NEW YORK — With less than three weeks remaining in the regular season, clubs are already formulating offseason plans for 2027 and beyond, and trades are expected to shape the winter. An early look at 11 intriguing trade candidates, with statistics through Tuesday's games, highlights controllable stars and pending free agents who could be on the block.
Washington Nationals shortstop CJ Abrams headlines the list after the club opted not to deal him at the Trade Deadline. The two-time All-Star has split time between second base and shortstop, wants to remain at shortstop long-term and is unlikely to sign an extension with president of baseball operations Paul Toboni in his second year on the job. Abrams is two stolen bases away from the first 30-30 season of his career and has two years of arbitration remaining before free agency. In Oakland, the Athletics have a glut of outfielders with Lawrence Butler, Henry Bolte, Tyler Soderstrom, Denzel Clarke and Carlos Cortes, and could deal from that depth to upgrade pitching. Clarke is a stellar defender who won't enter arbitration for at least another year, making him a controllable, cost-effective center-field option, while Bolte offers better offense without sacrificing much defense.
Boston's Jarren Duran has been a theoretical candidate for two years but his value has dropped since his 2024 campaign. He is two stolen bases away from a 20-20 season, but his .624 OPS is down 150 points from 2025 and 210 points from 2024, and with Roman Anthony, Ceddanne Rafaela and Wilyer Abreu on the roster he lacks a clear-cut role if that trio is healthy. Seattle's Logan Gilbert is one year away from free agency with no extension in sight and could be moved from a deep rotation that includes Top 10 prospects Kade Anderson and Ryan Sloan. Gilbert has a 3.71 ERA in 28 starts, his highest since 2023, but ranks seventh in the AL with 165 innings pitched after earning $10.9 million this season heading into his fourth and final year of arbitration. George Kirby might also be a candidate.
Cleveland's Steven Kwan, a two-time All-Star with one year until free agency, has two home runs, 27 RBIs and 72 runs scored in 136 games, but his .371 on-base percentage and 4.4 bWAR are his highest since his 2022 rookie season and he ranks in the top 10 percent in strikeout percentage, walk percentage and Outs Above Average. Tampa Bay's Shane McClanahan has pitched well after missing two years following Tommy John surgery and earned $3.6 million in 2026 entering his final year of arbitration, though Drew Rasmussen's $20 million option — the largest single-season salary in Rays history if exercised — could affect that decision. Los Angeles Angels shortstop Zach Neto, with 24 homers, 69 RBIs and a .758 OPS in 140 games and a third straight season with at least 4.0 bWAR, has three more years of arbitration eligibility and would be the club's most attractive chip after it dealt José Soriano, Jo Adell and Ryan Zeferjahn at the deadline.
Houston's Jeremy Peña is heading into his final year before free agency and, like Kyle Tucker in his final year of control, could be traded if an extension isn't reached, especially with a new general manager leading the front office. Chicago's Matt Shaw offers versatility at second and third base and could be a valuable chip for pitching or shift to a corner outfield spot with Seiya Suzuki and Ian Happ headed for free agency in a relatively weak free-agent market. Atlanta's Spencer Strider, out since mid-June with right elbow inflammation and unlikely to return this season though there is an outside chance he could be available out of the bullpen during the postseason, was discussed in a contract swap for Texas' Jacob deGrom before the Trade Deadline that deGrom blocked with his no-trade clause. Strider is owed $22 million going forward.