Identifying buyers and sellers in mid-June can be a dizzying exercise, but that won’t stop us as we sit roughly six weeks away from the July 31 Trade Deadline.
Through play Tuesday, every American League team was within eight games of a Wild Card spot with the exception of the White Sox, while all but four teams in the National League (Nationals, Marlins, Pirates and Rockies) were within seven games of a postseason spot.
Below are 14 potential trade candidates – including some from those teams still hanging in the playoff picture – along with potential fits for those players.
(Players are listed alphabetically; all stats are entering play on Tuesday)
Tyler Anderson, LHP, Angels
Anderson has gotten knocked around in three June starts (0-2, 9.00 ERA), but the left-hander pitched to a 3.39 ERA in his first 11 outings and would be a quality mid-rotation addition for most contenders. The 35-37 Angels are only two games out of a Wild Card spot, but four teams stand between Los Angeles and Seattle, which currently holds that third Wild Card spot.
Potential fits: Cubs, Orioles, Twins
Jake Bird, RHP, Rockies
The Rockies should try to sell any player who draws interest, but the club doesn’t have many attractive pieces to shop. Bird is one of the exceptions; the 29-year-old has a 2.23 ERA in 40 1/3 innings and comes with three additional years of club control.
Potential fits: D-backs, Mariners, Phillies, Reds
Edward Cabrera, RHP, Marlins
It has been widely assumed that Sandy Alcantara would be the most likely Marlins pitcher to be traded, but the former NL Cy Young Award winner has struggled in his return from Tommy John surgery, posting a 3-8 record and 6.88 ERA through 14 starts. Alcantara has pitched better of late and could regain his value with a strong month, but the hard-throwing Cabrera (2-2, 4.10 ERA) will be a less expensive option in terms of both prospect capital and salary, as he’s earning $1.95 million this season and is arbitration-eligible for three more years after 2025.
Potential fits: Athletics, Blue Jays, D-backs, Guardians
Kyle Finnegan, RHP, Nationals
Late-inning relievers are always in demand this time of year, so Finnegan – who has 18 saves and a 3.12 ERA in 26 appearances – should draw significant interest from a number of contenders. An All-Star in 2024, Finnegan ranks in the 65th percentile in ground-ball rate (45.6%) and his 96.1 mph average fastball ranks in the 80th percentile.
Potential fits: Blue Jays, Mets, Phillies, Reds
Andrew Heaney, LHP, Pirates
No, this isn’t the Pittsburgh starting pitcher whose potential availability has generated so much buzz, but Paul Skenes isn’t going anywhere anytime soon. Mitch Keller could be in play, though he’s signed through 2028, so Heaney – who is pitching on a one-year, $5.25 million deal – could be a better option. Heaney is 3-5 despite a 3.33 ERA in 14 starts, and the 34-year-old has pitched in the postseason in two of the past three seasons.
Potential fits: Astros, Dodgers, Cubs
Zack Littell, RHP, Rays
The 40-33 Rays currently hold the top Wild Card spot in the American League and sit only 2 1/2 games behind the Yankees in the AL East, but Tampa Bay has a history of buying and selling based on players’ contract situations, making Littell – an impending free agent at the end of the season – a potential trade chip. Given the number of teams looking for rotation help, Littell (6-6, 3.84 ERA in 14 starts) could bring back a solid return for Tampa Bay, a team with enough rotation depth from which to deal.
Potential fits: Athletics, Cubs, Dodgers, Orioles
Ryan McMahon, 3B, Rockies
The Rockies had hoped for McMahon to be part of their core when they turned things around, but Colorado appears to be far away from that point, making McMahon a potential trade chip. The 30-year-old has turned things around following a sluggish start, hitting seven homers with 16 RBIs and an .855 OPS in 37 games since May 7, while ranking in the top 10 percent of the league this season in average exit velocity, hard-hit percentage and walk percentage. A stellar defensive third baseman, McMahon is signed for $12 million in 2025 and $16 million in each of the next two seasons.
Potential fits: Brewers, Tigers, Twins, Yankees
Josh Naylor, 1B, D-backs
Arizona has climbed back into the playoff race with a good start to June, leaving the Diamondbacks in striking distance of a Wild Card spot and still in the conversation in the NL West. But Naylor is one of more than a half-dozen impending free agents on the roster, and given that a number of teams could use a big corner-infield bat, it’s possible that Arizona could move Naylor (or Eugenio Suárez) and his expiring contract to address other needs.
Potential fits: Giants, Mariners, Rangers, Red Sox
Marcell Ozuna, DH, Braves
The Braves don’t have much of a history of being sellers, but given their current place in the standings – 12 games back in the NL East and seven games out of a Wild Card spot – it wouldn’t be a shock if Atlanta began looking toward 2026. The Braves have a handful of expiring contracts, but given the lack of power hitters expected to be available between now and July 31, Ozuna could bring back the best return as a rental.
Potential fits: Guardians, Rangers, Tigers
Freddy Peralta, RHP, Brewers
Like the Rays, the Brewers have a history of dealing players as they get closer to free agency (see Josh Hader, Corbin Burnes and Devin Williams), though trading Peralta would be a bold move given that Milwaukee sits only 1 1/2 games out of a Wild Card spot. Still, with an $8 million salary in 2025 and an $8 million club option for 2026, Peralta would surely draw interest from teams looking for controllable pitching, which is always a popular target around the Trade Deadline.
Potential fits: Blue Jays, Braves, Orioles, Yankees
Luis Robert Jr., CF, White Sox
Robert has been a popular trade candidate for more than a year, yet the White Sox have yet to move the center fielder to this point. Robert’s season has not gone well – he’s hitting .194 with a .590 OPS though 64 games – but he has 21 stolen bases and is playing solid defense, offering potential suitors speed and good glovework at a premium position. Robert has shown in the past that he can be an offensive contributor, so perhaps a move to a contender would unlock his potential. Robert is earning $15 million this season and has $20 million club options for both 2026 and 2027.
Potential fits: Mets, Padres, Phillies
Jesús Sánchez, RF, Marlins
The cluster of teams in contention for postseason spots means a limited number of sellers, so finding an outfielder to acquire might be difficult. Sánchez – a hard-hitting right fielder with a strong arm – may be one of the better names available. The 27-year-old has six homers, 27 RBIs, seven stolen bases and a .728 OPS in 51 games this season.
Potential fits: Guardians, Padres, Royals
Dennis Santana, RHP, Pirates
The 29-year-old journeyman is having the best season of his career, posting a 1.74 ERA with five saves in 31 appearances for the Pirates. Santana is one of a number of quality relievers who could be moved this summer, but his $1.4 million salary and two years of club control make him an attractive candidate for teams of all market sizes.
Potential fits: Guardians, Rays, Red Sox, Tigers
Taylor Ward, OF, Angels
The Angels have been hesitant to trade Ward during the past two years, but with a $7.825 million salary and only one more year of club control, this might finally be the time to move him. Ward is on pace to shatter his personal high in home runs (25 in 2024), belting 18 in his first 69 games this season. The 31-year-old has driven in 47 runs and has a .741 OPS, ranking in the 86th percentile in barrel percentage (14.1%) and the 87th percentile in chase percentage (21.1%).
Potential fits: Guardians, Padres, Rays, Royals