MLB Rumors: Top 10 Trade Candidates Leading Up To Deadline
Zachary D. Rymer of Bleacher Report sifted through every rumor and stat line to highlight the top 10 trade candidates most likely to shape the postseason race if dealt.
Some are under team control, others are pure rentals. All are playing for clubs with less than a 25% chance at the playoffs, making them prime targets for contenders.
Here are Rymer's 10 names most likely to fuel a deadline shake-up:
10. Tyler Mahle – RHP, Texas Rangers
2025 Stats: 1.64 ERA, 66 IP, 48 K
Despite below-average strikeout and walk numbers, Mahle has kept runs off the board with finesse and soft contact. He's affordable, effective, and steady—perfect for the middle of a contender’s rotation.
9. Mitch Keller – RHP, Pittsburgh Pirates
2025 Stats: 3.73 ERA, 70 IP, 56 K
Pittsburgh shopped Keller last winter and could do so again. He's not a No. 1, but his durability, command, and reliable sweeper give him top-tier playoff rotation appeal.
8. Bryan Reynolds – RF, Pittsburgh Pirates
2025 Stats: .238 AVG, 7 HR
Reynolds’ bat hasn’t clicked in 2025, but his track record and strong underlying metrics suggest a turnaround is coming. With a team-friendly long-term deal, he’s a high-ceiling gamble.
7. Ryan O’Hearn – 1B/DH, Baltimore Orioles
2025 Stats: .329 AVG, 9 HR, .951 OPS
Quietly one of the league’s best hitters vs. righties, O’Hearn is a plug-and-play power bat for any contender. He’s a strict platoon piece—but a lethal one.
6. Eugenio Suárez – 3B, Arizona Diamondbacks
2025 Stats: 16 HR, .509 SLG
Yes, he strikes out a ton. But Suárez’s power is real and consistent. If your lineup lacks punch, here’s your fix—and he just had a four-homer game to prove it.
5. Josh Naylor – 1B, Arizona Diamondbacks
2025 Stats: .297 AVG, 7 HR, 9 SB
One of baseball’s most underrated hitters, Naylor is posting elite OBP numbers and still has 30-HR upside. His blend of pop and patience would elevate any lineup.
4. Cedric Mullins – CF, Baltimore Orioles
2025 Stats: 10 HR, 8 SB (on IL with hamstring strain)
A true center field dual threat, Mullins is having his best season since 2021. His power-speed-defense combo makes him an ideal deadline prize—health permitting.
3. Sandy Alcantara – RHP, Miami Marlins
2025 Stats: 8.47 ERA, 40 K in 51 IP
Yes, the ERA is brutal. But Alcantara still has ace stuff and could bounce back post-Tommy John. He’s a buy-low candidate who might transform in October.
2. Zac Gallen – RHP, Arizona Diamondbacks
2025 Stats: 5.54 ERA, 66 K in 66 IP
His velocity is down, and the walks are up—but his elite secondary stuff remains. Gallen is still capable of anchoring a playoff rotation, especially if Arizona fades.
1. Jarren Duran – LF, Boston Red Sox
2025 Stats: .271 AVG, 13 SB, elite defense
Duran brings speed, energy, and a sneaky bat. He’s cheap, under team control, and already drawing interest. If Boston sells, Duran becomes the most coveted outfielder available.
Photo Credit: Brian Fluharty-Imagn Images
