sacramento home akin to playing in spring training and “not great.” His home ERA (6.01) was nearly double his road ERA (3.02).
He has a player option for 2027 worth $22 million, which might make him more difficult to trade. However, if he pitches well in spring training or the first half of the season, I can see the A’s trying to trade him if they can get a decent return. They’ve made it clear to other teams that they are not interested in just dumping him for salary relief. It’s up to him now — if can pitch like he did with the Mets in 2024, he could get his wish to not pitch half his games in Sacramento this season.
